Long needed update.

As the months progressed onwards, I find myself within the last month and a half of my thesis year. It was meant to be due in this Friday, but a number of circumstances have come up: my supervisor is still overseas, fell ill with chest infection in remote Ireland, have had very little feedback, but... still we struggle onwards.

On May 11th I finally presented my thesis to the philosophy lecturers and guests. It went surprisingly well, and I was very proud of myself. And let me tell you - walking out of that Seminar was incredible. The week before I was to present, my doubts hit severe critical level, but after an emotion email to Paul and fellow philosophy friends, I pulled up out of my self-doubts and continued to work hard on my presentation summary.



I spoke for 40 minutes, outlining my thesis argument, providing support for my quest to define Nietzsche's individual over the course of his early, middle and late works. The Q+A went well also, I obtained some valuable questions that need to be attended to and got the much needed confidence boost.

July 1st is the due date - and I think I will reach it. Despite the personal and communication difficulties, I finally see hope for handing this thesis in at a level I feel is worthy of an Honours degree. Well, I am hoping, at least. :)

The final title and abstract:

Individuality - its conception, development and meaning within Friedrich Nietzsche's work.

Abstract -

Nietzsche's rejection of ideas such as religious affirmation, the transcendental ego and Hinterwelter (world-behind) led him to develop a concept of the individual that is based on an internal source of joy, life-history, meaningfulness and interconnectivity with other beings in the phenomenal world. Nietzsche understood a personal perspective of individuality as a result of the processes of perspectivism, creativity and self-affirmation that provides the foundation for one's own uniqueness amongst all other individuals. I will be exploring each of these concepts as they appear throughout Nietzsche's collected works and how they help to transform the initial concept defined within The Birth of Tragedy. By exploring this early beginning and continuing with his middle and late works I wish to provide a detailed understanding of his concept of individuality as it develops away from his early Schopenhauerian influences and into a unique philosophy of the individual. I wish to show that this philosophy supports a foundation for his major well-known doctrines of the Eternal Recurrence and Will to Power and how those concepts in turn define the individual that gives them meaning.

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To share my favourite quote so far that I found the most beautiful and elegant description of his concept;

“In our heart we all know quite well that, being unique, we will be in the world only once and that no imaginable chance will for a second time gather together into a unity so strangely variegated an assortment as we are.” – Nietzsche, Schopenhauer as Educator, [UM, III ,1]

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Let us see how these last 6 weeks go...

Finishing off Chapter One

As the title suggests, I think I am nearing a completed draft of Chapter One. After meeting with Paul in Fremantle, we spoke briefly about how this chapter should be done... and we've concluded with the idea that Schopenhauer, while important, should only be granted a very brief mention. The arguments and connections made by Nuno Nabais in the paper The Individual and Individuality in Nietzsche suggests that this connection is an important one, however, it is uncertain of the level of influence Schopenhauer exactly had over Nietzsche regarding the ideas of individuality. While an intriguing argument, I will only introduce briefly the idea...

However, after a database search last night, I found a paper by Walter Sokel entitled On the Dionysian in Nietzsche, which seems to suggest the connection as well. So perhaps this idea is more prevalent than once thought, especially the idea of an all encompassing unity that provides comfort to the individual.

So... that is where I am right now. I like the idea, and I think it is a great introduction and starting point for the thesis. I should finish off Chapter One in a number of days! :)

While out in Fremantle, we went second hand book shopping. Paul wanted me to find some Nietzsche translations by Walter Kaufmann, and we were in luck! I purchased The Will to Power and The Birth of Tragedy (two major books I've been drawing upon). I have been relying on cheap $3 translation of the BoT for study/reading/throwing so it is nice to finalise my studies on the book with a Kaufmann translation.

Summer days of difficult focus.

So... I have about 1400 words down for the chapter...

I am finding it difficult to write... I think it is because I am too harsh a critic with every sentence I try to structure. Nothing seems right.

