Comfort is the Enemy — Nietzsche's Last Man

🌟 Comfort is the Enemy — Nietzsche's Last Man 🌟

🚀 Introduction 🚀

"The higher we soar the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly." - Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Nietzsche's vision of the "Last Man" stands in stark contrast to his ideal of the Übermensch. While the Übermensch represents the pinnacle of human potential, the Last Man embodies the dangers of seeking comfort above all else.

🤔 The Last Man vs. The Übermensch 🤔

In "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," Nietzsche introduces the Last Man as the antithesis of the Übermensch. The Last Man seeks comfort, avoids challenges, and lives a life devoid of ambition. On the other hand, the Übermensch embraces challenges, creates values, and soars beyond the ordinary.

🌍 Modern Relevance 🌍

Fast forward to the 21st century, and we see echoes of the Last Man in our society. The allure of comfort, the promise of an easy life, and the avoidance of hardship have become pervasive. Yet, this pursuit of comfort might be leading us to a mental health crisis.

📚 Literary Reflections 📚

Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" paints a dystopian picture of a society that has eradicated pain and discomfort. However, in doing so, it has also stripped away the essence of the human experience. The protagonist, John, challenges this utopia, yearning for genuine emotions, challenges, and even suffering.

🧠 Psychological Insights 🧠

Modern psychology suggests that challenges, stress, and even trauma can lead to growth and resilience. The pursuit of constant comfort might be detrimental to our mental well-being. As Martin Seligman noted, despite objective improvements in well-being, rates of depression have skyrocketed.

🔥 Conclusion 🔥

While we may not aspire to become Nietzsche's Übermensch, his warning about the Last Man is worth heeding. Perhaps it's time to reevaluate our relationship with comfort and seek a balance between ease and challenge.

🔗 Further Reading 🔗

1. [Writes The Presence of Everything](https://squarecircle.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_content=comment_metadata)

2. [Nihilism vs. Existentialism vs. Absurdism](https://thelivingphilosophy.substack.com/p/nihilism-vs-existentialism-vs-absurdism)

3. [Why the Masterpiece of Medieval Philosophy was Never Finished](https://thelivingphilosophy.substack.com/p/aquinas-abandoned-masterpiece)