Tag: philosophy

The Modern Monster

Mário Ferreira dos Santos, about Nietzsche, in free translation:

He was the adversary of the State, the modern monster, the Moloch of our days, the devourer of men and consciences, the most brutal creation of human weakness and who will end up totally tiring it, to the point of one day abhorring all forms of oppression, and destroying them with an impetus that will make the pages of history tremble. It will not be easy to understand this for the man of today, this captive who licks his shackles, this “Haustier,” this domesticated animal who has grown accustomed to worshipping the monster of which he speaks.

The note is dated 1957. What to say? A little over half a century, and we can verify the accuracy of Mario’s brilliant observation. The collapse of the modern state is inevitable, however… the “captive who licks the shackles” continues, passive, to lick them, in a state of admirable unconsciousness in which he does not show the slightest sign of exhaustion. The situation has only worsened: the monster has grown, its dominion has expanded, and it no longer has any shame. The question, however, remains unanswered: until when? On the one hand, the reaction is inevitable; on the other, awakening seems distant. What is clear is that, as Mário predicted, the day will come when the “devourer of men and consciences” will be faced with a violent and extraordinary explosion, coming from an apparently perpetual lethargy.

A Parallel Life

The 21st-century artist, or rather the one thirsting for high culture, needs a kind of parallel life, a detachment from the milieu so that he can walk alone. High culture repels modern daily life, the milieu is harmful, hostile, and there is nothing one can do to absorb it but lock oneself in isolation. To do otherwise is to become contaminated and lose the capacity for distinction, rotting away as did culture itself. If, on the one hand, such a contrast can show a gradual loss of the role, or perhaps the influence of high culture in society, on the other hand, on an individual level, decisions remain easy.

Natural Antagonists

On one side, the philosophy of unity; on the other, the philosophy of chance. Incompatible, antagonistic. And both find, it is true, showy fundamentals. Deprived, however, of the certainty, of the complete proof that would annul the opposing argumentation, they fight vainly. As Pascal noted, there seems to be enough in the world for anyone to see what they want. In this way, the fundamental philosophical posture seems to be summarized in the attachment or detachment to uncertainty, in the appreciation of the signs that may or may not satisfy; in short, in the reaction of the spirit before the knowledge acquired.

Blessed Are Those Who Have No Need of Judgment

Reflection leads to judgment, and judgment is unbearable! The mind sees the worst shining like nothing else, and implacably points to the verdict. Blessed are those who do not need to judge in every line, to moralize even in jokes, taking reflections to the last consequences. Existence loses its weight when one is capable of being silent, blind, distracting the rational and simply letting life run its course. To the others, solidarity…