interview meme
March 16, 2007 by thinking girl
The Rules: Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”I respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better. If I already know you well, expect the questions may be a little more intimate!You WILL update your journal/bloggy thing/whatever with the answers to the questions.You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post.When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
My quesitons come from Sage:
1. How do you reconcile the fact that non-thinkers seem so happy? Does their happiness in life have less value because they’re unaware of or unconcerned with strife in this world? Or are they the truly brilliant?
Oh, I didn’t realize the non-thinkers were so happy! 
I do sort of follow the philosophy “the unexamined life is not worth living,” so I wouldn’t classify the non-thinkers of the world as brilliant, but I don’t think that their happiness in and of itself has less value; it might be easier to come by, perhaps, but I think that in general terms, happiness is happiness, none more valuable than another. I do worry, however, that their happiness comes at the expense of others, which might make the happiness of the unaware less ethical.
2. What do you make of de Beauvoir’s question to Sartre (to paraphrase): “If we’re all so free, then why are women so oppressed, dammit?”
I do love de Beauvoir. And Sartre, while a great philosopher and serious genius, just didn’t seem to fully get it about gender oppression. Too much of a focus on individual existential angst. While I personally adore his line, “Hell is other people,” I feel like Sartre was way too isolationist with his philosophical work, and didn’t see the full complexity of how interwoven and relational we humans are. de Beauvoir, I think, understood this in a fuller way.
3. Who’s your favourite philosopher and why?
Nietzsche. I just love the cutting nature of his brilliance. No mincing of words, but a deep understanding of human nature. I love his genealogical approach to history and philosophy. And I also love his atheism. He’s just in a class all his own.
I also, for the record, love Camus, Foucault, Butler and Derrida. I’m into existentialism and post-modernism/post-structuralism primarily. And I’m a Kantian.
4. What did you used to do in your blogging time before you started blogging?
Well, I used to watch a lot more TV. But, truth be told, I am a world-class master procrastinator, so blogging is my new method. Also, I used to talk to my best friend on the phone every night, but now she lives in another country.
5. If I came out east and we went out on a night on the town, would we be more likely to keep each other from drinking too much, or egg one another on to tequila shooters at dawn? Explain.
Yeah, I’m gonna go with tequila. Tequila is just… well… tequila is awesome. And, after all, it would be such a treat to have you come to visit, I’d definitely feel obliged to show you a good time! And there are simply so many places to drink tequila. The spot I think you’d like best closes a bit early, but lots of other spots stay open quite late and can be lots of fun. Once they close, then it’s on to the favourite all-night greasy spoon! I’d also probably drag your ass out of bed bright and early the next day for some fresh sea-side air to chase the hangover away! Ions, don’t ya know. 
Interview me!!!!!! I m new to this blogg thing and can use the content. pluse i think this is a cool idea.
Non-thinkers may look happy, but I think thinker’s happiness is deeper and more satisfying than non-thinker’s happiness. (Though I won’t be able to prove it!) Simple, sensual happiness is like nothing compared to enlightened happiness coming from inside the heart (or brain). Being a thinker is my identity, and I partly derive my happiness and self-esteem from the fact that I think.
I read de Beauvoir a few years ago and it was really what made me be interested in feminism!
And interview me thanks
Hello Jake - welcome to the blogosphere.
1. Please tell me, in descriptive detail, about your hometown (where you grew up as a child).
2. What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
3. What is the story of your most embarrassing moment?
4. What is your favourite book, and why?
5. What kind of music do you like to listen to? Has this changed since you were young?
HI LL - yeah, I agree… those non-thinkers can’t possibly be as happy as us thinkers!
1. Where is the one place you most want to visit in the whole world? Why?
2. What is your most treasured childhood memory?
3. Where did you live before moving to New Zealand?
4. How can we, as a global society, balance the principle of non-violence with a desire to achieve human rights in a violent and corrupt dictatorship/autocracy/theocracy?
5. What do you think will be the next phase of human evolution?
Ok I’ll bite…interview me!
