Stephen Hicks: Nietzsche Perfectly Forecasts the Postmodernist Left

Summary

The video script delves into the emotional underpinnings of post-modernist thought, highlighting its roots in resentment and envy. It draws parallels with Nietzsche's concept of 'ressentiment', exploring how this fuels a destructive urge towards the Western tradition's core values. The speaker suggests that post-modernists, driven by deep-seated bitterness, use deconstruction not as an intellectual exercise but as a psychological weapon to undermine and attack the perceived moral worth of the West.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the presence of negative emotions like resentment and envy in older socialist writings and their expression through the anticipated destruction brought by the socialist revolution.
• 🌐 It highlights the extreme emotionalism in post-modernism, characterized by a love for deconstruction and the use of ad hominem arguments, which are considered unprecedented in the history of the Western tradition.
• 🔍 The speaker points out instances where strong negative language is used against historical figures and authors, such as Shakespeare, accusing them of sexism without acknowledging their literary greatness.
• 🤔 The psychological component of this discourse is explored through Nietzsche's concept of 'ressentiment', which describes a bitter, seething resentment that has been bottled up over time.
• 🎭 The script suggests that post-modernists, who admire Nietzsche for his perspectivalism and epistemology, may be using his ideas to justify their own destructive tendencies.
• 💪 Nietzsche's 'master morality' is described as the morality of the strong and life-loving, while 'slave morality' is attributed to the weak and resentful, who rationalize their weaknesses as virtues.
• 🗣️ The speaker proposes that the post-modernist inclination towards deconstruction and the destruction of Western civilization's achievements stems from a deep-seated resentment and a desire to undermine the West's sense of moral worth.
• 🎨 The script draws parallels between post-modernism and the visual art world, where artists like Marcel Duchamp and Willem de Kooning used their work to make statements that undermine traditional notions of art.
• 🗣️ It argues that post-modernists use words as weapons to destroy the reputations of their perceived enemies, similar to the character Iago in Shakespeare's 'Othello', who uses lies and innuendo to destroy Othello.
• 🌍 The Western tradition's pride in its values of equality, justice, and open-mindedness is identified as a target for post-modernist attacks, which aim to tarnish its self-image by labeling it as racist, sexist, and exploitative.
• 💥 The final hypothesis presented is that some post-modernists, driven by deep resentment and a psychological need to destroy, launch attacks on the core values of the West, regardless of the truth of their accusations.

Q & A

What is the main theme discussed in the transcript?

The main theme discussed in the transcript is the psychological aspect of resentment and its manifestation in post-modernist thought, particularly in the context of deconstruction and the critique of Western tradition.

What is the connection between the concepts of 'ressentiment' and 'horizontal malice' as discussed in the transcript?

In the transcript, 'ressentiment' and 'horizontal malice' are connected as they both describe a deep-seated, bitter form of resentment that has been bottled up for a long time. 'Horizontal malice' is a term close to 'ressentiment' in French, emphasizing the seething and poisoned nature of this emotion.

How does the transcript relate Nietzsche's concept of 'ressentiment' to post-modernism?

The transcript relates Nietzsche's concept of 'ressentiment' to post-modernism by suggesting that post-modernists, who often feel alienated and resentful, may use deconstruction as a means to express and project their negative emotions towards the Western tradition and its perceived values.

What are 'master morality' and 'slave morality' as described by Nietzsche in the transcript?

In the transcript, 'master morality' is described as the morality of the strong, life-loving, and assertive individuals, while 'slave morality' is attributed to the weak, humble, and passive individuals who feel victimized and envious of the strong.

How does the transcript describe the psychological state of the weak in Nietzsche's philosophy?

The transcript describes the psychological state of the weak as one of frustration, envy, and self-loathing. They rationalize their weakness by inventing a moral system that values passivity, humility, and obedience, while deeming the opposite traits as evil.

What is the role of words as weapons for those who feel weak and powerless, as discussed in the transcript?

In the transcript, words are described as the only weapons for those who feel weak and powerless. They use words to deconstruct and undermine the achievements and values of others, particularly those they perceive as their enemies or oppressors.

How does the transcript link the concept of deconstruction in post-modernism to the feelings of resentment and envy?

The transcript links deconstruction in post-modernism to feelings of resentment and envy by suggesting that those who are deeply resentful may use deconstruction as a means to attack and undermine the Western tradition and its values, which they perceive as the opposite of their own failed outlook.

What is the 'nihilist explanation' mentioned in the transcript, and how does it relate to post-modernism?

The 'nihilist explanation' mentioned in the transcript refers to the hypothesis that some post-modernists, driven by deep resentment, alienation, bitterness, envy, and rage, engage in destructive behavior aimed at undermining any aspect of culture that they perceive as opposite to their beliefs.

How does the transcript use the example of Iago from Shakespeare's 'Othello' to illustrate the psychological mechanism of resentment?

The transcript uses the example of Iago to illustrate how resentment can lead to the deliberate spreading of lies and innuendo to destroy someone's most cherished values or relationships, in Iago's case, Othello's love for Desdemona.

What is the final hypothesis presented in the transcript regarding the motivations behind post-modernist attacks on Western values?

The final hypothesis presented in the transcript is that the post-modernist attacks on Western values are driven by a psychological compulsion rooted in deep resentment, with the intent to destroy the West's sense of moral worth, regardless of the truth of the accusations.