Emotional Persuasion Persuasion cannot be ignored or entertained without emotion; emotion is also a personal attribute that individuals consider or disregard at voluntary and involuntary. The belief in or perception of the world is a very personal account. Some believe people are born with their destiny predetermined; others believe in no control of human lives and must deal with whatever life throws at them. Still others believe that an individual is in control of their own personal destiny; understanding that the world and life is not mapped out, but a blank canvas for people to spill their emotions on to-in hopes of creating a life. This latter example was the motivation and inspiration of a philosopher, author, artist, critic and rhetorician; his name is Friedrich Nietzsche. Friedrich Nietzsche was born in Leipzig Germany to his father, a Lutheran pastor, Karl Ludwig Nietzsche and his mother Franziska Nietzsche, a devout hausfrau (housewife). Nietzsche began writing at an early age. His intellectual prowess began to blossom and expand while in school, “During his high school and college years, he penned nine autobiographical sketches” (Liukkonen). Much of his writing career was fueled by his disdain of Christianity. In Der Antichrist Nietzsche wrote, “In truth, there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross”. He was very outspoken about Christianity and its shortcomings; this subject ran through his works and his entire life. His rhetoric was influential and touched a wide audience through the decades. Rhetoric can be described as the process or style that ensures different arguments can be understood by the target audience, persuasion. Rhetoric is a person’s normal influential talents, finely tuned for the utmost effect. Nietzsche mastered the art of Rhetoric. It extended beyond a specific targeted audience and reached many proponents of Christianity and the morals thought to be righteous. It can be said that emotion is what gave the message it buoyancy to float around and affect a large audience. Nietzsche subscribed to epistemology, defined by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy as, “the study of knowledge and justified belief”; this belief posed many questions that were the fodder for his work. Nietzsche persuasion wasn’t to convince his audience to believe in his thoughts but to think about the world, “He challenges the reader not so much to agree or disagree as to grow” (Kaufmann 16). The public at large doesn’t want to be forced into doing anything; this is where persuasion is so effective. The message isn’t forcing people into doing something they don’t want to do it is persuading them to do something they think is originally their idea or being persuaded into believing this decision is for the best. His rhetoric was so influential that he was credited with the start of the First World War. Phrases like Ubermensch commonly translated as Superman and The Blond Beast was taken by some as an example of Aryan megalomania. Many readers assumed his advocacy for Nazism, “His presumed advocacy of a brutal Teutonic philosophy of life that explained the alleged conduct of the German armies during the war” (Gay xi). The reasons behind the Nazi attraction to Nietzsche can be various, but one reason in particular stands out, rhetoric. The Nazi were masters of rhetoric and propaganda. Nietzsche being a master at rhetoric, a revolutionary whose doubts about the way people arrange their lives fearing controversy and change, seemed to make [him] the perfect cohort. Germany, in the 1920’s was head and shoulders above other nations, “When the party was formed in 1920, it was a small, fringe party. But it spoke to the beliefs and aspirations of millions of Germans. And in the 1920s, the Germans were, arguably, the most educated nation in the world with the highest levels of literacy, numbers of years of schooling, newspaper readership, political awareness, and so on”. (Hicks 4). This level of intelligence signifies a desire to change, move forward. Forward and controversial thinking Nietzsche would fit right in. Its intellectuals and the forward thinking that change systems, governments and processes. Nietzsche’s writings holds veneration for all things great, noble and heroic, “…the secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment is - to live dangerously… there are, if only rarely, men who would rather perish than work without any pleasure in their work...their idle-ness is resolute, even if it spells impoverishment, dishonor, and danger to life and limb”. The Nazis were no doubt attracted to his writings and mind set. The Nazis often cited Nietzsche and referenced his writings; although Nietzsche died 33 years before the Nazis came into power. Hitler and many of his followers were admirers of Nietzsche work. In 1938 the Germans erected a public monument of Nietzsche. The question posed is, why did the Nazis find Nietzsche so appealing? The answer is rhetoric. As stated before Nietzsche was a master at rhetoric; obviously the situation in which the country was in, politically and socially, has as much to do with it as rhetoric. The people sought change and recognition; many thought a social movement was needed, as did Nietzsche, as did the Nazis. But knowing and feeling that change is needed isn’t enough. One must articulate what the problems are and what the solution may be. Nietzsche did just that, touching people deep with intellect, persuasion and artistic flare, “He spoke directly and passionately to the best within each of us: “Do not throw away the hero in your soul” and “Hold holy your highest hope.”47 And for those of us who sense we have a creative spark that must be honored and nurtured—“the noble soul has reverence for itself” (Hicks 5.1). This concentration on the Nazis and Nietzsche’s influence is profound. To insight or inspire a tragic, but no less impressive, move to change says a lot about Nietzsche and his rhetoric. This is not to say there were a myriad of other decisive feeling and beliefs behind Nazism.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 23:08:05 +0000
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