Hey there thinking girl. I was wondering how you reconcile your Kantianism with your Nietzschean tendencies? Kant is all about apriori conditions for knowledge, focusing on those universal rational structures that produce knowledge. Post-Nietzschean thought, ala Foucault, seems to argue that those “universal structures” are not universal, but parochial discourses that support certain political agendas? I’m curious. Caputo’s reading of Derrida is decidedly neo-Kantian, and is why I dislike him. On the other hand, Foucault’s “What is Enlightenment” published by Rabinow, clearly shows an endebtedness and a response to Kant. Anyway, I’m curious…
Femanist - thanks for your question. I should have clarified myself a bit better. Mostly, what I know best and appreciate most of Kant is his moral theory; while I don’t take his categorical imperative to the utmost extreme he advocates, I think it is a generally useful basis for ethical thought.
Interview me!
Rainbow Girl:
1. How do you think feminists can reach non-feminists most effectively in order to gain strength and support for gender equality?
2. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Would you still like to do that/are you doing that now?
3. How did you come to meet your husband?
4. What is the greatest personal challenge you have overcome?
5. What are your favourite and least favourite words, and why?
Girl Gone Mad -
welcome!
1. Is there something about you that people misunderstand? What is it, and why do you think they misunderstand? How could that be remedied?
2. Please tell me about your favourite place, and why it is your favourite.
3. Do you like to cook? Bake? Are you good at it? What would you make if someone important to you were to come over for a home-cooked dinner?
4. You like to read; what is your favourite book? Why? What book have you read more than once? Why? What is it about a book that makes it special to you?
5. Whom do you most admire, and why?
Interview me!
HI Sam -
1. What is your least favourite household task? Explain (if necessary).
2. Would you describe yourself as organized, unbothered by a wee spot of untidiness, hopelessly obsessive-compulsive, or hopelessly disorganized to the point of “absentminded professor”?
3. How do you like to unwind? Bubble bath? Yoga? Reading? TV? Glass of wine? Turn up the stereo? Late night disco dancing? Or something else entirely?
4. Please tell me about your pets, from childhood onward. With names, and if possible, pictures!
5. Who is your favourite family member, and why? Who is your most interesting family member, and is he/she the same as your favourite?
Femanist stole my comment (the Kant/Nietzsche thing). Although it’s funny, whenever I’m looking at ideas of the one, they just seems to make all the sense in the world, until I look at the other.
Drag me out of bed? Hope you can manage a firefighter’s lift.
Aight, I would be happy to get interviewed by y’all if you had the time… I like this meme.
Count me in: Interview me!
(great meme)
Re: Nietzsche, I’ve always loved how he could, in one short sentence, express what others (mostly French-speaking, e.g. Descartes) would take 5 pages to say. In my philosophy classes I found that with prolix writer, you spend most of your time figuring what they are saying. Whereas with N., you understand the sentence (at least, with his aphorisms), and then spend all your time figuring out what he meant, and the implications.
I never realy liked Sartre. Maybe, as you say, because of his focus on individual existential angst and isolationist stand. I’m not even sure I fully agree with “Hell is other people.” Hell is a lot in ourselves and how we cope (or not) with the hurt we cause and feel.
Sage - I know what you mean. I think the best philosophers are the ones who make you go “yeah, of course!” like you knew that all along. I hate the damn interpretation you have to do with so many of them. This is why I like existentialism, I guess!
Marc Andre - good way of putting it about Nietzsche. Stupid Descartes! I used to like him, but now I’m just about as tired of him as I could be - I had one prof who is so in love with D that every class would eventuall come back to him.
For me, “hell is other people” is true when I fail to be understood.
Femanist - OK, here goes!
1. I don’t know anything much about you, so we’ll begin with some basics: How old are you? What do you do? I know where you live… where are you from? Are you single or in a relationship? You have a cat (who has a cute little moustache); what is its name?
2. Who would you rather see in the PM’s office (I assume you’re not a fan of Harper, since you’re a feminist!)? Why? What are your most important political issues?
3. Should we be in Afghanistan? Why or why not?
4. As a man who is a feminist, what was your process like becoming a feminist? Do you find it difficult sometimes to not take things feminists say about “Men” personally? How can feminists get more feMANists to take up the cause?
5. Name one(or more, if you have them/want to) hidden talent you have that not too many people know about, or would be surprised to learn you possess.
Marc Andre -
1. What drew you to linguistics? How many languages do you speak? Would you like to learn more? Which ones?
2. When you’ve done something brilliantly creative, how do you feel? Are you ever afraid you won’t be able to do it again? Or do it again as well? Are you exhausted by the process, or invigorated? How do you get past a creative block?
