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m_vtornikov's review
2.0
Features some interesting and thought-provoking discussions of the "I", of what it means to be an integrated man, of the adequacy of Nietzsche's conception of the superman and of marriage. However, includes lengthy chapters on topics that feel either entirely out of place or tangential (at most) to the topic at hand -- such as the discussion of Existentialism.
Overall, while the book contains some important material and may well prove useful to dedicated students of Evola's thought, it falls short of what it advertises itself to be ("A Survival Manual for the Aristocrats of the Soul" in the present epoch of dissolution), while the quality of writing noticeably lags behind certain of the author's other works (e.g. "Revolt Against the Modern World").
Overall, while the book contains some important material and may well prove useful to dedicated students of Evola's thought, it falls short of what it advertises itself to be ("A Survival Manual for the Aristocrats of the Soul" in the present epoch of dissolution), while the quality of writing noticeably lags behind certain of the author's other works (e.g. "Revolt Against the Modern World").
mikuthemuso's review
4.0
I just finished, so I'll try to write based off on what's fresh off my memory. I did keep notes for this but I'll just make quick comments for every chapter. Well, if I can remember. Otherwise, I'll just write that I don't remember.
- [x] Part 1: Orientations 1
- [x] 1. The Modern World and Traditional Man 2
I can't really remember this. But I know he calls Traditional man the "Differentiated Man"
- [x] 2. The End of a Cycle-"Ride the Tiger" 8
I liked this metaphor. It is a strange one. But it is about waiting for the tiger to tire itself out, and the jumping on it to kill it. It is reminiscent of Durga. I can't remember further than that this chapter.
- [x] Part 2: Ιn the World Where God IS Dead 15
- [x] 3. European Nihilism-The Dissolution of Morals 16
He speaks a LOT about nihilism and a lot on existential philosophers in the proceding chapters. It gets somewhat repetitive.
- [x] 4. From the Precursors of Nihilism to the "Lost Youth" and the Protest Movement 20
Can't really remember this one.
- [x] 5. Disguises of European Nihilism- The Socioeconomic Myth and the Protest Movement 27
Neither this.
- [x] 6. Active Nihilism-Nietzsche 34
He has a very complicated relationship with Nietzsche. He called Nietzsche confused. That Nietzsche got some things right whilst Nietzsche got other things wrong. Was inspired by Tradition but did not completely embody or become transformed by it.
- [x] 7. “Being Oneself" 41
I don't remember this. Although later in the chapters about art, he criticises the concept of subjectivity and originality about the personality of the artist, as opposed art to reflect transcendance. Or maybe it was this chapter.. don't remember.
- [x] 8. The Transcendent Dimension- "Life" and "More Than Life" 47
Can't remember.
- [x] 9. Beyond Theism and Atheism 54
Don't remember.
- [x] 10. Invulnerability-Apollo and Dionysus 60
Order versus Chaos pretty much.
- [x] 11. Acting without Desire-The Causal Law 68
Similar concept in his book Metaphysics of War where he discusses Kshatryiya Dharma. He never says the sanskrit term Yukta Vairagya, renunciation through or within action, but it's essentially this. Action detached from desire of the results of action.
- [x] Part 3: The Dead End of Existentialism 77
He completely disagrees with existentialism and calls Sartre neurotic. I find this quite funny.
- [x] 12. Being and Inauthentic Existence 78
Don't remember this.
- [x] 13. Sartre: Prisoner without Walls 83
He doesn't really agree with much of Sartre to be honest.
- [x] 14. Existence, 'Ά Project Flung into the World" 85
I think he starts describing Heidegger here
- [x] 15. Heidegger: "Retreating Forwards" and "Being-for-Death" Collapse of Existentialism 95
The Heidegger section was weird. Heidegger's philosophy is all about "being", and understanding this concept. Evola tackles Heidegger from the traditionalist perspective.
- [x] Part 4: Dissolution of the Individual 105
Can't remember
- [x] 16. The Dual Aspect of Anonymity 106
Can't remember
- [x] 17. Destructions and Liberations ίη the New Realism 112
Can't remember
- [x] 18. The "Animal Ideal"-The Sentiment of Nature 120
I think... he is against Freud in this one? Can't remember
- [x] Part 5: Dissolution of Consciousness and Relativism 129
Can't remember
- [x] 19. The Procedures of Modern Science 130
He's against science completely. He gets very philosophical and tackles the aesthetics of science as being focused on quantity and not quality. I honestly have no problems with science. I think he's more against scientism. I'm not exactly sure why he is so critical of it so much, but he sees science as inherently against tradition. Modern Science that is. He sees Traditional Science as helping man achieve transcendence and thus is superior.
- [x] 20. Covering υρ Nature-Phenomenology 137
Can't remember
- [x] Part 6: The Realm of Art- From "Physical" Music to the Drug Regime 149 ..
- [x] 21. The Sickness of European Culture 150
I think he criticises Italian cinema here. It gets very focused on aesthetics.
- [x] 22. Dissolution ίη Modern Art 153
He focuses specifically on how art no longer focuses on higher purposes but rather mundane depictions of the downtrodden. I think something like that. He namedrops a lot of movements.
