irresponsibly using a lack of objectivity
type: scraps
114 - How far the moral sphere extends
“As soon as we see a new image, we immediately construct it with the aid of all our previous experiences, depending on the degree of our honesty and justice. All experiences are moral experiences, even in the realm of sense perception.”
The Gay Science / Kaufmann / Randomhouse / 1974
Here, Nietzsche is basically saying how you see the world isn’t through some raw and unfiltered lense; rather, everything is tainted by your perception which is its own unique interpretation. How you use (or misuse) that fact becomes a moral issue in itself. I often catch myself prefixing a lot of statements (to others, to myself) with, “Objectively..” To me, the term becomes comforting, and that is how it becomes a prime example of how Nietzsche might think we are not being honest.
In an uncomfortable situation, our nervous system might scream: “Something feels uncertain or morally risky - that’s unsafe!” Instantly, our brain shoots to the logical conclusion: “You shouldn’t feel this way because objectively, …” For example, take the situation: “I said something awkward.” The objective comfort line becomes: “Objectively, no one cares, and you shouldn’t feel anxious or negatively”
It’s comforting because the phrase seems to offer an escape from ambiguity. Thinking “objectively”, rehearsing the “facts”, and finding some “objective truth” - they all come together so our brain can feel some comfort in closing the case and solving the ambiguity.
Here, Nietzsche would urge us to be careful: that statement is not pure objectivity. It is an interpretation shaped by our need to calm ourselves (and in a way, becomes an escape in itself - how French). Of course, that doesn’t mean the statement isn’t true: really, I’m sure nobody cares, and we both know that. However, we must acknowledge that: interpreting honestly, the situation is to acknowledge the feelings and then separate the feeling from the story your mind is telling about the feeling - not use the “facts” to create a false sense of calm for yourself.
So instead of jumping directly to, “Objectively, this doesn’t/shouldn’t bother me,” we acknowledge ourselves first: “This is bothering me; my anxiety says this matters and I do feel a bit exposed.” We can then proceed with the honest take: “My best honest read is that this matters less to others than to me.”