This was very informative, and the idea that “nihilism” is a state of mind where one either wants “a life of great stakes” or “nothing at all” is very useful. I also like the idea that a barbarian is someone who believes their greatness comes from their ancestry-a great thought as well. Thank you for your work!
Such an important essay, so clearly and compellingly explained. Let me offer just one comment, which pertains to love of one's own and love of the good. Thee are two ways we can go wrong. The first is to identify our own too closely with the good, which breeds hostility to outsiders and denies the legitimacy of the philosophical quest. But the other is to try to bypass love of one's own and leap directly to the good. Leaving aside the permanent elusiveness of the good in itself, our initial glimpses of the good are always through those things we love because they are our own. We can ascend from those more idiosyncratic and parochial loves to a fuller understanding of the lovable itself, but that's where we always have to start.
An exhilarating reading, thank-you so much Prof.Millerman, what a hit-it-out-of-the-park primer! I have a very small suggestion: you might use 'Strauss' in the title of the presentation. It really deserves a much wider audience, Strauss is now especially relevant to the crux of the current crisis in the West. It is like he wrote the essay prophetically for us as a guide book. Thank-you again.
Actually Strauss was born in 1899, not 1889, just sayin... I caught it cuz I know he died in his early 70s in 1973 & I always thought, such a waste for such a man to die so young...
Eternity manifested in reality is ugly in itself, belies an unnatural state brought forth by a dystopic unbalance that expedites the demise of other Beings to keep preserving an arbitrary Status Quo. Thus, not hailing Eternal Peace does not necesarily mean that War is desirable. War is just like Death, a natural Phenomena that is not exclussive to Human Beings. Like Death, even if for some insane instace were to be desirable does not automatically imply the rejection of distinction, for even suicidal persons are afraid of some mortal methods, and prefer others. Something not Being cold does not equal Being hot in the same way not Being a militarist implies Being a pacifist. Being wary of Unchanged Peace specially in unfair regimes like North Korea does not mean a desire for WW3. So Militarism is an active desire and use of Force as the ideal way to carry out politics, in such a way that Society must mobilize to increase Force capabilities until Hegemony. The desire mannifests as the appeal of 'we are powerful' to the in group regardless of reality, thus appearance, forms and uniforms are esential for social cohesion and mobilization. The use mannifests in the Power projection capabilities to spread fear to the outgroups. However militarists do not stop at the threat of Force but actually want to excersise it, meaning that War is cheap to them. Regardless of 'beauty', what Neville Chamberlain did was not conductive to Utopic Peace. Never let a dream become a nightmare.
This was very informative, and the idea that “nihilism” is a state of mind where one either wants “a life of great stakes” or “nothing at all” is very useful. I also like the idea that a barbarian is someone who believes their greatness comes from their ancestry-a great thought as well.
Thank you for your work!
Such an important essay, so clearly and compellingly explained. Let me offer just one comment, which pertains to love of one's own and love of the good. Thee are two ways we can go wrong. The first is to identify our own too closely with the good, which breeds hostility to outsiders and denies the legitimacy of the philosophical quest. But the other is to try to bypass love of one's own and leap directly to the good. Leaving aside the permanent elusiveness of the good in itself, our initial glimpses of the good are always through those things we love because they are our own. We can ascend from those more idiosyncratic and parochial loves to a fuller understanding of the lovable itself, but that's where we always have to start.
Fantastic.
An exhilarating reading, thank-you so much Prof.Millerman, what a hit-it-out-of-the-park primer!
I have a very small suggestion: you might use 'Strauss' in the title of the presentation. It really deserves a much wider audience, Strauss is now especially relevant to the crux of the current crisis in the West. It is like he wrote the essay prophetically for us as a guide book. Thank-you again.
Thank you very much for this!
Don’t forget that Schmidt’s letter of recommendation was key in Strauss escaping Germany.
Excellent video.
So interesting, I've never heard Nihilism expressed in these terms
Actually Strauss was born in 1899, not 1889, just sayin... I caught it cuz I know he died in his early 70s in 1973 & I always thought, such a waste for such a man to die so young...
That is right - my apologies for the error.
THIS IS OUTSTANDING!...by the way Southern has totally sold out...love of filthy lucre!
Eternity manifested in reality is ugly in itself, belies an unnatural state brought forth by a dystopic unbalance that expedites the demise of other Beings to keep preserving an arbitrary Status Quo. Thus, not hailing Eternal Peace does not necesarily mean that War is desirable. War is just like Death, a natural Phenomena that is not exclussive to Human Beings. Like Death, even if for some insane instace were to be desirable does not automatically imply the rejection of distinction, for even suicidal persons are afraid of some mortal methods, and prefer others. Something not Being cold does not equal Being hot in the same way not Being a militarist implies Being a pacifist. Being wary of Unchanged Peace specially in unfair regimes like North Korea does not mean a desire for WW3. So Militarism is an active desire and use of Force as the ideal way to carry out politics, in such a way that Society must mobilize to increase Force capabilities until Hegemony. The desire mannifests as the appeal of 'we are powerful' to the in group regardless of reality, thus appearance, forms and uniforms are esential for social cohesion and mobilization. The use mannifests in the Power projection capabilities to spread fear to the outgroups. However militarists do not stop at the threat of Force but actually want to excersise it, meaning that War is cheap to them. Regardless of 'beauty', what Neville Chamberlain did was not conductive to Utopic Peace. Never let a dream become a nightmare.
sooo it's like 4chan.