Obama is Nietzschean
For many years, the United States has been suffering from political nihilism -- disbelief in its institutions.
I have seen political nihilism in various countries around the world. It manifests itself as a form of futility, the feeling that one cannot recover from what is ailing the people.
Two common results occur. The people either find escape from themselves by embracing the mundane or they lash out in frustration against others. In Muslim countries, the mundane is an unhealthy obsession with the arcane points of Islamic jurisprudence, and the frustration is directed towards America, Israel and women. In the American context, the mundane is an unhealthy obsession with meaningless celebrities, and frustration is directed towards Iraq, Iran and women.
How are we to clamber out of our psychological doldrums? What is the best way to push back against our political nihilism?
The answer is to vote for Barack Obama.
This endorsement is not based on personal preference, or for that matter, Obama's policies. For this endorsement, it would not matter if Obama was a hard-right conservative or an ultra-leftist. Rather, Obama should be elected because he is Nietzschean.
Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher. In the nineteenth century he predicted that over the next two centuries, the philosophy of nihilism -- purposelessness and despair -- would take over the Western world, leading to an unprecedented level of violence and world-wide war. Obviously he was correct.
However, Nietzsche only made this prediction so that he could also posit a way of defeating nihilism. He put his faith in Art.
To be more specific, Nietzsche recommended that the way of defeating nihilism was for each individual to treat his or her life as an ongoing and unfinished work of art. The simple work of "giving style" to ourselves, expressing to the world our "overflowing creativity," would give us a way to "Say Yes to Life." This, argued Nietzsche, would stifle nihilist pessimism.
Barack Obama is among the few people I have encountered who lives in this Nietzschean manner. The clearest evidence of this is in the fact that our introduction to Barack Obama -- and Obama's introduction to Obama -- occurs in the pages of two compellingly honest memoirs. In these books Obama strips away the layers of identity and self-deception that most of us do not bother to peel away and essentially reconstructs himself before us, documenting the process like the way that one painter on PBS used to describe each brush-stroke he was making.
It is, in fact, no surprise, that nearly everyone who has actually read Obama's books -- or listened to his autobiographical speeches -- ends up wanting to vote for him. People who read Obama's books see in them a man who doesn't think of himself as a finished product but as someone who views himself as a canvas upon which life is constantly drawing new lines.
The recent flap over Pastor Wright is the perfect example of this. A man whom Obama had held very dear for much of his life was subjected to intense scrutiny, often bordering on the vitriolic, by the most powerful media conglomerates in the world. Obama didn't do what Clinton says she would have done. Rather, Obama stripped away Pastor Wright's confrontational exterior and pulled out the man's vulnerabilities and flaws. Obama added that he could not make Wright's words go away, nor would he pretend like they weren't hurtful. Instead, he said that they could serve as dark, tempestuous paint, in a painting called "a more perfect union." This is what Nietzsche meant by Art.
I did not start off as an Obama supporter. I was in Hillary's camp. I thought Obama was a novelty item. Something Democrats paraded around to give the other wooden candidates a bit of glow. Then I slowly began to feel that things Obama said -- and the way he handled himself in the campaign -- reduced my political nihilism.
I began to realize Obama was Nietzschean and in this nihilist time, that is why he gets my vote.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
I enjoyed reading this a lot. Thank you!
HuffPost's Pick
Nietzsche believed in the power of words. He was an etymologist by training but a writer by calling. Nietzsche was both arrogant and profoundly humble, fearless in going wherever the search for truth and life led him, relentless in tapping with his metal hammer on the feet of idols to see if they were hollow. He admired RIchard Wagner's art but rejected and denounced him when it became clear that Wagner was a racist and a decadent sentimentalist, not the harbinger of a new and creative form of art. Nietzsche did not fit neatly into any category because he was both conservative and radical at the same time. He is one of the most misunderstood thinkers and artists of all time. Here's to those brave enough to call the Emperor on being naked.
Thus Spoke Zaratheustra!
A new kind of politics requires a new kind of politician. That is what Barack Obama offers. We can't expect anything new, refreshing, or honest to come out of the same cast of characters that have been at the helm of this great country for decades.
We also can't expect it without a tough and sometimes unfair fight from the powers that be.
Change, real change does not come easily.
thank you for your very insightful article.
It's 8:30am here in Australia and I just read your article. The day was now worth crawling out of my warm bed. Days upon days reading and watching to satisfy my presidential election information obsession and I can't remember the last time something amounted to more than common observation. I'm sure I've previously heard/seen/read that advice, but to see a working example makes it practical. Thanks for writing it.