3. Do you think you’d like to have children one day? What kind of dad do you think you’d be?
4. What is your favourite thing about living in Montreal? Least favourite?
5. Tell me your: favourite movie, favourite musician, favourite song, favourite book, favourite drink, favourite food, favourite colour, favourite painting, favourite joke, favourite riddle, favourite word, favourite time of year, favourite time of day, favourite memory.
Fascinating posting, many thanks! I agree with all you say about the unexamined life is not worth living. A happy life is an honest, good life. Virtue is the basis for all happiness.
Truly happy people are Guided by Goodness, they live by only the highest and best values. For more insights see http://HappinessHabit.com
A negative judgment is the force behind all worries, fears, anxieties and unhappiness. If the negative judgment doesn’t help us or protect us (Don’t do drugs!) reject it.
If the negative judgment does help in some way, then turn it into positive action items that helpo grow happiness and spiritual success in our lives.
Michele Moore - author of
How To Live A Happy Life -
101 Ways To Be Happier
HappinessHabit.com
HappinessBlog.com
Have I de-lurked here yet? Is this an awkward time to do so? Will you interview me, please?
Michele - thanks for dropping by. I agree, turning a negative into a positive is a good way to go!
defenestrated - no, thi is your first appearance! Welcome, and thanks for delurking.
here goes:
1. how/why did you start blogging? how long has it been? have your reasons for doing so changed?
2. You’re a cat lover like me. How many cats have you had? which did you/do you love the best? (I know we’re supposed to love all our children the same, but….)
3. what do you do as a career? do you like it? if you could choose any career in the whole world, what would it be, and if nothing could prevent you from changing to it tomorrow, would you?
4. what do you do for fun? how did you come by this as a way to have fun? if you could choose any thing to try in the whole world for fun, what would it be, and if you haven’t tried it yet, why not?
5. are you a night owl, or an early bird? What is your favourite way to start and end the day?
We all like attention, huh?
About the vegetarian diet. I sure will ask you for advice. I’m just starting on it, but my stomach really likes it!
You know a little about how we live here. I want to eat the seafood, fish & venison we get ourselves once in a while. But, it’s beef, chicken, pork, & eggs that come from the store that I’m having a problem with. Even milk too.
Ok. I’ll bite on the neat idea.
InTeRvIeW Me!
I have to grade right now, so i will get to the interview tomorrow… but in the meantime I wanted to mention something about Sartre’s “Hell is other people”. As far as I understood it, it was based somewhat on Hegel’s Master-Slave dialectic and his thoughts on self-consciousness. Sartre seemed to me to be talking about the fundamental nature of consciousness, such that however much we try there is a necessary element of the unity of consciousness that make other’s interaction with the self objectifying. We cannot help but “Other” others and so others are always othering us–he calls this objectification. As such we are always to a greater or lesser degree being objectified by other people. We are taken as a means, as objects, by others. This nature of human interaction necessarily is the effacement of ourselves. This is what was behind “hell is other people”, to my mind. On the other end of the spectrum, or rather to combat this, Emannuel Levinas’ work attempts to construct an ethic where the other is the primary vehicle of ethical action. I like Sartre somewhat, contrary to public opinion–his novels and plays seem more elucidating than his philosophical works. Nausea was excellent.
Took a break from grading to answer your questions. I like my answer to your FeMANist question.
But I am biased.
If I haven’t delurked, then I haven’t told you how awesome I think your blog is, have I? Unacceptable! Your blog rocks
Interview me.
RE: Sartre’s other - Earlier he discusses how the Other objectifies people and takes away subjectivity and, ultimately, individuality of the self. He said (paraphrased) sexual desire is the desire to possess, to gain recognition of one’s own freedom at the expense of the other.
No wonder Simone took a lover.
But in his later writings he discusses freedom with other people all living authentically (collective authenticity): “I choose to help the other become authentic by not trying to dominate her and by regarding her as an autonomous person who can act simultaneously as an object and subject in relation to myself. The other’s otherness is accommodated but not assimilated in my self and my life.” So then people aren’t so hellish after all, so long as they’re all introspective enough to live authentically together.
I understand existential angst as just a typical stage of life for people who want to go beyond the ignorance is bliss type of happiness and really think.
Ok, I just really like Sartre. I stop now.
LT - yeah, my tummy really liked it too when I stopped eating meat. hmmm, maybe we’re not really supposed to eat meat after all… I hear you though, when you don’t know how the animal or sea creature has died, or how they have lived, it becomes hard to justify participating in the whole thing. Have you been watching PETA videos by any chance? If so, now that you know, stop - they’ll haunt your dreams.
