Friedrich Nietzsche, Truth and Lies | Rationality, Abstraction, & Anthropomorphism | Core Concepts

Summary

Dr. Gregory Sadler, a philosophy professor and founder of Reason IO, discusses Nietzsche's 'Truth and Lying in an Extra-Moral Sense' in a new series of short videos. He explores Nietzsche's insights on the human condition, focusing on rationality, abstraction, and anthropomorphism. Sadler explains how humans naturally use metaphors, leading to the creation of a structured world of concepts that govern our actions and understanding. Nietzsche suggests that 'truth' becomes a product of these human-made schemas rather than an absolute reflection of reality, highlighting our tendency to anthropomorphize and shape our world according to our own image.

Takeaways

• 📚 Dr. Gregory Sadler introduces his educational consulting company, Reason IO, which applies philosophy to practical situations.
• 🧠 Nietzsche's essay 'Truth and Lying in an Extra-Moral Sense' is discussed, focusing on the human condition's relationship with rationality, abstraction, and anthropomorphism.
• 🌐 Nietzsche argues that humans are inherently metaphorical, using language to create and conceptualize, but often forget the metaphorical origins of our thoughts.
• 🔄 The process of abstraction involves diluting concrete metaphors into schemas, which allows for the creation of a more structured and predictable world.
• 🏛️ Nietzsche describes how humans build a world of abstractions, or schemata, which becomes more solid, universal, and familiar over time, shaping our social structures and interactions.
• 🤔 The concept of truth, according to Nietzsche, is not an absolute but a product of human constructs and the rules we establish within our intellectual frameworks.
• 🐝 Anthropomorphism is highlighted as humans' tendency to shape the universe and society in their own image, much like bees create honeycombs.
• 🔍 Nietzsche suggests that the 'seeking and finding' of truth is a limited process, as it is confined to the rational sphere and the structures we've created.
• 🏗️ The 'great structure of concepts' that humans build is likened to a Roman columbarium, reflecting the rigidity and regularity of our intellectual constructs.
• 🌟 Truth, in Nietzsche's view, is a human-made product, consolidated within the social matrix and the structures that govern our understanding of the world.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Gregory Sadler and what is his role in the educational field?

Dr. Gregory Sadler is a professor of philosophy and the president and founder of Reason IO, an educational consulting company that applies philosophy in practical ways.

What is the main focus of Dr. Sadler's new series of videos?

The new series of videos focuses on explaining one core concept from an important philosophical text in each short video.

What is the central insight of Nietzsche's 'Truth and Lying in an Extra-Moral Sense' according to Dr. Sadler?

The central insight is a diagnosis of the human condition related to rationality, abstraction, and anthropomorphism.

How does Nietzsche view the role of metaphor in human intellect and language?

Nietzsche sees metaphor as foundational to human intellect and language, suggesting that we are metaphorical by nature and that our intellects engage in metaphorical thinking.

What does Nietzsche mean by 'forgetting the metaphorical origins of things'?

Nietzsche refers to the human tendency to forget that our concepts and language are rooted in metaphors, leading to a consolidation of these metaphors into seemingly solid and objective truths.

How does Nietzsche describe the transition from metaphorical thinking to rational abstraction?

Nietzsche describes this transition as moving from colorful and intuitive impressions to less colorful, cooler concepts that are more usable and easily communicated.

What is the significance of 'schemata' in Nietzsche's discussion?

Schemata are the abstract concepts or frameworks that humans use to organize and understand the world, which Nietzsche argues are a product of diluting concrete metaphors.

How does Nietzsche connect the development of rational structures to social hierarchy and laws?

Nietzsche suggests that rational structures, such as social hierarchies and laws, are built upon these abstracted schemata, creating a 'pyramidal order' that regulates human interactions.

What does Nietzsche say about the world of abstractions compared to the world of concrete impressions?

Nietzsche posits that the world of abstractions, as revealed by rational and intellectual capacities, is perceived as more solid, universal, and familiar, thus becoming a regulatory and imperative world.

How does Nietzsche define 'truth' within the context of rational structures?

Nietzsche defines 'truth' as playing the conceptual game properly, following the rules that are contingently formed within these rational structures, rather than reflecting an absolute of the universe or human nature.

What is the role of anthropomorphism in Nietzsche's view of truth?

