Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1998 13:57:33 -0600
From: Dan Dzenkowski <djdzenko-AT-students.wisc.edu>
Subject: Your Scientific-decadent man revealed


  In Beyond Good & Evil (On Scholars) this person is evaluated under
Nietzsche's magnifying glass of ascending and declining life, on the ladder
of life.

        "The scholar's declaration of independence, his emancipation from
philosophy is on e of the more refined effects of democratic order-and
disorder: the self glorification and self exultation of scholars now stand
in full bloom, everywhere in their first spring-which is not meant in this
case to imply that self praise smells pleasant. 'Freedom from all masters!'
This is what the instinct of the rabble wants in this case, too; and after
science has most happily rid its self of theology whose 'handmaid' is was
too long, in now aims at excess of high spirits and lack of understanding to
law down laws for philosophy and to play the 'master' herself- what am I
saying?  the philosopher."

        Nietzsche then, after calling himself a philosopher remembers
himself as a scientific man (Gay Science).  He talks about how he had learnt
philosophy from scientists, and that this was not a philosophy of strength,
a new one was needed.  Something along the lines of a Plato, or a
Heraclitus.  The old philosophy was in its death throes, a new one of
strength, ability to command is needed, in the wake of this. 

"The scope and tower building of the sciences has grown to be enormous, and
with this also the probability that the philosopher grows weary while still
learning or allows himself  to be detained somewhere to become a specialist
so he never attains his proper level, the height for a comprehensive look,
for looking around, for looking down."

"Add to this, by way of once more doubling the difficulties for a
philosopher, that he demands of himself a judgement, a Yes or a No, not
about the sciences but about life and the value of life-that he has come to
believe that he has a right or even a duty to such a judgement.."

"wisdom seems to the rabble a kind of escape a means a trick for getting
well out of a wicked game. But the genuine philosopher as it seems to us, my
friends lives unphilosophically and unwisely above all imprudently and feels
the burden and the duty of a hundred attempts and temptations of life he
risks himself constantly, he plays the wicked game."

Suburbia, is an inclosed herd, the city is even worse...few play the game
here.  There is no snow to lie down in,but flies to bite you till you are
bleeding.

"..the scientific average man, always rather resembles an old maid; like her
she is not conversant with the two most valuable functions of man.  Indeed
one concedes to both the scholar and the old maids as it were by way of a
compensation that they are respectable one stresses their respectability,
and yet feels annoyed at having to make this concession."

"Let us look more closely: what is the scientific man?  To begin with a type
that is not noble, with the virtues of a type of man that is not noble,
which is to say a type that does not dominate and is neither authoritative
or self sufficient; he has industriousness, patient acceptance of his place
in rank and file, evenness and moderation in his abilities and needs, an
instinct for his equals and what they need...independence, green
pasture...claim to honor, recognition, good name, that constant attestation
of his value and utility which is needed to overcome again and again the
internal mistrust which is the sediment in the hearts of all dependent men
and herd animals."

"The scholar has, as is only fair, the diseases and bad manners of a type
that is not noble ; he is rich in petty envy and has lynx eyes for what is
base in natures to whose heights he cannot attain."

"..in the end we also have to learn caution against our gratitude (of
objective spirits) and put a halt to the exaggerated manner in which the
unselfing and depersonalization of the spirit is being celebrated nowadays
as if it were the goal its self and redemption and transfiguration."

Sounds like a new idol to me. 

"The objective person who no longer curses and scolds like a
pessimist...after thousands of total and semi failures for once blossoms and
blooms to the end, is certainly one of the most precious instruments there
are; but he belongs in the hand of one more powerful.  He is only an
instrument, let us say he is a mirror-he is no end in himself."

Worker Bee, under the control of a philosopher of the future.  Science under
philosophy.

"The objective man is indeed a mirror he is accustomed to submit before
whatever wants to be known, without any other pleasure than that found in
knowing and mirroring...whatever remains in him of a person strikes him as
accidental and often arbitrary...he easily confuses himself with others, he
errs about his own needs and is in this respect alone unsubtle and slovenly.
Perhaps his health torments him...yes he forces himself to look upon his
torments in vain.  Already his thoughts roam to a more general case and
tomorrow he knows no more than he did yesterday how he might be helped.  He
has lost any seriousness for himself, also time, he is cheerful, not for
lack of distress, but for lack of fingers and handles for his needs."

And the virtues of the disgusting man

"This habit of meeting everything and *experience* halfway, the sunny and
impartial hospitality with which he accepts everything  that comes his way,
his type of unscrupulous benevolence, of dangerous unconcern for Yes and
No-alas there are cases enough in which he has to pay for these virtues! "

And Finally, your special scientific lab coat wearing man

"..if just here he proves unauthentic, fragile, questionable, and worm eaten
. His love is forced, his hatred artificial...After all he is genuine only
insofar as he is objective."

Here is what Science produces, is this about the ladder of life?  

Dan








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