Matthew Di Zenzo Dr.

Worrell 111

April 2, 2006 A New Art of Existence

What makes us unique from every other living being on this world is our possession of free will and consciousness; we are accountable for who we are and responsible for the way the world around us appears. Other people cannot tell us who or what we are, or what our existence means. We are the only ones who can determine what we can be for ourselves, and not what others want us to be. These are basic existentialist thoughts about re-defining ourselves in an increasingly absurd world. In following the teachings of existentialism, we must look at ourselves not through the eyes of others, but from within; from the inside out. We must assume responsibility for all our actions and recreate ourselves from the subjective contents of consciousness. We must have the courage to alienate ourselves from the beliefs of society at large, and deal with the anguish and despair of reality. However, for those, such as us, living in modernity, this is very difficult to do. We are a tragic society and it is for this reason Nietzsche feels, without a doubt, its necessary for us to appreciate a new style of living and get out of modernity. Man is something that must be overcome. Modernity refers to the period extending from the post-medieval era to today, which is characterized by the growth and the strengthening of social, religious, and scientific practices, or more simply, being modern. Friedrich Nietzsche, along with other existentialists, criticizes modernity. Whether I look at human beings with a good or an evil eye, I always find them busy at a single task, each and every one of them: doing what serves the preservation of the human species. And, truth be told, they do it not out of a feeling of love for this species, but simply because nothing in them is older, stronger, more unrelenting, more insuperable than this instinct because this instinct is in fact the essence of our type and herd (Nietzsche 129). Its time for a new path, and time

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Matthew Di Zenzo Dr. Worrell 111

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to reach new heights. We live in a society today where individuality is rare, or even nonexistent. We are all designer-clothes-wearing conformists. We all want to be like somebody, instead of being ourselves. By means of morality, individuals are led to be functions of the herd and to attribute value to themselves merely as functions (Nietzsche 138). Nietzsche says our time has passed and its time for a new wave, but he is not sure that it is possible to save ourselves, but hasnt give up on us. We are so delusional, the denial of our existence has become our second skin, and this just shows what little regard we have for life. Its time for a new, stronger wave of humanity to step in and crush the weak, pathetic lives we live today. Nietzsche who was a poet, views art has the highest form of human existence. The art of existence, (Guignon and Pereboom xxxvii) refers to the cultivation, and realization of the self. It is only when we realize the flaw in the way of living today can we rise up and make a change. Nietzsche sees a constant self-stultification in our society. What does your conscience say? You shall become who you are (Nietzsche 142). And if we are this useless being as Nietzsche claims, then our society and way of living will become useless as well. In saying that "God is Dead, (Nietzsche 133) Nietzsche was saying that it is time for us to transcend from our so called herd" and become something new, something stronger. As long as we are these sheep, blindly following an invisible Sheppard, we will always be suppressed. Nietzsche wants us to understand that there is no Sheppard, and it is time for us to be our own people. there [is] nothing more frightful than feeling single. Being alone, perceiving as a single person, neither obeying nor ruling,

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constituting and individual that was no pleasure then, but a punishment; one was condemned to being individual (Nietzsche 138). Humanity is a transitional phase and should not be our final destination. We ceased to be animals when we taught ourselves to control our instincts for the sake of greater gains. By learning, we have been able to create civilizations, and progress. Rather than directing our will to power outward to dominate those around us, we have directed it inward and gained self-mastery. However, this struggle for mastering ones self is an arduous task, and we are always tempted to give up. Christianity is one way that we have given up on life. We come to see life as blameworthy or meaningless as a way of easing ourselves out of the struggle for self realization. In Christian morality, Nietzsche sees denial of all those characteristics that he associates with a healthy life. The concept of sin makes us ashamed of our instincts and our sexuality. Faith, as well, discourages our curiosity and natural skepticism. Christian morality is based on the promise of an afterlife, leading Christians to devalue their current life for the better life that is to follow. Nietzsche argues that Christianity springs from resentment for life, and in fact denies it. Christianity is the antithesis of life. Nietzsche saw God as this sociologic safety blanket for the masses. Christianity may offer us comfort, and safety, but in reality, it makes us empty sheep. We have to make decisions through intellectual consciousness, not through Christianity. Even though God is dead we must still defeat even his shadow (Nietzsche 133). While many viewed science as a progression to society, Nietzsche saw us facing a fundamental crisis in values. With the rise of science, the Christian worldview no longer held a prominent explanatory role in peoples lives, God is dead (Nietzsche 133).

