“Why do we fear and hate a possible reversion to barbarianism? Because it would make people unhappier than they are? Oh no! The barbarians of every age were happier; let us not deceive ourselves! – The reason is that our drive to knowledge has become too strong for us to be able to want happiness or the happiness of a strong, firmly rooted delusion; even to imagine such a state of being is painful to us!” Nietzsche p.428
With this statement on the fear of barbarianism, Nietzsche gives us a view of how much society does not quite understand how happy the barbarians were. He tells of how the barbarians were happier because they were not concerned with making advancements in knowledge or creating complex societies. But they were rather only concerned with meeting their basic needs without much want of extra stuff.
Nietzsche also states that knowledge is the cause of our unhappiness in the modern age. I agree with Nietzsche’s statement and I believe that this can be attributed to the issue that the pursuit of knowledge is a never-ending venture. With knowledge, there will always be more knowledge to discover and more questions that can be asked. This troubles us as humans because the more we understand and the more knowledge we obtain, the more we realize that we know less than we think. This leads humans to be caught in an infinite cycle of continually pursuing knowledge in order to figure out the mysteries of the universe and finding out that there are even more mysteries to discover after the original mystery is solved.
Another way that barbarians are happier than modern humans is that the barbarians were not as materialistic as modern society. With modern humans, material gains were very important for the entire society. But the focus on these material gains is also a never-ending pursuit because there will always be more things. There will always be products that are new and improved forms of other things, and as a materialistic society, people will be come attracted to these new items and seek to obtain them.
I believe that Nietzsche would agree that modern humans are not as happy as barbarians because they are too caught up in never-ending pursuits in their search for knowledge and happiness. But is my analysis of the barbarians not deep enough? Do I need more evidence to support my claims? Or is modern society really unhappy with their gains?
I think your analysis on barbarians is very adequate. You explained in great detail why Nietzsche thinks that barbarians are happier than modern humans. Modern humans are not truly happy because all they think about is what else can I get. They do not sit there and enjoy the things that they currently have but rather they always want the newest material thing out on the market. This is very problematic because you are raising a society that will never appreciate anything that they have. Barbarians were truly happier than that modern human because they did care for material things. Barbarians main goal in life was to survive to see another day. Modern humans main goal is to acquire wealth because in their minds more money will generate a happier person which is false. Sometimes I wonder if our society is truly better than barbarians.
ReplyDeleteI think that Nietzsche's statement that barbarians were more happy is probably correct, but it might be a stretch to say that they did not participate in the pursuit of knowledge. I think that humans have a natural tendency inherent in them to pursue knowledge. This pursuit can be defined as an intense curiosity or urge to explore the natural world. They might have been more happy because they dont have as many worries or stress induced upon them. It's hard to say rather I would or would not be happier during the barbaric times because of all the knowledge that I already have. I know that with the knowledge I do have now, I probably would prefer our society. This is an interesting topic that is kind of difficult to tackle, I think your post was very beneficial.
ReplyDeleteI understand with Nietzche's assertion that the human drive for knowledge distracts from contentment with what we already have, but I think the solution of barbarianism is too extreme. Nietzche's analysis proves a point, but one extreme does not solve the other. A happy medium of discovery and contentment would ideally be the best solution to this unhappiness that he describes. I think your analysis of the barbarians highlights the extremism in Nietzche's point--especially because modern society is so opposite from barbarian society that they are incomparable. Modern society may very well be unhappy, but not because of its sometimes excessive thirst for knowledge. It is unhappy because of the issues that have arisen from what we have not discovered, such as a cure for HIV/AIDS or cancer. These are the kinds of things that benefit from the human desire for discovery and knowledge, and barbarian society would crumble if faced with this sort of issue.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Barbarians would be happier. But I also agree with Arthur in that we cannot be positive on whether or not Barbarians pursued at least some knowledge. This goes back to the saying "ignorance is bliss". Since the Barbarians are ignorant of many things and do not have our consciousness, they are able to live with less worry. But is this necessarily a good thing? While they may be happier, they are not as fulfilled. We humans do have a search for knowledge but that is what makes us human and sometimes can lead to worry and unhappiness but at other times it can lead to happiness and fulfillment that barbarians could never be aware of.
ReplyDeleteI think this is true to some extent. Modern humans have learned a great deal, and since we have broken so many technological barriers we seem to have more optimism and eagerness than time and resources. In the times of the barbarians, they worked at the limits if their knowledge, but they may have been dissatisfied with their lifestyle. The process of perfecting agriculture for example probably would have been particularly frustrating, understanding that plants can be grown for consumption but not knowing what plants were nutritious, poisonous, or storable. Or even before agriculture they probably pondered over innovative hunting strategies. I'm sure they wanted more than what they had, otherwise there would be no "modern human."
ReplyDeleteNietzche's view of the modern man assumes a condition of greater suffering than the barbarian condition. His position also assumes an understanding of the barbarian condition, a situation that the modern man can never completely understand in its entirety but only theoretically. Nietzche's perceived understanding of the modern burdens of technology and development appear post-modern in essence. He exhibits a desire to return to the roots of humanity before its supposed corruption by modern development and society. While his claims seem outlandish, there is merit to his claims. More possessions will not necessary secure our happiness. However, now that we are aware of the potential for what we could possess with wealth and technology, it would be difficult if not nearly impossible to revert to our previous tendencies. By showing people what they do not have they are less content with the mundane or more basic lifestyles. While his claims are idealistic and perhaps carry weight, the reversion to a prehistoric basis of living is unrealistic.
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