Übermensch and the Kardashians

"Nietzsche was astute to recognise that mankind could slip backwards as the world becames comfortable."

Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher, is infamous for having had his work co-opted and corrupted by the Nazis. As a result, it became the intellectual basis for their terrible crimes. The Nazis seized upon his Übermensch or Superman idea to justify the suppression of compassion and the need to take harsh actions. 

This twisting of Nietzsches argument paved the way for Buchenwald, Auschwitz and Belsen. Yet, Nietzsche would almost certainly have disavowed the Nazi's interpretation of his thinking as an illicit and distorted adoption of his philosophy. 

What interests me is whether Nietzsche is relevant today. I'd say yes. He has some interesting observations to make. The predictions he made about how societies may evolve are often overlooked in the post-war discussion of Nietzsche's work. Although, the outcome he predicted may not arise in its entirety.

Nietzsche's renown arises from leading the charge that saw the so-called 'death of God'. He held that the Christian doctrine created a slave morality; you suffered in this life to get a reward in the next. He claimed that by adopting the Christian approach, you fail to aspire by surrendering to your masters. Without power, the Christian contorts a weakness into a strength producing a herd mentality of servitude. 

Nietzsche formed a belief that, at its very core, Christianity has a hatred of human nature as it seeks to suppress our urges. It degrades things that make us human by objecting to experiences that allow us to grow. Thus, Christianity, with its worship of weakness, slows our progress, denting our aspirations. 

Nietzsche struggled throughout his life with illness, a psychological condition probably caused by syphilis. A failed love affair made matters worse. Plus, he dabbled with the ideas of philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, a noted pessimist.

A falling out with the composer Wagner helped shape Nietzche's worldview. At times he couldn't write for more than 20 minutes without a break. Yet, despite his many setbacks, he never accepted Schopenhauer's dark sentiments about humankind. 

Nietzsche saw beauty in the mountains, the arts and culture. Moreover, he believed that pain, struggle and hardship made us better people. Of course, you can ascend to the mountaintop by helicopter to admire the view. But to Nietzsche, that's an empty unfulfilling event.

The greater person, the Übermensch, climbs the mountain, huffing, slipping and fighting the elements; he gains more from experience. So, likewise, when love is lost or sorrow visits. Hence his famous affirmation, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". Nietzsche embraced suffering as unlocking eventual happiness. 

Later in life, the foundation of his work was a failed effort to replace Christian values. In a failed effort, he set out to guide a new generation without God. Unfortunately, illness took hold before he could finish the project. Although his sister published his theories, these are by no means complete or coherent. 

Nietzsche was astute at recognising that humanity could slip backwards as the world became comfortable. He opined the 'last man' turned his back on challenges and dealt with mediocrity and the trivial, wallowing in opulent ignorance. In the title, I've cited the Kardashians as symbolic of what distracts the 'last man'. 

In truth, I'm spoilt for choice. Love Island, Big Brother, and countless computer games in the candy crush milieu, also fit the bill. But I suppose that's the point. There is so much stuff out there that we are constantly distracted.

Watching reality TV, inane game shows and an obsession with mindless computer games affirm Nietzsche's view. That 'last man' devoid of a moral compass, faithless, listless, is average. Without their churches and religious masters, the herd is fragmenting. Polarised cultural choices from the Internet and TV fill a void. 

I could argue there is profound intellectual snottiness in taking that position; because I look around me, people continue to seek the exceptional, make sacrifices and aim for greatness. So, yes, granted, the distracted common herd is increasingly segmented. But that does not mean we have stopped moving forward. ​

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