Scott Alexander has recently been talking about Nietzsche, and I wonder if this comment is more a response to his doing so than the present essay. I'm not sure that it collapses down neatly-enough to this to just say Gabe here is purely making a reference to master/slave morality. The elephant-in-the-brain-style unintentional dishonesty with oneself is more interesting than discussing Nietzsche with people on the internet for the one thousandth time, but now that you mention it, it's fun to connect the two.
Thanks for bringing this to light. This has been a topic for me for quite some time, yet I haven't been able to grasp it clearly. Or perhaps even name it.
I've spent much of my life as the usual perfectionist, which had the side effect of me actually learning about many things and learning quite a few skills. Also sorting my inner world out not to feel like shit all the time. When I finally stopped after building some strength and courage as the core approach to life, to a large extent at least, and found rest, I started to be somehow restless about what other people are (not) doing. The goals and the bars are just so very low.
Perhaps I am still too harsh with myself and others, but it's hard to bear watching the society complaining about their lack of meaning in life, reason being simply being unable to stand up to the challenge. And there really are enough challenges. It's just pathetic and sad, how people will avoid exactly the thing that would help them the most.
Like, obviously there are reasons people are "weak", by definition there are reasons, like the mechanism you've just explained, but from other point of view, I am not buying this bullshit.
It's interesting for me that you somehow found for yourself how to approach people. This has been rather difficult for me. When I am too sharp, I feel arrogant and people will even often use that to counter the argument. I am not listening to the content, because you are being arrogant. So being sharp and keeping the ground while still retaining compassion, that is something I am still tuning into. Also because it's hard for me as well. It's easier to be weak and not engage in painful conversations. It's easier to hide it behind idiot compassion.
I do realize the comment also sounds a bit arrogant and perhaps even narcissistic, but I am genuinely interested in the topic. I am practicing Tibetan Buddhism and I am deep in the wrathful compassion rabbit hole. Which is exactly this. It's tearing down ignorance, destroying all obstacles, standing in clarity, taking no bullshit, but still coming from a place of compassion, wishing to stop the endless and meaningless suffering.
But perhaps there really is not enough compassion so far in the end.
Yep, the popularity of Slave morality is unbelievable
Scott Alexander has recently been talking about Nietzsche, and I wonder if this comment is more a response to his doing so than the present essay. I'm not sure that it collapses down neatly-enough to this to just say Gabe here is purely making a reference to master/slave morality. The elephant-in-the-brain-style unintentional dishonesty with oneself is more interesting than discussing Nietzsche with people on the internet for the one thousandth time, but now that you mention it, it's fun to connect the two.
If I had to think in terms of master vs slave morality about "Weak people also have obligations and these obligations should be clear"...
Then it goes counter to slave morality.
But it is _alien_ to master morality, that is self-centred and about strength.
I haven't read Nietzsche or those posts from Scott, it's just something I've been thinking about lately
Thanks for bringing this to light. This has been a topic for me for quite some time, yet I haven't been able to grasp it clearly. Or perhaps even name it.
I've spent much of my life as the usual perfectionist, which had the side effect of me actually learning about many things and learning quite a few skills. Also sorting my inner world out not to feel like shit all the time. When I finally stopped after building some strength and courage as the core approach to life, to a large extent at least, and found rest, I started to be somehow restless about what other people are (not) doing. The goals and the bars are just so very low.
Perhaps I am still too harsh with myself and others, but it's hard to bear watching the society complaining about their lack of meaning in life, reason being simply being unable to stand up to the challenge. And there really are enough challenges. It's just pathetic and sad, how people will avoid exactly the thing that would help them the most.
Like, obviously there are reasons people are "weak", by definition there are reasons, like the mechanism you've just explained, but from other point of view, I am not buying this bullshit.
It's interesting for me that you somehow found for yourself how to approach people. This has been rather difficult for me. When I am too sharp, I feel arrogant and people will even often use that to counter the argument. I am not listening to the content, because you are being arrogant. So being sharp and keeping the ground while still retaining compassion, that is something I am still tuning into. Also because it's hard for me as well. It's easier to be weak and not engage in painful conversations. It's easier to hide it behind idiot compassion.
Well, here we are.
I do realize the comment also sounds a bit arrogant and perhaps even narcissistic, but I am genuinely interested in the topic. I am practicing Tibetan Buddhism and I am deep in the wrathful compassion rabbit hole. Which is exactly this. It's tearing down ignorance, destroying all obstacles, standing in clarity, taking no bullshit, but still coming from a place of compassion, wishing to stop the endless and meaningless suffering.
But perhaps there really is not enough compassion so far in the end.