Saturday 13 December 2008

Historical betting as non-participation in history


Contemporary Nietzscheans often tend to fuzzy up their images of the patterns and formations of historical processes by adopting a very one-sided morality that is predetermined and calculated to offer the winning formula in the game of historically contending forces. They think they've figured out how to play this game of roulette, having spent moments of their time consulting the secret book of the dark forces of Nietzscheanism. Having spent time in backrooms calculating their winning formula, they have no more to add to the processes of life than do the evangelical Christians who can only sit back and wait for doomsday to arrive.

The Nietzschean with his metaphysical formula of success through "mastery" and the Christian with his own contrivance of redemption through maintaining faith during the "End Times" are both very much alike. Both have cast their bets, and have nothing better to do than sit things out, whilst hoping, maliciously, for the worst (since it is only by the arrival of the very worst conditions history has to offer that the shining glory of these group members' 'true natures' can be historically revealed to those who will be shown to have missed the boat, having read the wrong holy book, etc.)

This storyline, whether Nietzschean or Christian  is just a contrivance to fuzzy up the image of historical form (which is always very harsh and often lacking in redemptive qualities) in order to make everything look more palatable. The Nietzschean redeems only himself, in terms of his narrative, on the basis of his faux-heroism of surly toughness. His is the patriarchy, the default position of historical manipulators, bound for success if everything remains the same. His self-image is false, since he is the owner of a historical legacy, and is therefore certain that the outcome of the game will be in favour of his casino.  All he has to do is rest upon his tidy laurels to assure that all the chips in the game will go to him so long as he erects an image to stand in for him and for his honour.

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Cultural barriers to objectivity