REFLECTION Oct. 23 - Nietzsche

There were two very loaded topics that were highlighted in the text and discussions this week, and I wanted to address the both of them, since I was intrigued by them both.

The first, as brought to light by Group 11, was basically the topic of strong vs. weak. In the story of the bird vs. the sheep, the bird is vilified for preying on the sheep as the sheep is defenseless and the bird is stronger than it.  I find it fascinating that this topic, though widely discussed and philosophized over, is still a relevant topic in today's modern society. Over and over, people refer to a "1%" of society as being evil and self-serving. They see these people as selfish and assign blame to them for a multitude of issues faced by the rest of society. I look at this as a modern day personification of the bird vs. the sheep. The middle class seems content as they are and blames the upper for the hardships they face. In our society, it is looked upon negatively to assert dominance. Meritocracy seems to be celebrated and even rewarded, and people are unable to deal with strengths. But I think that in order to maintain power, asserting force is necessary. Also, I do not believe someone who has become strong or powerful should have to "play down" their strengths to make others feel comfortable. "Strong" and "Weak" are not concrete states, they are fluid. If a weak person is compelled enough, they have the ability to become strong.

The second theme was the idea of free will, and whether we have it or not. The issue I could see was that a group the size of our class was having difficulty pinning down a definition of free will and what it means to actually be granted. I do believe that for all intents and purposes, we as humans enjoy the privilege of free will. We have options, and we have the ability to assess our options and choose for ourselves which would provide us the best outcome. I have come to realize that there are some cultural and social aspects that have been ingrained in us that may seem to limit these choices. One of my favorite quotes is from an author named Chuck Palahniuk, when he states,

               "Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I've ever known".

I find this brilliantly expresses the basis if the free will argument, that every choice we freely make is a composition of all of the influences that have played a part in molding us up until that point. But still, it is up to us as individuals to use the past and make the ultimate decision, whether small or large.