- [x] 23. Modern Music and Jazz 159
He calls African tribes primitive. I found this to be a very typical orientalist colonialist attitude towards Africans, Jung does the same thing. He makes interesting observations on music. Jazz in the future chapters. That music used to be about higher ideals, whereas avant garde has focused on rhythms, and theoretical abstractions.
- [x] 24. Excursus οη Drugs 166
He discusses how drugs can be helpful in the right context of Tradition. With participants being involved in ritual, initiation, study of symbols, preparation, fasting etc. He doesn't specifically say the word fasting I think, but it's along the lines. But he says that the way drugs are taking are the same way sex is used in modern day society. Which is to alleviate the void of neurotics.
- [x] Part 7: Dissolution ίη the Social Realm 171
- [x] 25. States and Parties-Apoliteia 172
He's largely against modern states. He's against both United States and the Soviet Union, during the period of his writing this. He sees some benefit to democracy, but its not a key factor to the man of tradition.
- [x] 26. Society-The Crisis of Patriotic Feeling 177
He disagrees with patriotism as a liberal bourgeois phenomenon. In the past men where bound by caste and race, not by modern concepts like patriotism.
- [x] 27. Marriage and the Family 185
I saved a quote from this chapter. It was great.
“What authority can a father have especially in the so-called upper classes, if he is reduced to a money-making machine, a busy professional, and the like?”
He's pretty much against the modern day family. Considering things like marriage to be legalised prostitution. He has a lot of remarks. He also think family structures have deteriorated into comfort, hedonism and continuing one's bloodline. Rather than about transmitting sacred tradition from father to son. He also criticises the modern generation of children having too much independance and questioning their parents which he considers to stem from a rootlessness in modern families which only seek to procreate.
- [x] 28. Relations between the Sexes 195
This chapter is a little complicated. He writes about how virginity and womanhood is completely misunderstood by modern man, and by woman. That everyone has it wrong, the Catholics are wrong about women, the Protestants are wrong, and the Liberals are also wrong. That there are Traditional ways and also Tantric understandings of the sexes which are completely lacking in today's society.
- [x] Part 8: The Spiritual Problem 207
- [x] 29. The "Second Religiosity" 208
He is highly against New Age. He never uses the word but he calls it "neospiritualism". He categorises it as essentially of a feminine character. I don't exactly agree, but I understand his sentiment. Because creativity, intuition, artistry, expression, emotion, are generally considered feminine. He also warns against con-artists in modern society who try to spread esoteric teachings to the masses. He is very much against this and considers esoteric teachings to be a certain type of person, and not just freely sold in the spiritual marketplace.
- [x] 30. Death-The Right over Life 218
He has a complicated diatribe on death. I largely remembered his comments on Buddhism and Stoicism and Seneca. That there are noble methods of suicide according to him, and there are escapist methods. Kamikaze to him is transcendent. Seneca's explanation of suicide is also bares an element of tradition. Something like that.
Concluding points -
All in a good book. I would like to read his book Fascism as viewed from the right next, or perhaps his book on Hermeticism.
- [x] Part 1: Orientations 1
- [x] 1. The Modern World and Traditional Man 2
I can't really remember this. But I know he calls Traditional man the "Differentiated Man"
- [x] 2. The End of a Cycle-"Ride the Tiger" 8
I liked this metaphor. It is a strange one. But it is about waiting for the tiger to tire itself out, and the jumping on it to kill it. It is reminiscent of Durga. I can't remember further than that this chapter.
- [x] Part 2: Ιn the World Where God IS Dead 15
- [x] 3. European Nihilism-The Dissolution of Morals 16
He speaks a LOT about nihilism and a lot on existential philosophers in the proceding chapters. It gets somewhat repetitive.
- [x] 4. From the Precursors of Nihilism to the "Lost Youth" and the Protest Movement 20
Can't really remember this one.
- [x] 5. Disguises of European Nihilism- The Socioeconomic Myth and the Protest Movement 27
Neither this.
- [x] 6. Active Nihilism-Nietzsche 34
He has a very complicated relationship with Nietzsche. He called Nietzsche confused. That Nietzsche got some things right whilst Nietzsche got other things wrong. Was inspired by Tradition but did not completely embody or become transformed by it.
- [x] 7. “Being Oneself" 41
I don't remember this. Although later in the chapters about art, he criticises the concept of subjectivity and originality about the personality of the artist, as opposed art to reflect transcendance. Or maybe it was this chapter.. don't remember.
- [x] 8. The Transcendent Dimension- "Life" and "More Than Life" 47
Can't remember.
- [x] 9. Beyond Theism and Atheism 54
Don't remember.
- [x] 10. Invulnerability-Apollo and Dionysus 60
Order versus Chaos pretty much.
- [x] 11. Acting without Desire-The Causal Law 68
Similar concept in his book Metaphysics of War where he discusses Kshatryiya Dharma. He never says the sanskrit term Yukta Vairagya, renunciation through or within action, but it's essentially this. Action detached from desire of the results of action.
