[HPforGrownups] Rowling and Philosophy

[SeventhSqueal]

No: HPFGUIDX 53645

 
 dimercury7 <thorn360 at yahoo.com> wrote:

In that vein, I was wondering if anyone else is interested in the philosophy that can be seen in and/or explained by the HP series. There is soooo much to go in to, such as whether or not V is the ultimate evil in the world, or is he just a representation of the ultimate failings of mortals (ala Plato)... mmmm - stuff like this makes my philosophic mouth water... anyway, I can and most definatly want to wax eloquently on such topics if anyones out there wants to 
hear them, and I especially would love it if anyone else out there has such theories....

SeventhSqueal replies:

Yes, but it's not fully formed. I recognize a lot of Nietzsche's ideas in the Harry Potter series, especially his ideas of the 'overman'. Voldemort represents the worst possible type (hitlerian model) for the 'overman' and Dumbledore the best possible kind of 'overman'. Harry Potter is an overman in the making and has the potential based on his decisions go either way. Although the series has a very clear Good vs. Evil theme, there even appears to be a Beyond Good and Evil ethically grey area that some of the wizards, Dumbledore and Harry included, have to venture into. By treading this territory (when Harry is breaking the rules) he becomes ethically or morally transcendent. This state of transcendence is crucial and dangerous ground. The only way to tell if the transgression is positive or negative is by observing the fruit of the transgression. Did the magic serve humanity or a human purpose or did it just feed the ego of the overman? That could also be one of the ways to define the difference between dark and white magic. Does the end justify the means?
Nietzsche's idea of Will to Power dovetails with the beyond good and evil grey area. I have a very broad definition of the idea of WTP as the inherent biological directive that every living organism has withn itself to seek opportunities for survival. It is a normal and beautiful cellular survival mechanism. Unfortunately, sometimes in humans WTP manifests in a way that is extraordinarily detrimental to others. Sometimes it's sociopathic hubris, like with Voldemort and Hitler and it serves no one but themselves and then it is the job of the hero or society to keep the megalomaniac's WTP in check. 

I'm not suggesting that JK Rowling is writing Nietzschean literature. These ideas blossom naturally in much of the world's most resonant and archetypal legends and myths.

Disclaimer. Nietzsche's ideas are ethically grey and have been interpreted and used with unethical results. It is the spin that the interpreter gives Nietzsche's ideas that makes them ethically healthy or unhealthy.  


~SeventhSqueal

There's no earthly way of knowing / Which direction we are going / There's no knowing where we're rowing / Or which way the river's flowing / Is it raining? / Is it snowing? / Is a hurricane a-blowing? / Not a speck of light is showing / So the danger must be growing / Are the fires of hell a-glowing? / Is the grisly reaper mowing? / Yes, the danger must be growing / 'Cause the rowers keep on rowing / And they're certainly not showing / Any signs that they are slowing!