Anthropomorphism plays a significant role as Nietzsche suggests that humans shape the universe and society in their own image through the use of concepts and language, which is a form of self-referential truth.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Nietzsche's Philosophy of Truth

Dr. Gregory Sadler introduces himself as a professor of philosophy and founder of Reason IO, an educational consulting company. He discusses his experience in teaching philosophy and the challenges people face when reading classic philosophical texts. Sadler explains the purpose of his video series, which is to break down complex philosophical concepts into shorter, more digestible videos. He focuses on Friedrich Nietzsche's essay 'Truth and Lying in an Extra-Moral Sense,' highlighting the human condition's connection to rationality, abstraction, and anthropomorphism. Sadler emphasizes Nietzsche's view that humans are inherently metaphorical and how this shapes our intellect and language, leading to a 'forgetting' of the metaphorical origins of concepts. He discusses how this abstraction leads to the creation of a reliable and predictable system of truth, which Nietzsche sees as both an achievement and a limitation.

05:00

🏛️ The Construction of Abstract Worlds

In the second paragraph, Dr. Sadler delves into Nietzsche's concept of how humans build abstract worlds through the use of rationality and abstraction. He explains that this process occurs over generations, leading to the establishment of social hierarchies and the application of these abstract concepts to the natural world. Sadler discusses how humans create a 'new world' of laws, privileges, and social structures, which are all based on these abstractions. He points out that Nietzsche sees this world of abstractions as more solid and familiar than the world of immediate impressions, and it becomes the dominant way of thinking for most people. Sadler also touches on the idea that truth, within this context, is not an absolute but rather a product of following the rules and classifications established within these abstract schemas.

10:01

🌐 Anthropomorphism and the Human-Centered Universe

The third paragraph continues the exploration of Nietzsche's ideas, focusing on anthropomorphism—the attribution of human characteristics to non-human entities or the universe itself. Dr. Sadler explains how humans shape their understanding of the universe and society based on their own image, creating a self-reflective and self-replicating system of concepts. He discusses the idea that truth, in this anthropomorphic framework, is not an objective reality but a human construct, built upon the delicate material of our own thoughts and language. Sadler concludes by emphasizing that Nietzsche views this human-centric approach to truth as both a testament to our architectural genius and a limitation, as it is grounded in our own self-image and the structures we create.

Keywords

💡Metaphor

Metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn't literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison. In the video, Dr. Sadler discusses how human beings are metaphorical by nature, using language and conceptualization to create meaning. Nietzsche argues that metaphors are foundational to human intellect, and yet, there's a 'forgetting' of their metaphorical origins, which leads to the development of more abstract and less colorful concepts.

💡Rationality

Rationality refers to the ability to think, behave, and make decisions based on reason and logic. In the context of the video, Nietzsche suggests that rationality is an achievement of human beings, but it also becomes somewhat stifling. It involves the process of abstracting and schematizing concrete metaphors, leading to a more predictable and exchangeable form of truth, but at the cost of some of the richness and individuality of experience.

💡Schemata

Schemata (plural of schema) are mental frameworks or structures that organize and give meaning to information. Dr. Sadler explains that Nietzsche describes how humans move from concrete metaphors to abstract schemata, which are more usable and less colorful but allow for the building of a structured world. This abstraction is crucial for the development of social hierarchies and the categorization of the world.

💡Anthropomorphism

Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to non-human entities. In the video, Nietzsche critiques the human tendency to shape the universe and society in our own image through the use of concepts and language. This tendency is seen as a form of anthropomorphism, where truth and the world are constructed based on human-centric schemas.

💡Truth

Truth, in the philosophical context of the video, is not an absolute but rather a product of human constructs. Nietzsche suggests that truth becomes a matter of following the rules of the conceptual 'game' that humans have created through rationality and abstraction. It is about fitting into the established schemata and classifications, rather than reflecting an objective reality.

💡Abstraction

Abstraction is the process of removing details and generalizing from specific instances to create a concept or schema. Dr. Sadler discusses how abstraction allows humans to move from immediate, sensory experiences to a more generalized understanding that can be shared and relied upon. However, this process also involves a loss of the vividness and individuality of direct experience.

💡Human Condition

The human condition refers to the characteristics, circumstances, and experiences that are universal to all human beings. In the video, Nietzsche's diagnosis of the human condition involves the use of metaphor, rationality, and abstraction to create a world of concepts that both enable and constrain human thought and action.

💡Productive

In the context of the video, 'productive' refers to the ability to create or generate new ideas, concepts, or structures. Nietzsche discusses how the human use of metaphor is productive, but this productivity evolves into a more restrictive form as it becomes consolidated into abstract schemata and rational structures.

