A Master — spontaneous affirmation of the self. Confess
My goodness is amoral. It’s nobility and truth.
I’m one who is, defined by reference to no one else.
In their guilt, these slavish others their liberty forsooth
Have to resentment turned.
Thus weakness is declared a prerequisite of goodness.
Unable to be strong, their call to frailty obey.
They separate the doer from their deed: loathsome crudeness
To make the birds of pray guilty of being birds of pray
In stealth, atonement spurned.
*
“Truth”? Who has forced this word on me? But I repudiate it; but I disdain this proud word; no, we do not need even this: we shall conquer and come to power even without truth. (Friedrich Nietzsche, The Will to Power)
Lying on his deathbed, Hassan i Sabbah — the Old Man of the Mountain, founder and ruler of the Hashishim, otherwise known as the Order of the Assassins — left his followers with this anarchic declaration: ‘Nothing is true, everything is permitted’
Both the terms hashish and assassin are claimed to have derived from the Hashishim Order, that simply signifies the followers of Hassan. The etymological richness of the order’s name exemplifies how meaning changes over time, accruing new values.
Philosophy is generally associated with the search for knowledge of the self and of the world, yet the search for ultimate meaning can be life-denying and therefore cripple human fulfilment.
There is no absolute truth.
Truth has been constructed by men through a historic process, and even our own understanding of who and what we are is the result of a lengthy process of training and cultivation through the evolution of morality and centuries of social development.
Meaning or truth is historical and flexible, rather than a-temporal and absolute.
Even conscience and free will are not natural givens, but the outcome of historical and psychological evolution of humanity. The existence of both is essential for society as much as it is for Moral philosophy, as it can attribute guilt and responsibility.
The creation of free will and a moral perspective demarcates the birth of the ‘absolute’ truth and consequently the unceasing seeking of ultimate knowledge and truth.
Man’s conscience, his sense of responsibility, is instilled by means of punishment, in a relationship similar to that between creditor and debtor.
‘How do you give a memory to the animal, man? …’ ‘A thing must be burnt in so that it stays in the memory…’ (Friedrich Nietzsche, The Genealogy of Morality)
Science and philosophy are by no means an advance away from the will to truth, rather sophisticated versions of the same doctrine: a denial of sensual, present life in exchange for a pursuit of a believed, pre-determined truth — a truth that has been constructed through historical and psychological development, which differ for various civilisations, being simultaneously valid and null.
‘Nothing is true, everything is permitted.’ This is a fundamental affirmation of unrestricted creative freedom: an apocalyptic avowal that goes beyond the call to destructive, unrestrained behaviour:
“Everything is permitted because nothing is true. It is all make-believe . . . illusion . . . dream . . . art. When art leaves the frame and the written word leaves the page, not merely the physical frame and page, but the frames and pages that assign the categories.” (William S. Burroughs)
Only when we acknowledge the absence of eternal or pre-existing truth, can we be free from the burden of guilt.
Only then can we become our own master, legislator, executive and judge in the pursuit of a fulfilling sensual and creative life.
Only then will we stop blaming the elusive other for our actions and assume responsibility for everything we do in drawing our own horizons of truth.
*
Our Billy Shakespeare said it best: ‘Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.’
I’d be hard pressed to claim that shards-of-silence was forged in the fires of greatness: it was an accident – a serendipitous accident certainly, but an accident nonetheless. For me it all started with a Confession… and while – chance and hard work willing – I may do some great things with it in the future, for now at least that time seems quite a long way away. This may be why I am both surprised and somewhat humbled to receive the Most Influential Blogger award. So… Thank you sweetness6645 for thrusting greatness upon me and for deeming me worthy of the accolade. I can’t help thinking that I don’t quite deserve it yet, but I promise to do my best in time to justify your choice. Thank you.
Before I move on to the next, I’d like to say that Chronicles of a Public Transit User is my blog of choice whenever I need a little cheering up. Whenever on leave from our secret agent dalliances on Twitter, fellow HRM agent and partner in crime codename 6645 gathers humorous evidence on public transport’s most ill-mannered users. Snapshots of the worst offenders are available on her blog for your funny bone’s delight. Enjoy.
1. Display the award on your blog.
2. Announce your win with a post and thank the blogger who awarded you.
3. Present 10 deserving bloggers with the Award.
4. Link your awardees in the post and let them know of their being awarded with a comment.
5. Answer each of the 11 questions that your awarder asked, and then write 11 for your awardees (or use the same ones up to you !)
6645 Q&A with Vic a.k.a 009
Q1. What makes you happiest?
There are many things that make me very happy, but most of them are not for the accidental reader’s eyes so… I’ll have to say writing. Writing for me is more than committing sentences to paper. It is more than inventing new world and creating memorable characters. To write I have to engage with the world – and that to me is an inexhaustible source of enjoyment and happiness too.
Q2. Do you love the Oceans or Mountains more?
I will say oceans, although it’s a tough ask to choose.
Q3. What has been a special moment in 2013?
Reconnecting with someone from the past, who has always been dear to me, but with whom I’d lost contact.
Q4. What’s your favourite quote?
“Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)
Q5. Do you like yourself?
We have a difficult relationship, me and I. Sometimes we are on the same page. At other times we find it difficult to be in the same room. But one thing’s for sure. Will always stick by one another through thick and thin. 😉
Q6. Do you stay up till midnight on New Year?
Doesn’t everyone?
Q7. Something you wish could be done ASAP?
Finishing revision on my thesis.
Q8. What was your favourite class when still at school?
I’ve been lucky enough to have more than one favourite. If I had to pick just the one… Let it be “Logic.”
Q9. What musical instrument have you tried to play?
Violin. Piano was my second choice, but I changed schools soon after I started and only got a few month’s worth of study. I’ve picked it up again last year inspired by an accidental meeting with someone who played, and I have to say: loving every moment.
Q10. Anything you had wished to have learned earlier?
Whiskey drinking. It’s my retirement plan, but I still haven’t got the hang of it.
Q11. Do you like to do Crafts, Drawing or Painting?
I’ve made my own Mad Hatter hat for a Halloween party a couple of years ago and that was fun. I do sketch sometimes, although I would love to be better at drawing people.
My nominees:
Opinionated Man who has accomplished an incredible feat with his HarsH ReaLiTy
Sreejit Poole the keeper of the spiritual heart of The Seeker’s Dungeon
Jennifer who is on an artistic journey through Writings of a Mrs
Mrs Holder’s Legacy where one will always find a humorous review and much more.
Andy Kaufman’s Kavalkade Krew hunts for trolls and won’t hesitate to help you in need.
Bradley‘s insightful posts on How Is Bradley? about mental health and depression.
The team at Birthday Magazine are very versatile in their offerings and worth a visit.
One day he will be known as one of the greats of his generation. PhotoArt: Taylor J.
DottaRaphels is not afraid of speaking her mind. And a wonderful mind it is too.
Cheryl-Lynn aka Tao who writes relentlessly to Stop the Stigma
My questions for you:
1. If you could change one thing about our society, what would it be?
2. What do you turn to when in need of inspiration?
3. Name one person, alive or dead, who has influenced you most.
4. What newspaper, if any, do you read on a regular basis?
5. Share one key insight that has helped you most in your writing.
6. Are rules made to be broken?
7. What does democracy stand for as far as you’re concerned?
8. Is freedom of speech an unalienable right?
9. If we respect everyone’s opinion as valid, where does that leave hate speech?
10. Do you think online media will replace print in the next few decades?
11. What is the main thing you want to achieve as a blogger?
vic briggs 