Jessica Hernandez
PHI 16
Chatham Lovette
October 30, 2017
Nietzsche Prompt 1
Philosophy: An Illness of the Mind
One of the most provocative thinkers in Western philosophy, Friedrich Nietzsche challenges previous philosophies to be an illness of the mind. He argues that their suffering led them to uphold objective truths as a cure to their illness, which doesn’t in fact help them regain their health. Nietzsche argues that philosophers and religious thinkers are not all that different when it comes to having this illness, which he defines as a desire to seek an ultimate, objective, and intangible truth along with the belief that the body prevents them from discerning this truth. While Nietzsche also experienced this illness of the mind, his sudden …show more content…
Plato, Russell, and many philosophers before Nietzsche believed in metaphysical dualism and the idea that the body is a hindrance from discerning an objective, unbiased, and accurate truth. Nietzsche argues against this idea that the mind and body are separate, or that one is superior to the other, in which he draws a connection between both the material and intelligible realm, or body and mind. He explains in his book that the body and mind are connected and influence one another, and therefore, a good healthy philosophy is necessary to obtain a healthy mind and equally healthy body. Along this trail of thought, he showcases how the philosophy that Plato and other philosophers promoted is a sickly one, for it neglects the body, and therefore, it is clear as to why it offers no real relief or true recovery from their …show more content…
In arguing how they are all sick, however, he also draws a connection between these Christians and Rationalists to Platonism to illustrate how both of these belief systems are similar to Platonism, and therefore, furthers his argument that they are also sick. He argues that Christianity is similar to Platonism in its search for one truth, the belief in an intangible God and concept of Heaven and Hell, all of which are intangible, similar to Plato’s Form and concepts. As for Rationalism, Nietzsche argues that while there is no belief in God, rationalists and scientists seek for scientific truths and concepts, which is similar to the search for ultimate truth in both Christianity and Platonism. In arguing how they are related to Platonism, Nietzsche concludes that they all view the body as an obstruction from discerning accurate and objective knowledge as well. Because Christianity and Rationalism are based upon the same search for one answer, they are all believers. Likewise, he believes these thinkers are also victims of this illness in how they normalize the lack of fulfillment of bodily and physiological needs for the pursuit of
PHI 16
Chatham Lovette
October 30, 2017
Nietzsche Prompt 1
Philosophy: An Illness of the Mind
One of the most provocative thinkers in Western philosophy, Friedrich Nietzsche challenges previous philosophies to be an illness of the mind. He argues that their suffering led them to uphold objective truths as a cure to their illness, which doesn’t in fact help them regain their health. Nietzsche argues that philosophers and religious thinkers are not all that different when it comes to having this illness, which he defines as a desire to seek an ultimate, objective, and intangible truth along with the belief that the body prevents them from discerning this truth. While Nietzsche also experienced this illness of the mind, his sudden …show more content…
Plato, Russell, and many philosophers before Nietzsche believed in metaphysical dualism and the idea that the body is a hindrance from discerning an objective, unbiased, and accurate truth. Nietzsche argues against this idea that the mind and body are separate, or that one is superior to the other, in which he draws a connection between both the material and intelligible realm, or body and mind. He explains in his book that the body and mind are connected and influence one another, and therefore, a good healthy philosophy is necessary to obtain a healthy mind and equally healthy body. Along this trail of thought, he showcases how the philosophy that Plato and other philosophers promoted is a sickly one, for it neglects the body, and therefore, it is clear as to why it offers no real relief or true recovery from their …show more content…
In arguing how they are all sick, however, he also draws a connection between these Christians and Rationalists to Platonism to illustrate how both of these belief systems are similar to Platonism, and therefore, furthers his argument that they are also sick. He argues that Christianity is similar to Platonism in its search for one truth, the belief in an intangible God and concept of Heaven and Hell, all of which are intangible, similar to Plato’s Form and concepts. As for Rationalism, Nietzsche argues that while there is no belief in God, rationalists and scientists seek for scientific truths and concepts, which is similar to the search for ultimate truth in both Christianity and Platonism. In arguing how they are related to Platonism, Nietzsche concludes that they all view the body as an obstruction from discerning accurate and objective knowledge as well. Because Christianity and Rationalism are based upon the same search for one answer, they are all believers. Likewise, he believes these thinkers are also victims of this illness in how they normalize the lack of fulfillment of bodily and physiological needs for the pursuit of