💡Regulatory

Regulatory in the video refers to the rules or systems that govern or control behavior. Nietzsche suggests that the world of abstractions and schemata becomes a regulatory framework that dictates how humans interact with the world and with each other, often overshadowing the immediate, sensory experiences.

💡Caste System

The caste system, as mentioned in the video, is used metaphorically to describe the rigid hierarchical structures that humans create through rationality and abstraction. Nietzsche argues that these structures, while they provide order and predictability, also limit the fluidity and diversity of human experience.

Highlights

Dr. Gregory Sadler introduces himself as a professor of philosophy and founder of Reason IO.

He discusses the challenges people face when reading classic philosophical texts.

Dr. Sadler explains that philosophical concepts are not inherently complicated but are often obscured by language and structure.

He mentions his work in producing lecture videos to help students and lifelong learners understand philosophy.

The video series focuses on breaking down core concepts from important philosophical texts.

Nietzsche's essay 'Truth and Lying in an Extra-Moral Sense' is introduced as a central text.

Nietzsche's insight into the human condition is discussed, involving themes of rationality, abstraction, and anthropomorphism.

Metaphor is described as foundational to human intellect and language.

Nietzsche talks about the human tendency to forget the metaphorical origins of concepts.

The transition from metaphor to rational, abstract thought is explained as a higher level of productivity but also more restrictive.

Truth is redefined not as a flash of insight but as something reliable and predictable.

Nietzsche's famous discussion of 'a mobile army of metaphors' is mentioned.

The human being as a rational being forgets the metaphorical origins of things and is governed by abstractions.

The construction of a world based on abstractions and schemata is discussed.

Nietzsche's view on how human beings build a regulatory world of concepts is explained.

The concept of truth as playing the game of concepts properly and following the rules is introduced.

Truth is also described as something we find, like seeking and finding an object, but with limited value.

Anthropomorphism is discussed as shaping the universe and ourselves after our own image.

Nietzsche's view on truth as a human product, consolidated within our social structures, is presented.

