Materialism>idealism

I’m not trying to get into a whole debate, it’s just interesting to me the way some people cling to these idealist philosophers. Same w the stoics imo. As a guy who used to read all of them… they’re useless to actually understanding life. Like it can be helpful to read them in order to understand how the Western worldview evolved, but they really shouldn’t be taken as some sort of handbook - which many seem to do. (reactionaries). People who read Nietzsche or Plato and think they have some sort of secret insight is my biggest red flag irt pseudo-intellectual who is just going to waste your time… same with Dostoevsky btw.

Confucius is based af though.

Edit: Also, yes these kinds of people exist- my former mentor/boss who spent decades at a white shoe DC law firm would accept any idea if you found a quote by Plato to justify it lmao.

  • SpaceCowboyOP
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    22 years ago

    Nazism gave his ideas wings.

    The relationship between superstructure and base is not one directional or straightforward. but the idea that modern leftists actually think he has something positive to offer is honestly appalling to me.

      • SpaceCowboyOP
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        22 years ago

        It’s not about some sort of playbook it is about how humans relate to one another and recognize (or don’t) the humanity of other humans. That is really what is at the heart of fascism (and liberalism as well). ideology

          • Seanchaí (she/her)
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            42 years ago

            “In 1932, Nietzsche’s sister, Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche, received a bouquet of roses from Adolf Hitler during a German premiere of Benito Mussolini’s 100 Days, and in 1934 Hitler personally presented her with a wreath for Nietzsche’s grave carrying the words “To A Great Fighter”. Also in 1934, Elisabeth gave to Hitler Nietzsche’s favorite walking stick, and Hitler was photographed gazing into the eyes of a white marble bust of Nietzsche.”

            That same sister, by the way, married a Wagnerian Nazi and they moved to Paraguay to make a Nazi commune.

            Wild to say Nietzsche has nothing to do with nazism and that Hitler didn’t understand him. Hitler loved him.

              • Seanchaí (she/her)
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                42 years ago

                How does that make it any less disingenuous to claim he has nothing to do with Nazism? Or Italian Fascism, which also was greatly inspired by Nietszche’s writing?

                “They belong in the kitchen and their chief role in life is to beget children for German warriors.” Is Neitzsche’s view on women. At what point do you stop defending a dead guy whose writings directly influenced the Nazis and fascists, and who has countless terrible things like this that can be quoted and just say, “ah shit, yeah, he fucking sucked” and move on with your life?

                  • Seanchaí (she/her)
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                    42 years ago

                    Fuck no, you keep trying to declaim we need “nuance” and “context” when talking about a raging misogynist who wanted a return to Greek slavery, and believed that Black slaves came from “useless and harmful stock,” that Africans were “primeval” and felt less pain than white people

                    If that’s what you’re defending and claiming isn’t connected to fascism, then what are you even doing here??