The Italian religious philosopher and cultural analyst Julius Evola
(1898-1974) is one of the most engaging writers of the 20th century. His
two texts on various esoteric and religious subjects more politically
oriented such are generally worthy of consideration.
My favorite is Ride the Tiger (1961, translated into English in 2003),
which covers a lot of existential, cultural and social implications of the
modern world, characterized by progressive spiritual dissolution. Although
preferred public Evola - in line with its traditional philosophy
essentialist - is a differentiated priest or warrior type much in this
western Mavericks intelligent book can find something insightful and
valuable.
9 I discern aspects that are useful for understanding oneself and the world
and are still tenable.
1. divine despotism is a fantasy
One of the main principles of the Abrahamic religions, Judaism and Islam in
particular, is the divine despotism, the idea that control of God almighty
humanity and the events of our world.
Although not a scientific subject in that it can be verified or falsified
by these theories and methods, it nevertheless has an impact on how we see
ourselves and the universe.
This belief leads to & # 8212; and Evola emphasizes this principle in his
book & # 8212; a denial of individual responsibility. It is actually
anti-Christian in that it neglects the "free will".
2. Atheism against theism is a false dichotomy
Theism simply means belief in the existence of deities, especially a
creator god omnipotent, and its negation is atheism. In a way it's a matter
of one or either a god or many gods exist or not or not.
But given the premise above, spirituality can go beyond these two types.
Many traditions, esoteric in particular are rather related to individual
character, knowledge and predisposition, that belief in a singular god or
several gods.
Obviously Evola thought less religiosity monotheistic and polytheistic as
aristocratic "Tradition", but it is important to be aware of what the
entire duration of traditional spirituality is much broader than atheism
against theism. It only takes a look Theravada Buddhism, discussed by Evola
in his book The Doctrine of Awakening, to such a notion. As such this
scheme is a false dichotomy.
3. Lucid intoxication goes beyond mere animal instincts
In a fairly complex discourse on Dionysian myths - linked to the writings
of a recurring figure in this book, Friedrich Nietzsche - and how they
correspond to modern civilization, Evola discusses a mindset that goes
beyond simple instincts " Dionysian "that have become prevalent in our day
(like eating, sleeping, drinking, kissing and listening to modern music).
He called a "lucid intoxication," a state of intellectual clarity that may
emerge in certain situations while pursuing particular activities:
Detachment coexists with a fully lived experience; be quiet is constantly
wedded to the substance of life. The consequence of this union,
existentially speaking, is a kind of lucid intoxication specifically, one
might almost say intellectualized and magnetic, which is the absolute
opposite of what comes from the ecstatic openness to the world of the
elemental forces, the instinct, and & # 8220 nature & # 8221;.
Although it is a bit difficult what that means exactly, a reader can
imagine a state of mind that occurs when one lives completely in the moment
and made an important realization of some sort. Such moments are more
precious than beastly intoxication.
4. To act without desire of the principle of the laws of cause and effect
In a subsequent chapter, Evola examines how a person can participate in
various activities differentiated without desire. This mindset is similar
to both Buddhism and stoicism (both discussed in the last chapter, related
to a discussion of suicide), and also Taoism.
In fact, while we engage in them, remain unattached, but be aware of the
causal laws that underlie them. This way, he can live in the modern world
and to participate in any field, for example play or work, it feels like.
In other words, do a good job, but do not fool yourself into thinking this
is more a sense or purpose.
5. The modern personality is different from traditional
In the modern world, all people are equal in dignity and rights. Although
this is certainly a nice position (here I disagree vehemently with the
undemocratic Evola), people are always different in terms of personality
and behavior. It only takes a look at the Big Five or IQ to realize that.
However, the traditional character - as perceived by Evola - is very
different from the modern, if we take into account the biology or not. Many
traditional were linked to a divine role (Latin person means mask) in a
metaphysical act, rather than any Renaissance genius or "fascinating"
modern, contingent personality.