Transcripts

hi this is dr. Gregory Sadler I'm a

professor of philosophy and the

president and founder of an educational

consulting company called reason IO

where we put philosophy into practice

I've studied and taught philosophy for

over 20 years and I find that many

people run into difficulties reading

classic philosophical texts sometimes

it's the way things are said or how the

text is structured but the concepts

themselves are not always that

complicated and that's where I come in

to help students and lifelong learners

I've been producing longer lecture

videos and posting them to youtube many

viewers say they find them useful what

you're currently watching is part of a

new series of shorter videos each of

them focused on one core concept from an

important philosophical text I hope you

find it useful as well

at the very core of this essay of

Nietzsche's truth and lying and an extra

moral sense lies an insight in you might

say a diagnosis of the human condition

that that we live in that has to do with

these these three themes connected

together rationality abstraction or the

use of schemas schemata and the plural

in Greek and what he calls

anthropomorphism now one of the things

that that Nietzsche tells us is that you

know metaphor is really foundational and

we human beings are you know

metaphorical by our very nature that's

part of what our intellects do and we

can we do this through language and you

know even through the way in which we we

conceptualize on the one end and how we

sense things on the other end that's all

productive right but there and then he

talks about a sort of forgetting of the

fact that that we engaged in metaphors

and there's kind of a consolidating you

know like coins that are just exchanged

back and forth what the the phases have

worn off now

what he's talking about here goes beyond

that because that productive side then

merges and morphs into something that's

in a certainly much more productive

productive at a higher level but also

more restrictive this is where truth is

not just a flash of insight but

something that we can come to rely upon

and rely upon over and over again with

predictability with an exchange ability

this is where the rational is actually

an achievement but it's also for

Nietzsche somewhat stifling as we'll see

so he talks about this shortly after his

famous discussion of what is truth a

mobile army of metaphors Medan M's

anthropomorphisms

a little bit beyond that he says as a

rational being the human being

right forget the metaphorical origins of

things and as a rational being we put

our actions under the rule of

abstractions

he no longer lets himself be carried

away by sudden impressions by intuitions

he first universe Eliza's these

impressions into less colourful cooler

concepts now the fact that they're less

colorful and cooler means that in

certain respects they're more usable

they they don't cost as much to work

with if I can be understood by my

companions very easily because we're

sort of turning the the concepts and the

words that we use into something that is

much less about you know metaphor and

sparkle and you know flash and all that

sort of cool stuff and more into

something that serves a purpose I can

get a lot more done so he says he

hitches the wagon of his life in actions

of them everything that sets man off

from the animal depends on this capacity

to dilute the concrete metaphors to

forget these concrete metaphors and to

dilute them into schemas schemata right

in in plural so he says in the realm of

such schemata something is possible that

might never succeed under the United

first impressions and here's where we

get to something really interesting we

build up an entire world this is only

possible by starting to work with things

as abstractions as schemas yeah you know

as getting away from the real from the

individual from how things are in the

way that we experience them originally

in the way that we talk about them

originally now this happens over the

course of generations not you know just

individual human beings in a state of

nature or anything like that but he says

what are we able to build up a Piermont

a pyramidal order according to camp

and classes we have social distinctions

we can call these people higher and

these people lower beneath them and we

can say this role that role this role

and they're connected in different ways

he says a new world of laws privileges

subordination x' these are relations

human beings bear to each other we also

as you know so many people have pointed

out we also apply this to the rest of

the world we talk about the animal

kingdom great metaphor right there right

and we talk about you know animals

behaving in certain ways and we liken

them to us we make sense of them and the

rest of the world in relation to these

new skin Motta that we're working with

so he says boundary determinations which

now stands opposite the other concrete

world of primary impressions and we

think here's where it gets really

interesting he says that as opposed to

the concrete world of impressions where

we're having our experiences right he

says we see in this other world the

world of abstractions the world of

schemata the world that is revealed to

us by our rational and intellectual

capacities and consolidated in language

as the more solid more universal more

familiar more human and therefore as a

regulatory and imperative world and over

time this comes to take out a greater

strength and after a while that's the

only way that people can really think at

least the the majority of people you

know and and kids think differently but

that we sort of beat that out of them or

we we cajole it out of them or we reward

and punish it out of them we find ways

to stifle that and to get them to fit

into these schemata that we have

developed so he calls us a great

structure of concepts and he says it has

the rigid regularity of a Roman

columbarium has an aura of that severity

and cold this typical of mathematics

you know the very notion that we could

use

mathematics to model the universe nature

here is saying is really a reflection of

what's going on here in the way in which

we have used our intellects and the ways

in which we've developed these codes

these apurate these assemblages of

schema hata so he calls us the residue

of a metaphor and the question we have

to ask that is well what is truth it was

this is about truth and lying in an

extra moral sense

what does truth become and nature says

well there's a couple ways of looking at

it in this in this discussion he says

truth becomes in this dice game of

concepts using each die as designating

counting its spots accurately forming

the correct labels never violating the

caste system and sequence of rank

classifications so truth becomes playing

the game properly following the rules

rules which are you know in the end not

quite arbitrary but certainly

contingently formed they don't reflect

an absolute of the universe or even of

human nature they just reflect having

developed within these schema what else

is truth he goes on and he talks about

truth is something that we find he says

you know if someone hides an object

behind a bush then it seeks and find it

there

that seeking and finding is not very

laudable but that it is that way with

the seeking and finding of truth within

the rational sphere if I define me a

mammal and then after examining a camel

declare see a mammal the truth is

brought to light but nature says it is

of limited value what makes it of

limited value here is where we get to

the anthropomorphism anthropomorphism

means making things after the nature of

the human and Nietzsche is saying here

that what we do very similar to like

what bees do in making their honeycombs

is we shape the universe and of course

ourselves and our societies after

ourselves it's like we're continually

building ourselves out by way of the

schemata by way of concepts that into

these massive grids these massive

organized what can we call them massive

he's got the Roman Columbarium you know

the mighty architecture an infinitely

complicated Cathedral on foundations

that move like flowing water there's a

beautiful metaphor for you right there

what does that we as human beings do

that and we don't do it with wax or

honey or you know things like that we do

it with thoughts and language and we get

people other people to get on board with

this and it's all part of one big

anthropomorphic project he says so he

goes on and he says the investigator

observes the whole world is linked with

with man as the infinitely reflect

fracked an echo of a primeval sound man

as the reproduction and copy of an

archetype man his procedures to hold up

man as measure of all things but we

forget that these things present

themselves to us as pure objects and so

he says we are an architectural genius

we build out from the much more delicate

material of the concepts which we must

fabricate out of our own self this

entire world and that is where we locate

truth so truth is not something that you

could say exceeds the human as a matter

of fact truth is a product of the human

and we consolidate it into these

structures that that undergird and run

through our entire social matrix

you