Date: Mon, 08 Feb 1999 22:35:31 -0800
From: Dave Hayman <dhayman-AT-igc.org>
Subject: Re: Nietzsche (was Re: baby food)


Hey, some smoke! Could be a flame war beginning? Let's squirt some
kerosene on it...

Nico MYOWNA wrote:
> There is a interrelation between Nietzsches ideas and the interpretation
> of Nietzsche by Nazi trends. I speak about a *real* interrelation in our
> history between Nietzsches work and Nazi-ism *and not* about Nietzsche
> himself, his motives or ideas. 

No one in this thread has denied that Nietzsche has been used by
fascists. I believe the controversy is over the extent to which
Nietzsche can be faulted for this.

> On the other hand have there been an anarchist interpretation of Nietzsche
> during the years 1918 and 1933 (with nearly the same arguments of your
> last statement about the "Trans-man" and the flux of his will-to-power).
> Both have indeed nothing to do with Nietzsche....

Your language is careless here. You're making the absurd statement that
an interpretation of N has nothing to do with N. Perhaps you mean that N
is not responsible for interpretations of his writings by others,
whether fascist or anarchist or muddled middle, and with that I can
unhesitatingly agree.

> It's not my responsibility, if you understood a philosopher like Nietz-
> sche as isolated without any effect on history. 

Correct. So why are you getting hot n bothered about it?

> What the fuck does your comment/protest have to do with my words?  --
> Answer : nothing. It's not my responsibility, if you are not able to read
> and to understand. It's your fucking responsibility, if YOU bring in
> McCarty Era tactics here of guilt by associations about my words....

Give us a break! Neither Unleesh's rudeness nor your shrill response
amounts to anything as awful as McCarthyism.

> If you are not able to
> discuss, nobody will hold you if you leave....

This sounds like, "If you can't adress me with respect, I'll have to ask
you to leave!", which is contrary to the rough&tumble "ethos" of this
list.

The relationship between Nietzsche and fascism is complex and, to me,
fascinating. I've stated my position; you & Unleech have yours... and so
it goes...