Friday, March 6, 2015

Speaking of Prometheus, Czechs have a terrible proverb: "Don't try to extinguish (bother about) what does not burn (concern) your personally" ("Don't give a f--- about bigger issues")

"The root of the functional difference is an effect of the distinction of the creative human personality, as a type, from the willing slave. That is the core of the Promethean principle, the difference in principle of behaviour of the child of Prometheus, as distinguished from the slave-mentalities which are to be associated with the notion of the qualities of the relatively systemically degraded victims of the contamination which is characteristic of the prevalent influence of the Zeus-influence."

The theme of slaves and masters was introduced back into Western political discourse by Nietzsche--on the side of the (new) masters(') race. The above does come from LaRouche, which certainly had its own share with the left in the past (and also the so-called left). We all had to come from somewhere.

However, I would venture to say that the argument made by LaRouche as part of its polemic with world oligarchy might be philosophically the most serious argument raised against oligarchy since Socrates and Plato. With Hegel and Nietzsche (and Heidegger and Strauss), the right turned its eyes to the deeper philosophical foundations of the political problem of our time. For a host of reasons, which it would be rather tiresome to list, the left (in its intellectual self-conceit and assured dogmatism) was unable to respond in kind.

On my part, I do believe and would argue that without a proper philosophical groundwork (which does require treating the Greek foundations of our political tradition seriously, that is, with proper piety and respect), we cannot address our political problems effectively. For our political as well as economic problems have become civilizational problems. Problem of the whole system as such. To deal with requires something deeper than ideological talking points. One needs to descent to the foundations themselves. Usual political "thought" is not equipped for that. That requires calling philosophy back from the dead. Or rather philosophically and hence also politically (and spiritually) dead denizens need to rekindle their civilizational Promethean fire--the gift of their creative mind--again.

Of course, I am doing, knowing that one is thus running the risk that "willing slaves" would be the first to try to abort any such renaissance and revival.

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