tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070949064269041202.post8072670560503728645..comments2023-04-28T04:44:22.272-07:00Comments on Metaponderance: St. Nietzsche Part One: On "the most corrupt kind of corruption"Tracy Withamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752542772570933876noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070949064269041202.post-43592446249454042492009-05-25T09:57:43.042-07:002009-05-25T09:57:43.042-07:00Hi John,
Trusting leadership to move "us" (those ...Hi John,<br /><br />Trusting leadership to move "us" (those of us being led) toward a goal that connects us with the leaders is crucial. Your points are well taken.<br /><br />But the point gets a bit sticky when we bring in Nietzsche's critique of morality based on a commitment to treating all persons with equality. Over the weekend I have realized that the point I am aiming at needs to be made clearer. <br /><br />As of this post the main point would be that we don't want someone with Nietzsche's views leading a Western Democracy. But if we look to the religious source for much of that tradition and Nietzsche's antipathy to that source, to even make the point is almost a joke.<br /><br />The practical point to keep in mind for wealthy, powerful Western Democracies would be that preaching a doctrine of the equality of one's citizens and then acting on an international stage as if our nation or culture should be treated preferentially is, to be kind, odd. Simple as that point is, many powerful western governments--and I have heard it from mine many times--speak as if it is axiomatic that governments look to the best interests of their people first, as though that could be their position AND they can assume a position of trusted leadership on the world stage. The doctrine of enlightened self-interest is usually trotted out at this point, as though the powerful nation, in looking to its self-interests, is thereby also looking out for the rest of the world. If one accepts that as a presumption rather than a goal to which much effort needs to be directed, well, in my grandpa's phrase, "They must think I was born yesterday." <br /><br />But here's where the interesting point comes in: Taking Nietzsche's critique of morality to heart and forming a Christian response to it. That's where my thoughts were this weekend, and I'll post on it in the next few days.<br /><br />Thanks for reading!<br /><br />TracyTracy Withamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02752542772570933876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070949064269041202.post-52425697697566615892009-05-24T10:42:34.552-07:002009-05-24T10:42:34.552-07:00The very esence of authority, whether exercised au...The very esence of authority, whether exercised authority via vested, socio-economic, military or otherwise presumes that the good is being achieved regardless of the oppressive nature of the authority exercised. What comes to mind is the world's view of American Foreign Policy and I am not slighting that policy. The ability of a people to accept authority is based on their understanding of the greater good achieved in long-term and in short-term realized benefits. Most of the troubles occur when a group fails to understand or becomes aware of an abusive oppression which alienates them. "To make progress toward good, it is necessary that the one who takes power does so with the intent of benefiting others with that power."<br />Factions which through selfish or less than noble intents usurp authority may or may not be working in partnership with the powers that be. What I am trying to get at is this... we see to much subversion of authority cloistered by a narrow view to the effects of the decisions of those making decisions i.e. our church politics. As Christians as people it is hard to accept sacrifice at the instigation of a mandate to acheive a good not necessarily clearly understood (may be a result of lack of communication or a necessary repression of information)and as a result there is an unacceptance of the law or mandate. We must have faith in leadership however falable or human as we also have faith in God, understanding that leadership, humanly, is fraught with failure by not being able to discern the absolute inevitable consequence of every decision. We mst also be able to hold leadership accountable and in the hope that leadeship accepts that accontbilitywith the same measure as we accept their decisions. Need I say more ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com