Monday, February 2, 2009
Nietzsche Binary: Liar/Honest Man
Although lying and honesty are two words of obvious contrast, Nietzsche utilizes this binary in a different way to explain human nature with regards to conformity. The lying man "misuses established conventions," and therefore men "flee not so much being deceived," but because they are "indifferent to pure, inconsequential knowledge." "Inconsequential knowledge" refers to any knowledge that strays from the accepted original experience. Men tend to disassociate themselves with this kind of knowledge because it does not agree with socially acceptable ideas. Man wants to hear what man decided as the norm. They are afraid to hear any ideas outside of that scope because it is not normal. However, they will praise and listen to the "honest" man because he satisfies man by "omitting the dissimilar," which is what they call an "honest action." "Omitting the dissimilar" allows the ideas of the "honest" man to be consistent with the original experience. Therefore, men will flock and listen to the "honest" man because they want to hear the "truth," and learn about the "truth," so they can of course be socially accepted, rather than the liar which society "will exclude him from its presence." It is clear that men avoid listening to the ideas of the liar because they do not want to be excluded by society, but rather accepted, so they choose to listen to what man has already decided as truth. Interestingly enough though, honesty is referring to the original experience by "omitting the dissimilar." But doesn't that make the person not honest if he is taking out the irregularities from his personal experience just so his experience is consistent with the original experience? This further shows human nature and its obsession with conformity.
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