1 legume + 1 vegetable = 1 whole protein.
(Legumes grow in pods, like peas, soybeans, beans, etc.)
take omega supplements, or use flax oil each day so you get your essential fatty acids. And get a variety of different foods each day, grains, legumes, veggies, fruits, cereals, nuts.
Femanist and Sage - thanks for the Sartre debate!
Defenestrated- aw, shucks - thanks!
Dave and Steve - are you planning on answering your questions here? that’s fine.
Dave -
1. Do you believe in soul mates? Do we have one, or many? Different kinds, or just romantic? Or is the whole thing a big pile of baloney?
2. Some feminists have said that the last frontier for equality will be the home or household women share with their heterosexual partners. Do you think this is true? What do you do in your household to ensure gender equality?
3. What do you think about moving back east some day? Do you miss it? would you like to live somewhere else within Canada? Where? Why? How about somewhere else in the world?
4. When was the last time you laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe? What was so damn funny?
5. If you could go back in time and live in another era, which one would you choose? Why?
Steve -
1. You’ve mentioned that you have lived in lots of different places. Where did you grow up? What was your favourite place you’ve lived? Why? Least favourite? Why?
2. What was your favourite subject in grade school? Why? What was your least favourite? Why? What do you think about those subjects today?
3. If you could go back and do one thing differently in your life, that would affect everything else, would you? What would that thing be, and how would you do it differently from how it actually happened?
4. Which reality show do you think you would do better on: Survivor, or The Amazing Race? Why?
5. What is the greatest personal challenge you have overcome? How did you do it?
OK kids, the meme is closed - no more interviews!
You may, however, feel free to visit the blog of someone who has responded and get them to ask you questions!
[...] I’m getting interviewed by Thinking Girl. Here’s how it works: Anyone wanting to be interviewed leave me a comment saying, [...]
Thanks Jenn for the questions and the space, I’ll answer it here…
1. Do you believe in soul mates? Do we have one, or many? Different kinds, or just romantic? Or is the whole thing a big pile of baloney?
Good question. I was kinda stumped for a while. After thinking about it , I’ve realized that my definition of ’soulmates’ may differ from others. I think soulmates are developed over time, through a long marriage/partnership. For example, you know the people who you see pictures of on tv or in the paper, ‘married for 50 years’. Or the people who are married for that long — and when one person dies, the other follows shortly — dying of a broken heart. Those people, I feel are soulmates. Soulmates for me isn’t an instant attraction or drawing to a person — its the long lasting partnership over the years, that develops a deep longing for each other.
I hear about the soul-mate stuff that happens in early relationships — but I’m convinced it’s where we or they want to be convinced that the person is ‘the one’. I believe that people meet randomly and by chance, but aren’t necessarily drawn by their soul to someone until after a long relationship. I think when someone says that they’re the early type of ’soulmates’, its only a way to justify to themselves that they’re chosen partner is absolutely right for them. (Oooh, that’s really pessimistic isn’t it).
2. Some feminists have said that the last frontier for equality will be the home or household women share with their heterosexual partners. Do you think this is true? What do you do in your household to ensure gender equality?
Sure, one of the final frontiers would be the home — but taking that further, I think the ultimate final frontier is the mind of non-feminist thinking women. There are some that are totally unaware of the struggle for equality or those that chose dismiss it for the old-fashioned traditions of our society. Making an impression on these women (and their partners) is a big task. For me? Well, university changed me quite a bit — an enlightenment as it were. I try to ensure that the workload at home for cooking, cleaning, outside work, etc is shared. I’ve also offered to go on paternity leave — although it’s difficult with the cost of living in Calgary right now. Its funny though sometimes, that I find myself reminding my significant other about things that happen at home that seem overly patriarchal (often influenced by other families or parents, etc). It goes back to what I said earlier, some just dismiss the new for the old fashioned.
3. What do you think about moving back east some day? Do you miss it? would you like to live somewhere else within Canada? Where? Why? How about somewhere else in the world?
Yes, I think about it every day. I think if you asked any easterner living in Western Canada, they’d say the same — and about 75% of those I talk to talk about moving ‘home’. If I could get work back home, I’d move within the week. Mostly for family reasons, but the east-coast lifestyle is something that is unique and should be appreciated. I want to travel, but I don’t think I’d want to call any other country ‘home’.
