Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 17:36:19 -0600
From: "Jorge Gonzalez Nakazawa" <jnakazawa-AT-softtek.com>
Subject: Re: The more things change--


CathB2-AT-aol.com wrote

<<Yet there seems to be faith in the will--in certain individuals, I grant
you--yet a lot of recent psychology theory is talking about the "embeddedness"
of the self, individuals as fairly passive streams of socio-cultural flow.>>

Yes, I agree with you that the great majority of people, at least among those whom
I know, do behave as passive streams of socio-cultural flow. (You only have to
watch how easily they embrace the newest fads in music, clothing, etc.)

Yet, please remember that in Zarathustra prologue 9, Z states that he has come to
take many away from the herd. (I do not quote the text because my own copy of Z is
not in english). If you can equate Z's herd to the aforementioned socio-cultural
flow, it should be clear that Nietzsche is opposed to this role of individuals as
"passive streams of socio-cultural flow".

In this, Dan is right in pointing out that  " The Ubermensch is not a new world
order.  It is the pinnacle of Man, the
ultimate capacity of Man.  It is not about people or groups, it is about
individuals, great individuals. "


<< So maybe the point is that we are talking about socio-cultural flow embodied in
a particular genetic node in the network?  In other words, just inevitable to be
what you are. >>

This seems too near to a fatalistic faith to be comfortable. In fact, it is
equivalent to believing that you are what God meant you to be in His grand
universal plan. It is irrelevant whether you "blame" God or a socio-cultural flow,
fatalism is to renounce your will.

JGN






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