Thanks for filling in some gaps. I began to summarize, but stopped myself, and began to doubt what value that summary actually has. I think there is a great distinction made here: Analysis vs Interpretation. While we can certainly try and analyze what Nietzsche means in some objective sense, it is more relevant to find personal interpretation. This is at the core of how I have understood existentialism, that values and meaning are created through existential experience, that there are no facts but only interpretations, and internal self-overcoming is necessary. Nietzsche's merging of the personal and intellectual is the same thing which drew me to Platonism originally, that the truth (governing principle) is one that concerns the personal intellectual interest. However, of course under Plato things became objective and fixed. This is also how I understand Aristotle’s statement that theoretical knowledge is the most satisfying activity, as it is its own end (rather than the practical, applied knowledge in the Aristotelian context). Physiological flux is simply a beautiful term. This analogy of houses is very useful to understanding self overcoming.
I am now slowly becoming free of mechanistic thinking. These are my personal and subjective observations. Perhaps if I recognize that the process of self-overcoming has no end, then I cannot become the wise and condescending philosopher, since I have no desire for it. I, as an organic being naturally feel as if I am liberated completely and utterly by the flux, but the Platonist inside of my screams blasphemy. Should I try to qualify flux through labels, as some type of metaphysical being? This is where I was when I first joined the forum. Another danger, is that we become the messengers when we spout Nietzschian philosophy. Surely we can liberate the rest of humankind? But what truth can we possibly awaken them to? None, but to themselves. But enough of me, back to the text.
'
I think it is easy for the modern man to recognize with the position of the last man. It really is a peculiar position. The last man seems indicative of this comfort of no longer re-assessing his position. He has reached some sort of intellectual end, as an impenetrable ultimate philosophy from his own perspective. We know however that the Ubermensch must overcome both this and a sort of nihilistic state. The last man is a goal for western civilization.
Following this, in the market place we get the scene of a tight-rope walker, who, being mocked by the jester falls off the tight rope and is mortally wounded. While briefly regaining consciousness before Zarathustra, we get an interesting dialogue:
"What are you doing there?"He said at last, "I knew long ago that the devil would trip me up. Now he will drag me down to hell: will you prevent him?"
"On my honor, my friend,"answered Zarathustra
there is nothing of all that you speak of: there is no devil and no hell. Your soul will be dead even sooner than your body: fear nothing further
The man looked up distrustfully."If you speak the truth," he said
“I lose nothing when I lose my life. I am not much more than an animal that has been taught to dance by blows and a few scraps.”
“Not at all,” said Zarathustra, “You have made danger your calling; there is nothing contemptible in that. Now you perish by your calling: for that I will bury you with my own hands.”
From an outsider's perspective this exchange might be creepy, but I almost find Nietzsche's immoralism to be beautiful here. Zarathustra is mocked by the villagers for carrying the body, and is denied shelter by an old man.
“Whoever feeds the hungry refreshes his own soul: thus speaks wisdom”
This next part of the chapter excites me, as it is indicative of something that almost represents the emergence of the occult, and something like autopoiesis.
Zarathustra comes to a realization:
“An insight has come to me: I need companions-living ones, not dead companions and corpses, which I carry with me where I please”
“Companions the creator seeks, not corpses-and not herds or believers either. Fellow creators the creator seeks-those who write new values on new tablets”
The prologue is finalized with Zarathustra admiring the snake (the wisest animal), which tangles itself around the eagle (the proudest animal) in friendship.
I like to keep things in sizable chunks, to allow for a back-and-forth exchange of ideas if possible. I was thinking of making videos but right now my environment isn't exactly ideal for that.