Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 14:07:41 -0500
From: Dan Dzenkowski <djdzenko-AT-students.wisc.edu>
Subject: Re:Twilight of the Idols


At 08:27 PM 10/13/98 -0700, you wrote:
>I am unable to "think this through"
>
>"And what magnificent instruments of observation we posess in our senses!
>This nose, for example, of which no philosopher has yet spoken with
>reverence and gratitude, is actually the most delicate instrument so far
>at our disposal: it is able to detect minimal differences of motion which
>even a spectroscope cannot detect."TI-"Reason" in Philosophy #3


        Nietzsche is obviously attacking philosophical nihilism in this
section and I think that this is the way he humorously mocks the
anal-nihilistic-Kantian type philosophers, who try to solve the world away
with logic and rationalism.  Much of Nietzsche's philosophy is from his
subjective experience, he is in no way trying to set up new idols, he is
actually tearing  pillars down all of the time.  Anyways, how can you talk
philosophically about what you are seeing subjectively and apply it to the
outside world.  This is done through metaphors.  Nietzsche uses them all
over the place.  They have elusive meanings and sometimes they have two
different meanings.  Dionysius, azure bell, spiders, sense of smell, having
big ears, etc.  They are all linked to an abstract subject, giving it an
elusive meaning, but still having one.  
        Nietzsche is also making people see that when the rationally solve
away the world they are trying to avoid the sometimes terrible aspects of
sensory experience.  In the first section the attack on Descartes is well
placed.  
        So he is making fun of rationalism and trying to get people to
return to sensory experience as a legitimate way of interpreting the world.
He shows how one can do this, by virtue of his personal experience, through
the metaphor of having a good sense of smell.  This has many meanings.

        A very sensitive sense of perception.
        -able to smell the decadence of clever christians like Kant
        -interpreting the world through body instead of mind
        -knowing what smells, good tastes good, creating opinions about the
world based on your own subjective experience

Etc.
There are probably more interpretations, these are just ones that I came up
with off the top of my head.  What do you think?

Dan



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