Nietzsche and Runaway Audio Consumption
Came across this today. A lot of posts bring up the issue of "how much is enough?" or "when is audio consumption justified" etc.
Does this Nietzsche aphorism apply to audio buying? You be the judge!
Friedrich Nietzsche: “Danger in riches. — Only he who has spirit ought to have possessions: otherwise possessions are a public danger. For the possessor who does not know how to make use of the free time which his possessions could purchase him will always continue to strive after possessions: this striving will constitute his entertainment, his strategy in his war against boredom.
Thus in the end the moderate possessions that would suffice the man of spirit are transformed into actual riches – riches which are in fact the glittering product of spiritual dependence and poverty. They only appear quite different from what their wretched origin would lead one to expect because they are able to mask themselves with art and culture: for they are, of course, able to purchase masks. By this means they arouse envy in the poorer and the uncultivated – who at bottom are envying culture and fail to recognize the masks as masks – and gradually prepare a social revolution: for gilded vulgarity and histrionic self-inflation in a supposed ‘enjoyment of culture’ instil into the latter the idea ‘it is only a matter of money’ – whereas, while it is to some extent a matter of money, it is much more a matter of spirit.”
Nietzsche, Friedrich. 1996. Human, All Too Human: A Book for Free Spirits. Cambridge University Press. (p. 283-4, an aphorism no. 310)
I'm pretty sure @mahgister will want to read this one! (Because they speak so artfully about avoiding the diversion that consumption poses to the quest for true aesthetic and acoustic excellence.)
+1 @hilde45 |
"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven" - The Bible The Bible doesn't say having money is wrong, but instead says the love of money is. Meaning putting anything in place of a relationship with God, including Godless human philosophy.... The rest of the verse: Matthew 19:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible
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Yeah, and that is just one of the fundamental facts that the Nit man failed to address. Thou shalt not covet. I don't care much for streams of indecisive consciousness (better known as thought bubbles?) where little regard is had for addressing even the most obvious of internal inconsistencies and flaws in logic. And there are other contentious issues that render any possible simple and clear truth being buried under their weight.
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"Spirit." *hmm* Go ask you pet why it likes you, beyond the food, the better place to sleep in and live within with You. They're great listeners, but they watch your habits closer than you think... ;) Nietzsche was wrong about animals, and besides were here before us. We were simple at first, but grew complex in a very different way. This 'hobby' being an excellent example. SnotBot |
Conspicuous consumption for appearances is not to be endorsed but in his own words: "in the poorer and the uncultivated – who at bottom are envying culture and fail to recognize the masks as masks – and gradually prepare a social revolution: for gilded vulgarity and histrionic self-inflation". Where is the criticism of the "envying"? Is envy not also a fault? Are only those with means capable of fault? Poor and uncultivated need not mean amoral. I get that it sure seems easier to fault those with means, but not being well off is not an excuse to covet. |
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When the Paris Commune was put down [in 1871] with the slaughter of 20,000 working people, Nietzsche wrote: "Hope is possible again! Our German mission isn’t over yet! I’m in better spirit tha ever, for not yet everything has capitulated to Franco-Jewish levelling…" |
Very pertinent to those among us who continually feel the urge to change equipment, rather than enjoy what they have: "For the possessor who does not know how to make use of the free time which his possessions could purchase him will always continue to strive after possessions: this striving will constitute his entertainment, his strategy in his war against boredom." Nietzsche was a lover of music, a friend of Richard Wagner, and an amateur composer.
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@artemus_5 My take on his comment about only spirit being able to have possessions is the same reason we don't want children to have opiates. They can take them but then the drugs would take them over. In this case, only someone with mastery over themselves can handle the danger posed by possessions. |
The reason for the question is because his statement seems rather odd to me. As I understand, we are all spirit beings. And, if so, then we all "ought to have possessions:". But I doubt that is what he means I suspect he has covered spirit and its definition in a previous paragraph/thought.But generally in casual conversation, @hilde45 definition is usually what is meant.
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I take "spirit" to mean someone who defines their own path, has their own intentions, and is not in the grip of others' sway. A "sense of what they are about" or "genuine character" might be a good way of seeing his point. We are either creators or followers. We have "spirit" or "slavishness." Hope that helps. |
All teacher are not hoax or empty idol... Certainly not the poor Nietzsche who pay the price of his insight with his life... The main name in spirituality, science or philosophy are NOT first authority figure but human who struggle toward the truth... Buddah speaks complex matter, and Christ too, only Sam Harris will think that they are gurus or crooks...More honest mind will call them teacher ... It is like in audio where the snake fraud is nowhere to be found where people think it is....Nietzsche seems to think where the snake oil is... Ok i apologize for my interpretation and i will shut myself... Merry Christmast
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In the gospels who is rich in spirit is someone for whom any posessions means nothing or at least dont replace spirit..... He can own them for any purpose and not only for himself... I know it is an hard lesson to learn! I dont consider myself wise and filled with spirit... Spirit comes from hebrew "ruach" the wind, the breathing, the relation to the kingdom inside and outside...
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Thanks hilde45 for your link with Nietzsche... It apply to the letter to audio... It described more the spiritual condition behind consumerism, a poverty of spirit which all the gold in the world generally cannot replace... But all people with costly audio system are not like the beggar in rich clothes depicted by Nietzsche ... We must not judge while thinking, we must apply this wise observation to ourself or the part of ourself who mimic the aphorism .... Merry Christmas to you and thank for this deep insight... |
And sometimes it takes an upgrade to learn whats possible and if its worth it. It's ok to be satisfied with mediocrity, AND it's ok to make an all out assult on the best. If people are envious, it says something about them.
You decide how to spend your money and what sacrifices you will make to get to where you want to be. Yes, it is a hoot.
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I thoroughly enjoy philosophy & Theology. But I absolutely hate to read philosophers/theologians interpretation of them because they so often write a full page about something which could have been written more simply & understandable in a paragraph. But I suppose long flowery descriptions and esoteric terms help to keep up the appearance of brilliance above the common man. I guess that is his mask of being an authority figure. But on to my question about this sentence
What is his definition of spirit? |
@ebm Everyday we learn a bit more about what we don't know. Ain't that a hoot? |
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