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Matthew Di Zenzo Dr. Worrell 111

April 2, 2006 A New Art of Existence

However, science should not and does not introduce a new set of values to replace the Christian values it displaces. People need to identify some source of meaning and value in their lives. Only by the affirmation of life can we come up with these values. Science does not progress us as a society, it only moves us along the line of infinite nothingness. Nietzsche constantly fires missiles at philosophy. He explains how philosophy is a disease. Be a philosopher, be a mummy, portray monotono-theism with a gravediggers pantomime! (Nietzsche 177). We have no philosophy for the future because we only philosophize when we are in decline. Philosophy is a mere crutch or medication for problems and Nietzsche makes one wonder, what is the value of existence that is only concerned with the sick and weak. We, as a society in modernity, dont want to deal with pain, blood, or suffering. We need a soft comfortable pillow to aid us when we fall, and we want everything to be safe, secure, and happy. That is not how we should live, because that is not life. In fact, we are denying life living this way. We fool ourselves about life, and the understanding of the world constantly. Life is to be lived, not feared. We are scared of life and ourselves and its quite obvious through Nietzsches work that he is sick of it; by denying our bodies, we are denying life. Or as you, Dr. Worrell, would say, We are our own perpetual grave diggers. Philosophy has been a misunderstanding of the body and up until now it was not about the truth. The trust in life is gone and life is now a problem. We are constantly being denied life. Even at the earliest stages of our being we are constantly being told No to things. According to Nietzsche, we should be embracing life and we should be saying yes to things. To divide the world into a true and an apparent world is

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merely a sign of decadence (Nietzsche 180). Our society has done away with the true and the apparent world, and this is why Nietzsche finds it necessary for a change. Philosophy and Christianity has made us infants. Nietzsche questions the value of the wisdom that has become the tradition, which has become the common. Nietzsche says that the decline of humanity started with Socrates. Instead of living life, the ancient philosophers wanted to reason about it. Socrates left us reason, and we use reason to mummify things. Life is meant to be embraced, but we ignore it. Ever y philosophy that puts peace higher than war, every ethics with a negative appraisal of the concept of happiness, every metaphysics and physics that knows of a finale, a final state of any sort, every predominantly aesthetic or religions longing for an elsewhere, a beyond, an above, allows one to ask whether it was not sickness that inspired the philosopher (Nietzsche 125). We are so obsessed with looking high; we never look down on the surface and see the problems that lie in front of us. We often forget, without a valley there is no mountain. We should not be afraid of risk, questioning securities, or embracing life. We constantly find ourselves bounded by hurdles, and we view these hurdles as obstacles. These hurdles should not be viewed as obstacles, but instead as opportunities. In order to achieve a new style of life, we have to start embracing life, and embracing the present. We have to become individuals, and get away from the herd; we must destroy humanity. We must rid Christianity, and other religions, and focus on the present life, rather than a better afterlife. And finally we have to realize the problems with past philosophies and embrace a new form, one that helps explain ones self-realization and individuality. As Nietzsche says in Twilight of the Idols, we must philosophize with the hammer.

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April 2, 2006 A New Art of Existence

There can be no denying Nietzsche when he says our society, as modern as it is, is flawed and tragic. In a society where philosophy, science, and religion all deny life, its safe to say individuality and self-realization is not in abundance, and its time for a change. In The Birth of Tragedy, Nietzsche explains that in order to achieve salvation, one must immerse oneself in life right now. He has unlearned walking and speaking, and as he dances he is about to take flight into the sky. His demeanor bespeaks enchantment. As the animals now speak, and the earth yields milk and honey, so something supernatural reverberates from him. He feels like a god; he now walks about just as enraptured and elated as he saw the gods walk about in his dreams. The person is no longer an artist; he has become a work of art. (Nietzsche 122). It is time for this new art of existence, time for a superior being, time for actors to stop acting. "Dare now to be tragic men, for ye shall be redeemed" (Nietzsche).

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Works Cited

Guignon, Charles and Derk Pereboom. Existentialism: Basic Writings. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2001. Nietzsche, Friedrich. "The Birth of Tragedy." Existentialism: Basic Writings. Ed. Charles Guignon and Derk Pereboom. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2001. Nietzsche, Friedrich. "The Gay Science." Existentialism: Basic Writings. Ed. Charles Guignon and Derk Pereboom. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2001. Nietzsche, Friedrich. "Twilight of the Idols." Existentialism: Basic Writings. Ed. Charles Guignon and Derk Pereboom. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2001.

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