There are two problems with this analysis. First, Nietzsche was extremely anti-religious. He saw religious faith as a symptom of nihilism and not in any sense as the empowering vehicle it appears to be for Obama and for many Americans. Second, although it is true that Nietzsche thought we should fashion ourselves as works of art -- and this is something that does appeal to Americans, obsessed as they are with self-improvement and self-making -- it is equally true that no political program flows from this. So the post is correct to say that you can cast a "Nietzschean" vote for Obama irrespective of the policy views you actually hold (or Obama holds). But is this what we want in an election for political office? I support Obama, but for political not aesthetic or visceral reasons. It's worrying when this line gets too blurred. There's no such thing as "non-partisan" politics, unless you are a true political nihilist and have given up on politics altogether.
A president in this country needs to bring somewhat more than just knowing himself and being a work in progress.
A president in this country needs to bring a vision for the future and how he/she is going to try and accomplish that vision.
So far, Barack has brought nothing but a slogan to the table. His call for change resonates because change in our government is what this country needs. But he doesn't say what he'll change to improve the the government.
He said he'd change the tax code, so you have to pay more. He said he'll change the way health care is delivered, but he has no details. He says he will bring people together, though he never has in any meaningful way other than to get people together to vote for him. He hasn't said much else and actually became incredulous while walking away from reporters saying that he already answered 8 questions. Wow, that must have tired the little fellow out, eh?
Meaningful change would be making the government more representative of the people. What is his plan to do that? How will he give the power back to the people and remove it from the lobbyists, high priced consultants and the big money party donors?
The short answer is: He won't.
So, he can continue to work on his artistry of himself, as Mr. Eteraz suggests.
Sorry, but that's about all he'll change.
Obama is Nietzschian?? Wasn't it Nietzsche who said God is dead??? Obama is a little too religious to be compared to Nietzsche.
The full quote From Nietzsche is "God is dead and we have killed him." It seems that for far too long we tend to cut sentences half way through like the right to bear arms in an organized militia.
Dead is dead. Nietzsche was not in favor of organized religion. he saw the fallacy of ministers and the way they treated the teachings of christ. They worshipped the martyr, not the man. Nietzche saw this as anti-thetical to christ's teachings and actions. Neitzsche was somewhat of a transcendentilist, to put it mildly. One of his greatest influences was the "father of Transcendentilism." Ralph W. Emerson.
Nietzsche is sometimes wrongly accused of nihilism.
The "God is dead" reference was to the idea that science, not theology, would begin to inform progress and investigation. Remember that the previous 800 years had been characterized by the Roman Catholic Church dictating what investigations, and what thoughts, were ok. Nietzsche's assertion that "God is dead" was meant to indicate that that era was coming to an end - not that God doesn't exist.
That's my point. Nietzsche wasn't too fond of religion. At least not orthodox religion. Dead is dead, my friend.
Wow. This is an incredible piece. Ali, thank you for starting a most stimulating debate!
What a wonder article! Thank you Ali. I am sure Hillary supporters will read your article and pick every word to pieces and tear your article down.
But we all know what the demographics are for Hillary voters. Predominately uneducated. So that will explain them.
We should start by not tearing down "Hillary supporters" ourselves. Be the change we seek.
I agree. I was finding myself so constantly angry at the Clintons, the campaign staff, etc., that I was putting more energy into criticizing them than focusing on Obama's positive message of unity and healing. I made a conscience decision to stop. I decided not to give their campaign my attention unless it's about her policy proposals. Then I added Hillary Clinton and John McCain to my daily prayers. I don't know if it will help them, but it is helping me get my mind and heart back in balance.
OK, sparky tell us about Nietzsche'.
I want change from the same-old politics. I want an America that isn't the world's bully. I want a president who has intelligence, integrity, and judgement. Obama projects hope for change.
He's the only one where there is even a chance at changing the politics as usual. McCain is clearly a "good ole boy". Hillary, in being bought by lobbyists, prevaricating, adopting Rove tactics, bringing so much baggage with her - has no offer of real change and is demonstrating the practive of politics as usual.
I look forward to an Obama presidency - I said intelligence, integrity and judgment - those have been absent for too long. Combine that with an ability to communicate vision, and we should be fine.
Integrity??? Like blaming a fellow dem for the Iraq war?? Like condemning a fellow democrat for casting a vote that he was never required to cast?? Communicate vision??? Such as?
I hear that phrase, "yes we can," and I have ask, yes we can....what? What are the concrete goals of an Obama presidency?? How is he going to work all these miracles he promises??
In the land of the blind, a one eyed man is king.
There are far too many goals to list here...check out the "issues" tab on barackobama.com. There are very specific and detailed objectives.
Happy reading!
Is a transendentilist anything like a transcendentist?
