[D-G] deleuze and benjamin on violence

[hwenk]

Hello,

"wooden iron" is a quote from Nietzsche, as you know he liked
metaphors very much.
Now, as you expressed to wish to discuss about logos, her we have a concrete
example.

The hermeneutic background of Nietzesche is the social question and the
socialist
or working class movement in the 19th century. It is also the time of Marx
and Lasalle.

As so often, he don't talk directly, but indicates indirectly.
If you want "really" - that is how to do it right - a new or
justice society you have to be other than you are.
Namely maybe you are used to work hard - a feature actual present in a
working class  -
metaphorical expressed as being like iron - very hard.
He indicates: "That doesn't suffice!"
You have to be natural - like wood - you have to
be able to move or be moved without breaking - like wood.
They may come what want - you are able to manage it. That is
the metaphor of wood.
May come what want - you won't be broken - especially your will or your
soul.
Of course this is in general a kind of overload.
But there is also something true in it.
The solution, which in practice is often made, is not to identify to much
with the work, the social status,
the richness, the beauty, the intelligence, the titles, the knowledge or
whatever you have.
Or to identify enough with what you have to retain or enlarge your self
esteem - the look on yourself by yourself in a favourite way.

There is another quote by Nietzsche, where he says that the judgements of us
by other people on the long run will
overrun our own judgement of our own if they differ to much.
To avoid to much differences in the judgement of others and the judgements
of yourself it is very
wise to enlarge your virtues and even to see to fulfil the common
requirements - like ending up school or get academic degrees or to look to
have enough
money or something like a profession on the level of your education.

This is expressed on one side by "give Caesar what is to Caesar" on the
other side by seeing
that education and virtues enables you really to enlarge your happiness and
that of other because you have the skills
and knowledge to do so.

Indeed most people want harm you or others and there is no need to look for
confrontation.

But it is also wise not to have ideals which are at present not to fulfil by
yourself, especially if these ideals are
the measure for the others in your eyes.


But in the socialist movement there is also the idea of the "new man" to
come.
People often feel to be hindered to be themselves.

There is an interplay between a political movement and a personal ethic:
"Are you really worth to be happy!"
Of course you are worth - what a question -
but one has to have skills - for example to handle one's anger without
hurting oneself or others. It is better to do some sport or yoga -
Shashankasana will help.
Or to be able to love somebody in a way he also likes it.
Or to be able to concentrate oneself or to calm the mind and to relax and so
on.

This is a little bit mixed up in an unfavourable way by Nietzesche.

My advice is: Don't look to much at the others, expect to much from others
but try to handle the things on your own and think what the others really
say or want.

Therefore in Yoga you have as solid ground for the
behaviour and the interaction with others: Honesty, Peacefulness, not to
cling on richness or possession and not to be to
much sensual or greedy in respect of sexuality. There is also the demand of
pureness.

This maybe a little bit old fashioned and is found more or less in any
social code,
religious or not. But it is also the experience of myriads of people for a
very long time.
It is also wise not to overdrive thing s in respect of these ideals.

As you know, the most important insight of Freud is that a
big difference between ideal and actual feeling and being of oneself
is the most important reason for the inner stress of the soul culminating in
illness. Then you may ask very urgent for a
better outer world - which may not be answered in a
satisfying way for you in a time  for your patience.

 You live always in yourself!

Now you see: the metaphore works on feelings, desires and actions.


greetings Harald Wenk



-----Original Message-----
From: deleuze-guattari-bounces at lists.driftline.org
[mailto:deleuze-guattari-bounces at lists.driftline.org]On Behalf Of NZ
Sent: Mittwoch, 12. April 2006 21:37
To: deleuze-guattari at lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [D-G] deleuze and benjamin on violence


without a chorus its hard to follow the plot...


 Mebbe HW can help me understand this word "wooden iron" - I have
never heard of it before and it sounds promising...
(time for new topic?)
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