Over the Line.

[abdulbar@execpc.com]

EJ "Over the Line"
                                                                II
Before we turn to this task, a couple of diagnostic introductory remarks
are in order.  Today the term nihilism counts not only as undetermined and
disputed, it is also used polemically.  One must however suspect nihilism
as a great destiny, as a basic power, whose influence cannot be evaded by
anyone.
Closely connected with this continuous character of nihilism is, that
touching upon the absolute has become impossible, if one wants to disregard
the victims.  Here there are no saints. There is no perfect work of art.
Like wise there is no major order of thinking although, there is no lack of
plans; the princely manifestation of the human being is missing.  As well
as in the moral, one recognizes this temporary arrangement, which we
described in "The Worker" as the workshop character. Morally we are either
dependent on a past or on a still invisible, emerging (werdendes).  Therein
lies the conflict, and in particular the confusion of the legal language.

                                                                    *
A good definition of nihilism would be to compare it with making the
pathogen of cancer visible.  It would not mean the healing, but probably
its prerequisite, in as far as people are involved.  It is about an event,
which spreads beyond history.
When we consult both of the masters introduced at the beginning, we find
with Nietzsche the view, that nihilism is the expression of the devaluation
of the highest values.  As a condition he calls it normal, as an
intermediate condition pathological- which is a good differentiation, which
implies, that one can adequately behave in it, concerning its actuality.
This is not the case with regard to the past and future; here senselessness
and hopelessness impose themselves.  The decline of values is mainly the
decline of Christian values; it corresponds with the inability to bring
forth higher types or also only to conceive of them.  This leads to
pessimism, which develops into nihilism, while the hierarchy which first
disappointed, is observed with hate and will become degenerate. Only the
judges remain, therefore critical values:  The weak are shattered by it,
the stronger destroy that which doesn't shatter.  The strongest overcome
the critical values and continue to advance: nihilism can be just as well a
sign of weakness as a sign of strength.  It is an expression of the
uselessness of the other world, but not of the world and existence.  The
greatest growth brings along with it a monstrous crumbling and decline, and
with this aspect, the appearance of nihilism, can as with the extremist
form of pessimism, be a good sign.
With Dostoyevsky, nihilism becomes effective in the isolation of the
individual, in his stepping out of the community, which is by its nature a
municipality.  The active nihilism prepares itself like an eruption, so the
weeks, which Raskolnikov spends lonely in his casket like chamber, lead to
an increase in physical and mental power, at the cost of well being.  It
can lead to a horrific death, as it is portrayed in "The Idiot" with the
fate of the student Hippolyt, it might finish with suicide, as with
Ssmerdyakov, in the "Karamasovs", and Stavrogin in "The Demons" or
Sovidrigailov in "Crime and Punishment", and as it is to be feared with
Ivan Karamosav and many others.  In the best case it will lead to healing,
after the re-entering the municipality is carried out through a public
confession.  Then through the purification in the inferno or in the house
of the dead one can have won a higher level, than that before the entry
into nihilism.
It is not to be underestimated that affinity is inherent in both concepts.
They progress in the same three phases, from doubt to pessimism.  From
there to  action in valueless and godless realms, and then to new
fulfilments. That allows one to conclude, that one and the same reality
will be seen even though it is from very differing points.

C. Brown & M. Beckmann

Abdalbarr Brown
Murabitun of Madison, Wisconsin. America

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"But where  the danger is, grows               "Aber wo die Gefahr ist, wächst
the saving too."   Hödlerin                    das Rettende auch."    Hödlerin

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