- [x] Part 3: The Dead End of Existentialism 77
He completely disagrees with existentialism and calls Sartre neurotic. I find this quite funny.
- [x] 12. Being and Inauthentic Existence 78
Don't remember this.
- [x] 13. Sartre: Prisoner without Walls 83
He doesn't really agree with much of Sartre to be honest.
- [x] 14. Existence, 'Ά Project Flung into the World" 85
I think he starts describing Heidegger here
- [x] 15. Heidegger: "Retreating Forwards" and "Being-for-Death" Collapse of Existentialism 95
The Heidegger section was weird. Heidegger's philosophy is all about "being", and understanding this concept. Evola tackles Heidegger from the traditionalist perspective.
- [x] Part 4: Dissolution of the Individual 105
Can't remember
- [x] 16. The Dual Aspect of Anonymity 106
Can't remember
- [x] 17. Destructions and Liberations ίη the New Realism 112
Can't remember
- [x] 18. The "Animal Ideal"-The Sentiment of Nature 120
I think... he is against Freud in this one? Can't remember
- [x] Part 5: Dissolution of Consciousness and Relativism 129
Can't remember
- [x] 19. The Procedures of Modern Science 130
He's against science completely. He gets very philosophical and tackles the aesthetics of science as being focused on quantity and not quality. I honestly have no problems with science. I think he's more against scientism. I'm not exactly sure why he is so critical of it so much, but he sees science as inherently against tradition. Modern Science that is. He sees Traditional Science as helping man achieve transcendence and thus is superior.
- [x] 20. Covering υρ Nature-Phenomenology 137
Can't remember
- [x] Part 6: The Realm of Art- From "Physical" Music to the Drug Regime 149 ..
- [x] 21. The Sickness of European Culture 150
I think he criticises Italian cinema here. It gets very focused on aesthetics.
- [x] 22. Dissolution ίη Modern Art 153
He focuses specifically on how art no longer focuses on higher purposes but rather mundane depictions of the downtrodden. I think something like that. He namedrops a lot of movements.
- [x] 23. Modern Music and Jazz 159
He calls African tribes primitive. I found this to be a very typical orientalist colonialist attitude towards Africans, Jung does the same thing. He makes interesting observations on music. Jazz in the future chapters. That music used to be about higher ideals, whereas avant garde has focused on rhythms, and theoretical abstractions.
- [x] 24. Excursus οη Drugs 166
He discusses how drugs can be helpful in the right context of Tradition. With participants being involved in ritual, initiation, study of symbols, preparation, fasting etc. He doesn't specifically say the word fasting I think, but it's along the lines. But he says that the way drugs are taking are the same way sex is used in modern day society. Which is to alleviate the void of neurotics.
- [x] Part 7: Dissolution ίη the Social Realm 171
- [x] 25. States and Parties-Apoliteia 172
He's largely against modern states. He's against both United States and the Soviet Union, during the period of his writing this. He sees some benefit to democracy, but its not a key factor to the man of tradition.
- [x] 26. Society-The Crisis of Patriotic Feeling 177
He disagrees with patriotism as a liberal bourgeois phenomenon. In the past men where bound by caste and race, not by modern concepts like patriotism.
- [x] 27. Marriage and the Family 185
I saved a quote from this chapter. It was great.
“What authority can a father have especially in the so-called upper classes, if he is reduced to a money-making machine, a busy professional, and the like?”
He's pretty much against the modern day family. Considering things like marriage to be legalised prostitution. He has a lot of remarks. He also think family structures have deteriorated into comfort, hedonism and continuing one's bloodline. Rather than about transmitting sacred tradition from father to son. He also criticises the modern generation of children having too much independance and questioning their parents which he considers to stem from a rootlessness in modern families which only seek to procreate.
- [x] 28. Relations between the Sexes 195
This chapter is a little complicated. He writes about how virginity and womanhood is completely misunderstood by modern man, and by woman. That everyone has it wrong, the Catholics are wrong about women, the Protestants are wrong, and the Liberals are also wrong. That there are Traditional ways and also Tantric understandings of the sexes which are completely lacking in today's society.
- [x] Part 8: The Spiritual Problem 207
- [x] 29. The "Second Religiosity" 208
He is highly against New Age. He never uses the word but he calls it "neospiritualism". He categorises it as essentially of a feminine character. I don't exactly agree, but I understand his sentiment. Because creativity, intuition, artistry, expression, emotion, are generally considered feminine. He also warns against con-artists in modern society who try to spread esoteric teachings to the masses. He is very much against this and considers esoteric teachings to be a certain type of person, and not just freely sold in the spiritual marketplace.
- [x] 30. Death-The Right over Life 218
He has a complicated diatribe on death. I largely remembered his comments on Buddhism and Stoicism and Seneca. That there are noble methods of suicide according to him, and there are escapist methods. Kamikaze to him is transcendent. Seneca's explanation of suicide is also bares an element of tradition. Something like that.
Concluding points -
All in a good book. I would like to read his book Fascism as viewed from the right next, or perhaps his book on Hermeticism.