Usually foolish ramblings during early AM hours produce some sort of usable content... but here it just seems like I am a child scribbling about a topic that is too great for her to handle.

Who knew writing a philosophy thesis could be so hard...

But... as much as I have my doubts, I just cannot see myself not finishing this. I will not let my supervisor be disappointed in me... it just feels like something that would never happen. So.... the means to my end in 6 months will happen... somehow.

It's easier to work in cooler weather. The heat waves of Summer are awful.. I am considering spending the future hot days in the Seville Grove library, but it is a shame it is not open in the evenings.

Regarding my thesis chapter, I am finding it difficult connecting the ideas of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche together. Perhaps there is just a big picture I am missing when I read the Birth of Tragedy. Then again... it is a complex read that any sort of interpretation is bound to be questioned.

Holiday Letters

I was doing some light reading today through Kaufmann's book 'Nietzsche: Philosopher, Psychologist, Antichrist'. On Christmas Day he wrote a letter with some of his most powerful words;

This last bite of life was the hardest I've have chewed yet, and it is still possible that I may suffocate on it. I have suffered of the ignominious and tormenting memories of this summer as of a madness.... lived in solitude too long.... I am being broken on the wheel of my own feelings. If only I could sleep! But the strongest doses of my opiates help me no more than my six-to-eight-hour marches.
If I do not discover the alchemist's trick of turning even this - filth into gold, I am lost. - Thus I have the most beautiful opportunity to prove that for me "all experiences are useful, all days holy, and all human beings divine'!!!!"

Just when I am feeling the same at times throughout this period of the year, these words are comforting in a way. Who knew more than anyone the dire state of the human condition, but he remains optimistic in the sense that he appreciates that every experience is useful... I guess to take this observation on board is helpful to some. Myself included.

I don't know...

Interesting reading from a Christmas Day long ago.

Thesis chapter one is coming along okay. I am in Wagin town right now - so a nice table to work on and a quiet atmosphere at night-time.

Update

So..

After a few weeks of relaxing, exam results, sleep and thesis outline preparation, I have now a specific essay to write, the first of four sections.

I'll be focusing on Nietzsche's initial concept of the individual by way of Schopenhauer as it appears in his work before ~1880.

Where to start? How to begin? ... ... throwing ideas around. We'll see I guess in the next few weeks of research and writing how this will turn out the first draft.

Unit results were out last Friday, Distinctions for both units. Better than I feared in one, so I am not complaining. This Semester was very stressful and very hard doing two 400 level units, but, I did alright. :)

Motivation is hard to find.... just so lonely in this house right now, it is hard to focus... silence is deafening.

Morning of Exam

Exam for Ethics - starting in about 3 1/2 hours.

I wish I had woken up a bit earlier to study, but I guess I'll have lots of time on the 1 1/2 hour trip into Uni. Ah... I so SO excited to have these exams! I am dreading them.... but.... I just want this Semester to be over!

Most excited for - sitting down in front of the PC (like always, I know) - but with something great to watch, no time commitments, and to relax afternoon away without feeling so guilty about not studying. I can't wait!

Thesis Chapters

After a few days of hard work, I've finally come up with three distinct areas I want to focus on for my thesis. Paul wanted a short outline - I'm sending him ~900 words. Seems to cover most of what I want to cover.

It also seems that my thesis has changed somewhat. I was really hesitant to make the concept of the Ubermench a high focus, for it has just been so overdone... so much is written about it, and so SO many interpretations of it has already been done. I didn't want to follow the 'herd' of every undergrad and focus on that, so I've decided to branch it off a little.

The individual, the world, and meaning... at least... that is what I am thinking.

So, a semi-plan is written. I would love to spend more time on it, but, exams...

Here is the draft - I am eager to see how this turns out in 6 months time... and to see how far I've actually deviated away from this original plan!

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Thesis Chapters

I - The individual as giving meaning to the world.