In this regard, one can agree with Evola or not, but this descriptive
characterization is nevertheless instructive. The American commercial
culture - including most of the Mavericks as they appear - is linked to
the "personal brand" rather than a supra-personal essence or function.
The traditional personality became hidden under a new mask, that of
self-indulgence and self-gratification.
6. Our world is characterized by dissolution
In the working principle Evola, Revolt against the Modern World (1934), he
analyzes the dissolution of the traditional world. Although it is difficult
to take this job very seriously from a strictly historical point of view,
because it is linked to a very selective interpretation of the past rather
than the extensive historiography, it still highlights some very real and
current models. Ride the Tiger builds on this.
Just look at how traditional cultures have dissolved, and how the modern
world through Christianity of the middle class, nationalism and capitalism,
emerged with all its nihilism, hedonism and relativism; process that was
accelerated under the post-modernist subjectivism, & # 8221 equality; and a
consumerist society overtly sexualized.
We always wonder if things can get even worse and when it will stop.
7. Modern politics does not reflect the highest ideals
Evola was particularly anti-American and considered only better than the
Soviet Union in terms of degree (a war between vaishyas against Sudras with
the terminology of Dharma).
Realpolitik should partly or largely hinged on a rational and pragmatic
approach, but it becomes void if it is not related to values or higher
ethics.
Besides maybe philanthropy and prosperity, it is difficult to see that
American policy - or any policy in the modern world for that matter -
represent the ideals whatsoever. Therefore apoliteia Evola said, implying
that one should stay out of politics (or be involved, but remain
unattached). He claimed:
Today's world of party policy only consists of small politicians regime,
which, regardless of their political affiliations, often serving
figureheads of the financial interests and industrial or business. The
situation has gone so far that even if the parties or movements of another
type existed, they would have almost no following among the uprooted masses
which respond only to those who promise material benefits and social
achievements & # 8221;.
Evola also cites José Ortega y Gasset in this regard.
In America, that freedom of freedom (to some extent) because they are part
of some aspects of the US Constitution, seem relevant because they allow
men to choose to live their lives according to their equations staff & #
8221;.
8. Sexual poisoning is an integral part of American society
Various modern trends, as the philosophy of existentialism and popular art
and music, are scanned in Ride the Tiger. Several chapters, two in
particular, deal with gender roles and gender as such. Although Evola, of
course, do not look in modern latest trends such as homosexuality and the
fluidity of the kind that has not yet emerged, it was still very
predictable in this regard. For example, he wrote:
I must emphasize especially the direction of the processes at work to a
release sex, but in no case a liberation sex. Sex and women are becoming
the dominant forces in place in today's society, an obvious fact which is
also part of the general phenomenology of each terminal of a civilization's
cycle. One could speak of a sexual chronic poisoning manifested effusively
in public life, conduct and art.
Sexual poisoning has become an integral part of American society, primarily
from the global post-war process, which also accelerated. Capitalism in
tandem with the cultural Marxism defeated bourgeois Christian moralist.
9. "more moral" transcends the sign of the times
When you live in the present world, and participates in various frivolous
activities, it is easy to feel inauthentic and difficult to hold to the
ideals, virtues and principles. But according to Evola there that transcend
the contingency of history and represent a & # 8221 superior morality;
which goes beyond moralism small:
I have already mentioned the principles of a higher morality and # 8221;
that, depending on a kind of inner race, can not be damaged by nihilistic
dissoulutions: these include truth, justice, loyalty, inner courage,
authentic feeling socially unconditioned of honor and shame, oneself on the
control. This is what is meant by & # 8221 under ;; Sex Acts have no part,
except indirectly, and only when they lead to a behavior that deviates from
these values.
In summary
Climb all the tiger is a book worth reading in its entirety. The many
facets of higher individualism and the current culture that are discussed
are still relevant. Julius Evola was indeed an anti-modernist with
anti-democratic inclination, yet he used logic to analyze the state of
things in our world in many ways different from the traditional.
More: 5 INNOVATIVE Books written between 1918 and 1945
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