4. When was the last time you laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe? What was so damn funny?
I get giddy on night shifts, especially going on the 3am - 4am time period. I work with some great people, who make me laugh so hard its embarrassing. Mostly just jocular, ‘hockey dressing room’ humor, which would be even more embarrassing to mention.
5. If you could go back in time and live in another era, which one would you choose? Why?
I would probably go back to either the 1950s or the 1800s. I would have loved to have lived in the ’simple’ times of the 1950s back in the east coast. It was a time of relief after the war, but life seemed so much simpler then. I’ve also thought about the excitement and hardship that must have been for the early settlers of Nova Scotia in the 1800s. I know now, I thrive on exploring untouched areas of our country — the 1800s would have been the perfect time to do it.
Great questions, some sure made me reflect a bit.
Sage, great analysis of Sartre! Thanks!
I’m up for it! [in a non-directive manner] Interview me!
Thinking girl:
Good questions!!
1. You’ve mentioned that you have lived in lots of different places. Where did you grow up? What was your favourite place you’ve lived? Why? Least favourite? Why?
Ok here is the list, only If I stayed in place long enough to expierience the local culture is it included.
Napa, California. (born). Rockville, Maryland. Los Angeles, Hawaii. Guam. **(International)**.
Milwaukee, Orlando Florida. Pensacola, Florida. Memphis Tennesee. Philadelphia. Detroit, Michigan. Chicago. Hawaii. **(Interantional)** Norfolk, Virginia. Eureka, California.
my international time was in The Phillipines, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia. The second time international was The Phillipines, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Oman, Pakistan.
Growing up was Guam, Japan, Australia, and the Philipines.
2. What was your favourite subject in grade school? Why? What was your least favourite? Why? What do you think about those subjects today?
My favorite was science, anything to do with technology, or what was new knowledge that threw caused a change in thinking. My second was history, later it was politics.
My least favorite was math, because I couldn’t do it, not because I didn’t appreciate its usefulness.
3. If you could go back and do one thing differently in your life, that would affect everything else, would you? What would that thing be, and how would you do it differently from how it actually happened?
When I was 14 I said a stupid thing to a girl that caused her to feel horrible about herself as a girl. It was stupid but worse I regretted it instantly but didn’t have the sophisticated ability to properly take it back the right way. I would gladly do or saacrafice a lot to have undone that moment.
4. Which reality show do you think you would do better on: Survivor, or The Amazing Race? Why?
Unfortunatly I haven’t watched either but I think survivor. I have a deep pioneering living off the land interest.
5. What is the greatest personal challenge you have overcome? How did you do it?
Recognizing that people are sometimes unintentional in their hurtfulness or if malicious it is only a moment, soon forgotten, to them while it is much longer to me. In short I learned to dilute paranoia and retribution with reason.
[...] donc celles que Thinking Girl m’a [...]
forgotten note
Australia and Milwaukee tie for best places. Good culture good climate, good food and good people.
Guam, during the late Vietnam war and post war period was the worst. Various cultures fighting for surpremacy often violently with little or nothing settled with a heavy dollop of culture shock mixed with future shock. Added to the equivelent of a border town culture for the Pacific rim with all the smuggling of any number of illegal people and substances common to border towns (islands).
Ohhh…non thinking people, what could be worse?!
Thanks to Dave and Steve for your answers to my nosy little questions!
This interview thing is fun, actually!
Dave - interesting answer on the soul mates question. I asked because I don’t know what I really think about it, myself. It seems like some people are obviously just so right for each other that you can’t imagine them with anyone else… but then sometimes I feel a connection with someone so deeply but it has nothing to do with romantic love at all, more a deep partnership/friendship sort of thing. I jsut like to hear what other people think about it!
And good for you about the pat leave (and congrats on the impending arrival). It can be hard, financially - this is one of those vicious circles about gender oppression that’s so difficult to work out practically. because women don’t get paid as much as men (because they are considered unreliable due to their baby-making powers and the expectation they will leave work for a period of time to raise their children), it’s kind of an easy decision who will stay home with the baby if it comes down to simple economics. but the inequality becomes strengthened when women do end up at home to specialize in child care for however long (in Canada, 12 months), because if/when she does return to work, she’s usually lost some of her position in the pecking order at her job. It takes guts for a family to suck it up and have equal pat/mat leave when you’re losing money.
Steve - thanks for the info. Don’t worry, you’re not missing that much by not watching Survivor. It’s a guilty pleasure/mild addiction at this point.