Nietzsche held the idea that the individual was a particular being distinct from another particular being, but not by the idea of individuality. An concept of the individual simply means that two being cannot occupy the same position in space or time. Due to the fact the individual cannot exist in two different moments at once, he therefore cannot be the same individual from one moment to the next. “From one instant to the next, he is another.”

Nietzsche is not denying the existence of particular individual beings that are distinct from others, rather, he denies a specific concept of the individual that is used in order for one to view both themselves and the world.

“An eye which has no direction at all.... There is only seeing from a perspective, only a “knowing” from a perspective.” [GM – III, §12]

The individual as being the subject of knowledge concerning the world. From our one position in space and time, we are only able to view one particular interpretation of the world around us – we are the starting position. Nietzsche discussed the importance of the subjective point-of-view, as we cannot have an eye turned in no direction – the idea of an objective “truth” of self and the world is an empty concept. Rather, it is the subjective view that attributes meaning to the self and to the world. It is the individual that comes to provide his own meaning and definition of his existence. The affirmation of one's life comes from within – and this meaning if brought about through an understanding of the meaning and origins of morality.

II - Life-history and overcoming the herd.

To seek within oneself a connection between all 'life-history' (i.e states, experiences). To seek out a 'self-destination'. Man is to find the path of historical development that will lead to a state of individuality – it is not about inner-self deliberation about all the actions that one can take, rather, it is about the sum of all actions that constitute his being.

Man as he is now is determined to a certain extent by the customs put in place in order for him to be a calculable, regular, “like among his like”.1

“... but everything is necessary; each movement can be calculated mathematically. Thus it is with human actions; if one were omniscient, one would be able to calculate each individual action in advance.”2

By means of laws, morals and social conditioning we have made man calculable. It is only when one realises they are at the end-point of a development of society and moral customs are we able to find the “sovereign individual”3, one who understands that these were mere means to an end and is now able to define himself as he is.4 This social conditioning forms the basis for our being as one of the herd and this then allows for higher emergence to occur when we escape from the 'social straightjacket'.

“The herd is a means, and nothing more.” [Will to Power, 766]

Brief analysis and discussion of the 'herd' mentality. Establish the point that one must overcome this, to obtain mastery over himself and his circumstances.5 The notion of the 'higher' being in contrast to the 'herd'. One who becomes himself by exploring and developing his talents in order to distinguish him from the 'herd'. A failure to do so is a failure to realise actual human potential.

If we are to look upon the world with many eyes, this is the preliminary step towards the task of the new philosopher.6 If he advances beyond conventional morality, then he is faced with the task of creating new values. We unconsciously create favourable conditions for ourselves, however, creating them consciously is impossible for most people, therefore we receive them from others.


III - The individual as the new philosopher.

The individual is who recognises his life-history as the path to he as himself now, one who has been able to overcome the herd-mentality and face life as his own responsibility. To create and embrace new moralities... this is the task of the new philosophers.

To be able to undergo the hard task of embracing independence of both the mind and the spirit.

“... their will to truth is – Will to Power.” [BGE – VI, §211]

An analysis of Beyond Good and Evil - Chapter II, The Free Spirit to be included in discussion.

The idea of a higher humanity as an artistic one – living independently of customs or norms. We have made everything around us so clear, simple and easy. We have tried to retain our ignorance in order to enjoy life, we have become thoughtless. We must aim to escape from this “simplified, thoroughly artificial, suitably imagined, and suitably falsified world.”7

It is a dangerous and difficult road, as one's successes and failures become entirely one's own responsibility.

“The individual is something quite new which creates new things, something absolute – all his acts are entirely his own.” [Will to Power, 767]

For Nietzsche it not really a question about man at all, rather, he is to be overcome. It is about a transcendence and self-becoming rather than an emergence of a determined being - “a becoming master”. Self-becoming is not a final state, it is an ongoing process with no 'end being'. It is open to endless reinterpretation.