Yes we can..Have the most transparent government ever ...Yes we can have free health care for all kids...yes we can bring jobs back here..yes we can, bring an end to the war in Iraq..yes we can work together on both sides of the isle..yes we can
Thank you for recognizing that Nietzsche is not what the Nazis tried to make of him--a racist. Instead he was a brilliant classicist who undoubtedly influenced the healing arts of Freudian psychotherapy.
Nietzsche was also an admirer of Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose philosophy of human perfectibility (not becoming perfect; just continually striving in that direction) and whose admiration of creative intellects and artists influenced Nietzsche.
I have not studied Nietzsche enough to know whether he anticipated the current form nihilism has taken. We have come to identify economic freedom with a world where everything is for sale. So long as you can pay for it, you are entitled. Yes, we still have museums to take some things off the market for preservation. But so long as people identify themselves with what they are able to buy, we continue to live in our wasteland. That message does not lend itself to a sit-com script, whereas consumption as an end in itself does. So that's what people learn.
Emerson is my literary hero. And you are absolutely correct that Nietzsche was greatly influenced by the works of Emerson, mainly his landmark essays on Nature.
Amelioration was vital to Emerson's view of mankind. He saw in us, a great potential.
I don't think we are experiencing any political nihilism, we are experiencing political desperation. Those of us who see amelioration as a basic human quality, are frustrated by our government's actions of the last seven years. Actions that take us backward, not forward.
Thanks for your post, January. It is rare to see Emerson's name and ideas on a forum such as this. If you are an Emerson fan, which it sounds as if you are, you should definately read the works of Lao Tsu, entitled The Tao Te Ching. Emerson spoke of the amazing wisdom in the far East. He and Lao Tsu basically say the same things, but in different form. Emerson with his magnificent
essays, and Lao Tsu for his amazing 81 ideograms that comprise the Tao Te Ching.
Emerson is implied in my screen-name, even if it is mis-spelled. It was an unfortunate typo that I can't change, due to huffpo rules.
At the time I write this there are 5 comments and all are positive. Can we then draw a preliminary conclusion that the usual Obama Bashers are scared off by Nietzsche referances? Perhaps not but I am thrilled to actually have something and someone to be inspired by. If we are all beaten down by the status quo then what is the point. We need hope to fight the good fight. I like others fear that we will not make it but I do like believing we can posibly have a better tomorrow, for how even a short time. Sure beats the hell out of head down go to work, pay bills, watch tv and repeat.
Why do you need to look outside of yourself for inspiration??? The Hillary bashers here on huffpo, far outnumber the Obama bashers. This is the Obamian Post.
Scared off by Nietzsche referrences??
If you really did understand Nietzsche, you would not be so dependent on government.
"Dependance on government is a wont of self reliance."-------Ralph W. Emerson
Interesting reason to vote for him.
I remain a Hillary supporter because I am not in so much despair. I honestly do feel we could turn things around. If we are realistic. If we focus on achievable results.
Achievable results was and is my main reason for supporting Hillary.
I couldn't possibly have the passion I have for her candidacy simply because of her personality. I admire her, yes. I really admire her more after this election, yes. But that still wouldn't have done it for me.
It's her platform that compels me. I am so sure that we could find the will to address so many problems. I am very sure there really are solutions. I am very sure that trying to convince people via bandwagon effect doesn't work. We simply need to get real.
Hillary's very defects of character would help us do that.
AnninCA, I applaud you for saying something positive about Hillary rather than something negative about Obama. I support Obama, and I know how you give Hell to the Obama supporters and vice versa. But this post is good....God, if only the discourse about the candidates could only remain above the muck! (Interesingly enough you say it's not her so much as her platform. Most people, including me don't see a huge difference between their PLATFORMS. Hence, the muck!)
This article wonderfully articulates why it is that Obama supporters have been accused of "cultism". It's because he really has provided us with something we never thought we'd see: HOPE in the face of despair. I think that the only people who do not feel despair are the young and the less passionate. But then, I'm a nihilist aren't I?
Yes quite refreshing. I don't agree with what you say but will defend your right to say it.
Hope and fear are phantoms that arise from thinking of the self. They are both hollow emotions, not fact or truth, or even substantial. They are products of the imagination, projections of the mind, and not concrete in any way.
"Hillary's very defects of character would help us do that." I am interested in seeing you elaborate on that point.
What changed in those two centurys??
The laws and regualtions of the USA changed.
Time to roll back and let the Constitution Of The United States be the LAW OF THE LAND.
Get rid of the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Government prints it's own money and get rid of the World Bank and stop it from corruption leaders of other countries to rob them of their countries natural resources.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
