Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher in the 19th-century. He was famous for his critical writings about religion, morality, culture, philosophy and many more. After reading one of his particular pieces, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, I thought that it was one of the hardest pieces of literature that I have ever read. I then broke it down and found out what the message was that he was trying to portray. Nietzsche was trying to understand the development of moral, cultural and social facts then break it down from the aspect of truth. Nietzsche altercates that truth “is the highest and most perfect being imaginable: ‘ we men of knowledge of today, we godless men and antimetaphysicians, we too, still derives our flame from the fire ignited by a faith millennia old, the Christian faith, which was also Plato’s, that God is truth, the truth is divine’ (Nietzsche: Gay Science 344)”. He also states that there is a connection between the truth and God: “Philosophers have bought into a religious ideal which has caused them to develop a blind reference for truth, making truth their god” (Nietzsche: Genealogy of Morals, 3, 25). Truth is not easy to explain. It can be looked at from a reality, actuality or faith point of view. I am going to focus on the religious point of view because that is what Nietzsche concentrated on.
Everyone knows that there are two elements to the truth; true and false. This is called a two-valued logic. People who seek out for the truth are trying to find that sense of reassurance. Knowing the truth helps humans move on as a person. But how is the truth really true? What defines the truth and who is to say what is true and what is not. Many people determine truth from an ultimate reality. Religion is the orientation to ultimate reality. Finding the truth brings people closer to the self-satisfaction. For example, for Christians they might say that they have found the truth through the Bible, it was in Jesus who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6) (Slick 1995). Meaning that Christians accept that Jesus was and is the hope, guidance and reassurance that people need every day. Of course this would change for different religions. For example, Muslims go by the Qur’an (their Bible), and God is described as, “He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him." (112:1-4) (Wikipedia 2011). Sacrifice is how they worship and show their truth and loyalty towards their god.
The value of truth is very precious. It is the will to power and will to overcome. He had proposed the ‘Overman’ in the story that I had read which was to overcome in the way you have been positioned in truth. It’s how an individual can challenge themselves on what is actually the truth. Overcoming fears is a dimension in one’s life that is not easy to achieve. Fear is a guideline between personal trust and trust in others. You must believe in yourself to believe in others. Understanding who you are and what your borderlines are give you the motivation to understand what moralities are acceptable in life. Morality gives you the sense in which you are able to define what is good and what is bad. Truth can be falsified, trickery, and be produced by evil. Religions give people a magnitude which differentiates between the right and the wrong.
What Nietzsche is trying to say is that there is no truth without a God therefor God gives you the way to live and guides you through your life. But then he contradicts himself by saying, “We, too, do not deny that faith “makes blessed”: that is precisely why we deny that faith proves anything — a strong faith that makes blessed raises suspicion against that which is believed; it does not establish “truth,” it establishes a certain probability — of deception.” (Genealogy of Morals, 148). Faith is an element needed to believe in an ultimate reality, but he says faith does not mean trust. Faith is what holds you all together and preparing yourself for the truth. I beg to differ with Nietzsche’s idea about faith; You need to trust in something or someone to have faith. For example, if I were to trust that I have studied enough and that I will do well on my exam, I have faith in myself. Faith comes from a sense of hope, and so does trust. The definition of trust is impossible to give. There are umpteen concepts that can lead to different areas of focus about truth. To start, I think that it’s trusting yourself before you trust anything or anyone else.
I really like this. I feel like you put a lot of thinking and effort into it and it really shows. Reading this made me think about different definitions of truth. It made me think of the one I always knew and then the different ways to look at it from you. Reading that made me understand it a lot better and see things differently. I found it really helpful.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I analyzed truth from different perspectives that I never even understood. It definately opened my mind and helped me understand it aswell!
ReplyDeleteI found this post very interesting because you defined truth as a way of religion, but also that it doesn't have to be solely based on that. I believe that truth doesn't have to come from religion and that individuals can understand truth without having to follow religious guidelines. I also believe that trust is one of the key factors in a relationship and that without it, you have nothing.
ReplyDeleteI have read Friedrich Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" and think that you did a very good job at summarizing what he was trying to portray.
Truth definately is an independant factor that can be created without religion. But religion is very important when it comes to devoting yourself to the ultimate reality and focuses on [its] wants and needs for [itself] and oneself.
ReplyDeleteAnd I compeltely agree with you, truth is one of the key factors in a relationship, either with another intimate relationship or with family and friends.
Wow, really great writings, Shiloh. Keep them coming. Open my mind with your work here, awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you! and don't worry, they dont stop here!
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