Passage from On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense by Nietzsche

In what ways do we cope with the truth and lies?

Angela Response

            Nietzsche’s On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense stretches our brains by forcing us to question what we think is reality. He also tries to convince us that we aren’t capable of “knowing” anything, and no wonder...

“This art of dissimulation reaches its peak in man. Deception, flattering, lying, deluding, talking behind the back, putting up a false front, living in borrowed splendor, wearing a mask, hiding behind convention, playing a role for others and for oneself-in short, a continuous fluttering around the solitary flame of vanity-is so much the rule and the law among men that there is almost nothing which is less comprehensible than how an honest and pure drive for truth could have arisen among them.” (Nietzsche, p.1)

            This passage makes me think of all the “acceptable lies” we are taught when we are young. Of course these differ depending upon culture, environment, religion etc. but consider Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, and the tooth-fairy, just to name a few. Have you ever been told when opening a present from someone not to act like you don’t like it? Ever spent money you know you really didn’t have? Ever pay unworthy compliments to someone you wanted or needed to impress? Act like you were brave in front of your children to set a good example? What about the infamous, does this make me look fat? I know these are all seem harmless but they do contribute—on a simpler scale—to the fact that we use truth and illusion intermittently to our own advantage.

            Look at the media for example and with the way people can manipulate images, text, voicemails, cameras etc. The ways in which we can be “lied” to is endless in this technological world. Lehrer pointed to ways that scientists, pharmaceutical corporations, and publicists bend the truth even if it means risking the health of others. (Selective reporting, publication bias or significance chasing)

            In a world with such dishonest practices, people, and social influence, the best I can do is stay true to me, and to who I believe I am. How could anyone take that away from me or disprove it?

·         I take the stairs because it is my way of being thankful for the ability to do so—

·         If I catch myself saying that I’m starving I remind myself that there are people all over, some with distended stomachs, much hungrier than I.

·         I lost my father to cancer one week after my 10^th birthday so I take each day as a blessing and thank my mother often for who she is to me.

·         I appreciate what others have been through without judging--I have only walked in my own shoes.

·         I cannot stop my children from growing up so I relish every moment of innocence with them, even the smallest things. Taking my daughter to the park so I can watch her roller blade and smile in the sunlight; appreciating my son for all his help around the house and for watching Food Network with me just to be by my side, even though he hates the channel.

           

            Nietzsche is extremely critical of man settling for the illusion because he can never really know the truth and I think he is right. So my advice would be to make your illusion count, stay true to yourself it may be the only truth you will ever know.