Robyn - I did say I was done, but since you asked so nicely… and it is fun… OK, after Robyn, NO MORE!
1. It has taken me quite a long time to understand that the teachings of Jesus and christianity are not the same thing. One thing that has made christianity impossible for me to adhere to is its terrible treatment of women. How do you reconcile religion with feminism? with queer rights?
2. How do you like to: celebrate a happy occasion? forget about the world? comfort a broken heart?
3. I’ve been reading a lot about “white feminism” lately, trying to get outside my own white-centric perspective on feminism. It is challenging to say the least. How do you think white feminists can do better in terms of understanding issues raised by feminists of colour?
4. OK, no more theory-based questions! Tell me about what music you like to listen to: what is your favourite group? style of music? singer (male and female)? what is the first song you really remember loving? what is your favourite song? what is your latest favourite, the one that you can’t get out of your head?
5. What is one thing about yourself that you would never tell someone when you first meet them because it’s far too embarrassing?
The OE - I know. I hear you.
and welcome.
“It seems like some people are obviously just so right for each other that you can’t imagine them with anyone else.” Most of those, in my experience, end up breaking up. I no longer trust that perception. (of course, Steph and me are so right for each other
“sometimes I feel a connection with someone so deeply but it has nothing to do with romantic love at all, more a deep partnership/friendship sort of thing” Got that too. That, to me, is a more solid form of soul-mate.
Jenn:
Thanks! Yeah, it’s gonna be a wild upcoming months. You might be interested to know that we’re trying a new type of birthing class… gives women and their partners back the control of their own birthing. Quite a refreshing approach to such a medically dominated subject. We’ve attended 3 classes so far, and it’s quite good. Lots of relaxation, self hypnosis, positive thinking about the whole experience. I’d dare to say that their thesis is: “Women have been birthing since the beginning of time, women have the natural instinct to know what’s best for them and their baby and to have a sucessful, positive birth as a result.” It’s not anti-medical, but puts the emphasis back on the baby and mother, rather than making things easy for the doctor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnobirthing
and
http://www.whatbabieswant.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=27
Yeah, I would take pat leave in a second if it was easier to live off what we’d be making. Some companies are good and will top up salary of the person on leave, to make things easier during the time. However, my job doesn’t top up, neither does my wife’s job unfortunately. Maybe we’ll move where one of us doesn’t have to work!
Dave - cool! As you might know, I’m concerned with the over-medicalization of women’s bodies, particularly relating to fertility and childbirth, so it’s nice to hear there are options out there to help give some of the control back to women and their partners. Sounds great, and good luck to you both - I’ll drop by “your place” to see how things turn out. it’s soon, right?
Yeah, should be middle of May…or whenever the little one decides its time!
You list Nietzsche as your most favourite philosopher, but today I was reading an introductory philosophy book and found out that Nietzsche left some misogynistic comments like “Woman has so much cause for shame; in woman there is so much pedantry, superficiality, schoolmasterliness, petty presumption, unbridledness, and indiscretion concealed…which has really been best restrained and dominated hitherto by the fear of men”. I’m just curious as to how you would reconcile your love of Nietzsche with his deeply-held misogyny; or do you think he has made a positive contribution to feminism in some ways?
LL - oh yeah, Nietzsche did indeed say some really misogynistic things, no question. I basically just ignore this stuff in his work - like I ignore the fact that Foucault didn’t address gender much in his writings despite what had to have been significant exposure to feminism and the women’s movement since it was happening at the exact time he was writing. I love Nietzsche for lots of reasons, but this isn’t one of them. I do think his conception of geneaological approaches to history has been helpful for feminism, as well as his theory of resentiment.
I like to look at philosophical theories like tools. See how they can be used to discuss other things. For me, if a theory can be taken out of the context a philosopher constructed it in and applied in a different one, it’s a good theory!
Thanks for your explanation TG. I just wondered as I read some stuff extremely negative about Nietzsche. I suppose I need to do some reading a bit more, as I find his points (or in general the Continental philosophy) harder to comprehend. I agree that philosophical theories can be interpreted in many ways to construct new theories…
Ah yes - the continental philosophers do require a bit more work, I agree. dear god, try the French feminist philosophers sometime - Kristeva, Irigaray, Cixous. And of course, Foucault, Derrida, Lacan - all notoriously difficult to wrap one’s head around. But worth it!!