Review: The Will to Power Ontological argument invalidOntological argument invalid –Informal argument analogy test –Grammatical trick—like I think  I exist. Critical of desperate attempts at meaningCritical of desperate attempts at meaning –Need reality to declare us important Grasping at grammatical strawsGrasping at grammatical straws Reality/original a myth—really willing powerReality/original a myth—really willing power Gradual dismantling of rationalismGradual dismantling of rationalism –Hume skeptical about science (cause) –Abandon proofs of God (Hume/Kant)

Real world History Kant rationalist attemptKant rationalist attempt –Mind filters noumenal reality  phenomenal –Noumenal for rational obligation only Positivism= no value, pure sciencePositivism= no value, pure science Nietzsche resting point joyful self-creationNietzsche resting point joyful self-creation –No real/apparent distinction (Greek Idols) –No deeper reality but sheer will to power Create your own value and live by itCreate your own value and live by it

Questions Explain the Buddhist paradox of desire. What is the Mahayana solution?

Christianity and Buddhism A paradigm of slave moralityA paradigm of slave morality –Not refuted, but sick! Self-hating negative resentment All don'ts, evil, sin, sinners (invented by Jews!)All don'ts, evil, sin, sinners (invented by Jews!) This world, natural man as contrast with GodThis world, natural man as contrast with God –A form of self-hate—hate the natural self/sinner –Stems from Socrates’ mind/body values

Lying Heaven a contradictionHeaven a contradiction –No – a form of hatred of life Desire for "the other life" = desire for deathDesire for "the other life" = desire for death –Create a myth in our own image Attribute all power to him—powerlessness to ourselvesAttribute all power to him—powerlessness to ourselves Sin a deceptive form of self-hateSin a deceptive form of self-hate –Doctrine of original sin a double bind –Protestant "grace" and predestination Hate yourself & ideology of powerlessnessHate yourself & ideology of powerlessness Moralizes enslavement – we deserve our sufferingMoralizes enslavement – we deserve our suffering –So do nothing about it

Christ and Christianity Culprit is St. PaulCulprit is St. Paul –Actually a Roman—inheritors of the idols of Socrates –Mind more valuable than body Hatred of body and instinctsHatred of body and instincts Celibacy of priests, sex as evilCelibacy of priests, sex as evil Christ himself a divine mysticChrist himself a divine mystic –Declared himself God –Re-evaluated values –Spontaneous self-assertion—we should all be like that Christ was the last ChristianChrist was the last Christian

Buddhism a Kindred Religion Same mind/body structureSame mind/body structure –Skepticism of existence –‘Truth’ ‘reason’, ‘ideas’, & transcendent reality Nihilistic, decadent power denyingNihilistic, decadent power denying –Renunciation religion: Nirvana and life (samsara) –Samsara is suffering. Get rid of desire But I don't want to malign it with Christianity…But I don't want to malign it with Christianity… –Honest – I seek to die and stay dead Reincarnation frameworkReincarnation framework –Positivist – no value judgment “Life is suffering” v “We are all sinners”“Life is suffering” v “We are all sinners”

Not Powerless We can achieve the religious goal by our own effortsWe can achieve the religious goal by our own efforts –We can die and stay dead No promises and keeps them!No promises and keeps them! –No supernatural intervention—no supernatural role at all Buddha just a model who found the pathBuddha just a model who found the path Hygiene, diet, cheerfulnessHygiene, diet, cheerfulness –Attributed to climate and age of culture

Philosophical self-deception First "tricks of grammar" analysisFirst "tricks of grammar" analysis –Invent reality out of language Grammar and logicGrammar and logic –Subject term must refer (exist) Hence soul and God—agent and objectHence soul and God—agent and object –Hegel and reason discovering itself—Reason=world –All truth in Subject  Predicate form »Summarize in a single truth God  world Cogito and ontological argumentCogito and ontological argument "Can't get rid of God because we still believe in grammar!""Can't get rid of God because we still believe in grammar!"

India and Indo-European Return to first idea "invasion" of ChinaReturn to first idea "invasion" of China Indian Upanishads and Hindu orthodoxy. Brahman and GreeksIndian Upanishads and Hindu orthodoxy. Brahman and Greeks –Striking parallels Mind-body, reason, logic, truth permanence beliefMind-body, reason, logic, truth permanence belief Phenomenalism-idealism: sensible world an illusionPhenomenalism-idealism: sensible world an illusion

Buddhism Heresy within HinduismHeresy within Hinduism –Rejects the soul/ego –Nirvana as extinction

Four noble truths: Life is sufferingLife is suffering –Nietzsche likes the directness, honesty Suffering is caused by desireSuffering is caused by desire –The shared "nihilistic" theme Desire elimination is the way to eliminate sufferingDesire elimination is the way to eliminate suffering –Can do something (??) Eightfold path is the way to eliminate desireEightfold path is the way to eliminate desire –Hygiene diet attitude

Nirvana No more rebirths = no more sufferingNo more rebirths = no more suffering –Escape from samsara—cycle of lives