Descartes_Nietzsche_Compare_and_Contrast

Luke Wilson Phi 151 12/11/10 Conclusion paper Descartes/Nietzsche “The Discourse on the Method” was not only written in a language everyone could understand, it also described how Descartes conducted his own reasoning in order to understand the world around him. According to Nietzsche, however, it did not matter what the reality was around you, it only mattered how you interacted with it. These two views are slightly different and slightly similar. Descartes method was one of viewing things in smaller sections so that he would be sure to be correct. This is similar to Nietzsche’s view of the world in the “veil of Maya.” (Nietzsche, pg. 2) On the other hand, Nietzsche believed that there was only one way to be correct about the world and conducting your own reasoning. Nietzsche wanted you to be able to take a step back and look at the world around you; to take a look at the bigger picture. Descartes believed that just because someone views the world one way, it does not necessarily make them wrong, it just makes them different. In Nietzsche’s “veil” approach, he says you need to step back, look at the big picture, and then in order for it to make sense, you need to focus on one thing at a time. This is almost the same thing Descartes says, but in a different approach. So, according to Descartes, Nietzsche is right. Descartes knew that in order for certain things to make more sense, you needed to create a story out of what actually happened. This approach was considered to be a “scientific” view of the world, and as such, when new evidence was brought forth, the story could be altered slightly. Nietzsche, I believe, had the same view on storytelling. “King Midas hunted a long time in the woods for the wise Silenus. When he had finally caught him the king asked him what he considered man's greatest good. The daemon remained sullen and uncommunicative until finally, forced by the king, he broke into a shrill laugh and spoke: "Ephemeral wretch, begotten by accident and toil, why do you force me to tell you what it would be your greatest boon not to hear' What would be best for you is quite beyond your reach: not to have been born, not to be, to be nothing. But the second best is to die soon." (Nietzsche, pg. 5-6) Ha, the disease of life. This story, of course, is how to deal with death. According to Nietzsche, there were only three options of dealing with death. You could ignore the fact all together, kill yourself, or you could face it head on. In ignoring the truth, it is easier to make up stories about what happens when you die than face reality. This is presented in the previous example. Nietzsche, however, believes that when you die, that’s it. You are simply dead, and there is nothing after the fact. Descartes view seems a bit different though. According to Descartes, there is only one certainty in life. “I think, therefore, I am.” (Descartes, pg. 2) Descartes reasoned that if he could doubt his own existence, then he must exist after all. In this aspect the human soul is called forth as a way of explaining what happens when we die. It seems to be a rebirth and a slight affirmation that so long as we are heading in the same general direction, everything will be ok. While these two views have certain aspects that are similar, the areas that they are not are vast. This is especially true for their beliefs in God. Descartes view on God was more of a conceptual idea, whereas Nietzsche had a belief that God was dead. While Descartes believed in God, and sees God as “infinite, eternal, immutable, all knowing, all powerful, and finally have all the perfections in God.” (Descartes, pg. 17) I say conceptual because God is a way of describing all the things that cannot be explained. Nietzsche did not believe God to be a determining force in people’s lives, but certainly had a soft spot for Apollo and Dionysus. Apollo was a god of reason and light, and Dionysus was more of a partier, and over-indulgence type of being. The Apollinians believed that music, and art were more of an epicenter for culture, while Dionysians preferred nature above all else. “The desire to tear asunder the veil of Maya, to sink back into the original oneness of nature.” (Nietzsche, pg. 5) Descartes knew that we have a shared understanding of how language works as well. Language is a structural importance to help understand our fellow man. This can be used to help describe Nietzsche’s approach of our shared, unified existence. Nietzsche uses the “veil” in order to “see” differently. Simply because one culture has a different way of communicating with one another, does not mean we all experience the same things in life. “A cruel man feels his death as keenly as a good man.” (unknown) Using these examples, you can see that the “veil” can be used to understand that every culture is simply different. When everything gets clumped together, it can seem overwhelming, but this process can be used for any aspect of life. Drawing the line between clarity and consciousness was up to us according to Descartes. Nietzsche believed that the “form” was not important, just how we interacted with it. If the line between clarity and consciousness is determined by us, then the “form” should not matter at all. The “form” is only revealed when the creator determines its final use, so if we are the creators, our final “form” is up to us. This shows that, although different, these two ways of thinking were both headed in the same general direction. Descartes and Nietzsche had some similarities and some definite differences in almost every part of their belief structure. Most of how they learned was similar, or rather how we should learn. Each of their views on God are vastly different, but according to each of them, they are the one who is right. So, I guess the final decision has to come down to each and every one of us to make up our own minds on what to believe. We have been given the tools to succeed, and all we need to do is follow the right path, and hopefully, hopefully wind up where we want to be. Bibliography “A keen man…” unknown. (quote from Battlestar Gallactica)