Shepherding another’s cattle: to be a slave and master simultaneously (Fromm, 162)
Nietzsche’s master morality implies the return to the aristocratic vein yet in doing so he inspires subjugation to the order. The nazis misconstrued his work but at the same time exhibiting slave morality internally.
The object of master morality is seemingly freedom. It is to be in control of one’s destiny. To decide one’s fate rather than be controlled. Yet, the marker of aristocracy is to be in control of others. To be duped into the system of control. To control while at the same time being controlled by one’s own power. Master morality is but a sideshow to authority as submission. Hitler promoted such authority yet was a slave to his antics. A slave to his goals. In the end, he diverted trains to Auschwitiz rather than protect his men. His goal of exterminating Jews was at the cost of the war effort. He not only brought the war on his shoulders but further agonised the world in his insidious torture. He had signed his fate to his ordeal. He was a Jew hunter and could not stop his addiction. To the point of sealing his defeat instead of re-empowering his troops to defeat the allies. A man consumed by his arrogance and stubbornness.
The aristocracy while in control had to also appeal to the peasant. He had to be working for them. The peasant didn’t have a choice but without an inkling of assistance or grace the peasants would revolt. Even at the behest of their life, sometimes killing your worst enemy beats out decaying. The aristocracy were provided status as a duty to fellow man. The divine right did not imbue exploitation but responsibility for the unprivileged. Peasants though were not provided the lectern of grace were still deserving of assistance. They enjoyed the fruits of aristocratic mercy. From the aristocracy’s point of view, assisting the needy was an obligation. A duty embedded in their social status and political favour. When lords began exploiting sailors even if it was for their countrymen, sailors looked to monarchs for help. The monarchs only became absolute with the aid of the citizenry. The citizen’s gave the monarchy more power if they returned the favour with opportunities. To some extent, the nature of the American revolution did have its legitimate grievances but it cannot be denied its ideological inspiration. Since many peasants weren’t concerned and it was more the wealthy who wished for their independence. In this way, war was a product of wealthy incitement for independence. Master morality preferred to be masters themselves which lead to a deadly war and a difficult beginning which almost folded.
Master morality is led by ambition but ambition of self growth against self preservation. The colonial peasantry were happy with where they were. The downtrodden weren’t entirely exploited by the British. In many ways, the mid nineteenth century factory workers were not exploited by their bosses. There are horrific stories and grievances that led to unions and governmental intrusion but these were based on misconceptions about medieval life. That farming was somehow simpler and charming than factory work. There were problems and there was exploitation but that wasn’t every factory as not every contemporary business is villainous. One CEO charged with embezzlement doesn’t make all of them the devil incarnate. Rather the gradual development of better lives continued to increase with poverty declining steadily as the years have drawn on. Master morality is to seek one’s own ideals at the expense of the national or global mentality. Such a mentality, in practice did not lead to the best conclusions for all the masters. They became servants to their ideals. The marxists who established the Soviet Union ended up suffering under the regime as Stalin murdered all those who opposed.
Nietzsche makes slave morality incomplete and derogatory. Yet given his psychosis he was unable to write a critique of master morality and praise slave morality. It cannot be inferred what he would say but this is a potential response using his frame. The slave morality is content with where he is. He accepts his position in the world and is unfettered by external glory. He has a way and he is principled about it. He accepts his fate without trying too hard to alter the unalterable. He is not passive nor quiet. Yet he is calm and passionate. The slave is hired and he does his job. He follows the rules and climbs the corporate ladder. He may voice a request for a rate or promotion. He is not silent but he is patient. He is grateful for the opportunity of life and work. He blesses his god and his employer. He now has the ability to provide for those he loves. He may be a rebel but he is no revolutionary. The slave is not one who sits back when all is failing. There is a limit to anyone’s patience. One must stand up when it gets too far. Everyone has a breaking point. There is a sense of content and weighing the options. The slave distinguishes between a rough season and exploitation. He is aware and honest.
The master either becomes a slave to his ideals or a slave to a new master. So he is ambitious and gets a new job or he gets a new house. More material doesn’t mean more joy nor more solace. The master is fake. Even someone as polarising as Andrew Tate is a slave to his work. He works non stop despite his hundreds of millions. While this is just conjecture he may be a slave to his social media presence. Hoping to inspire but really hoping people notice. Influencers are all about having fun but being noticed and acknowledged. To be a master is to be acknowledged but that masterfulness isn’t always acclaimed. The “do you know who I am” phraseology is an insecurity based on anticipated acknowledgement. The master doesn’t run away to the woods forever but hopes to come back and inspire. Nietzsche’s Zarathrusta returns to give his message. He is a preacher hoping for notice. Unlike the biblical prophets he seeks to acclaim while they wished to be far away from the action. Pharaoh is a slave to his own pride. The Hebrew slaves accepted their fate until Moses came along to free them. They pleaded with God to save them but were confined to their status. The leader no more than the slave himself was imprisoned by his will.
To some extent the question remains if anyone is truly free. Even the mystic who flees to the forest is hoping to be protected. He relies on nature to provide sustenance and shelter. Freedom is an illusion as the only true liberty is directional and contextual. To be free from something or someone is to become a slave to a new idea. Fromm relates the freedom achieved from monarchies only to become new slaves to democracy. A new elite order demanding the citizenry around. So you were embedded with natural rights does not take away from the slavish power of the system. The law remains the law whether under a king or a president. Under a council or congress. Yet this does not take away from the preservation of liberty nor is it necessarily an issue. Hobbes’ Leviathan is the concession of rights for order. The foundation of human civilisation even tribalism is dismissed freedoms for the whole. The illusion of master morality is having reached the pinnacle to be a master yet deeply cursed by so much incompletion. A tiresome agony that never fades. There is no peace with ambition and no summit of tranquility. Once reaching the top of Everest need to then descend.
There was a music video that came out years ago by Jake Miller called “Im Alright”. The video narrated a beggar collecting coins to buy better clothes to then finally cash it in and join the workforce. He excels and grows busier with the workload multiplying with his success. It becomes too overwhelming he breaks everything and returns to his simple beggar life. There may be many messages to gather from this. Yet identifying the chorus with the prose portrays the simpleton of poverty. It is tough but it is routine. A song recognising the harshness of toiling in the workforce. No matter what happens all will be well though the narrative demonstrates that working is hellish. It seems to advocate two various aspects. Though to some degree it is a reminder that work is not easy comes at price with a reward. The more work the more focus the more reward. Yet doing less may lesson anxiety begging for some cash each day but maybe people won’t give and clothes are tattered in the freezing winter. In both cases he is slave but his slavish life is economically better as an employee than his potential mentality as a beggar. The beggar is the master who has fled the corporate ladder but has also lost all the privileges of homeostasis.
How masterful is a master who is dependent on other? Who seeks approval and acknowledgment. He agonises over his faults and dead dreams indefinitely. Slave mentality is not an economic status but a mentality. It doesn’t matter where one is on the economic ladder but how steeped there are in their own head. How much does their pride and arrogance affect them? How entranced are they are in their monolithic vision? To be a slave is to be stagnant and unreasonable. The slave mentality is to be content and tranquil. Concerning religion, it may seem uneventful and archaic but it is peaceful. It is acceptance and communal. The slave is not alone nor lonely. He has corresponding brethren and those who care for him. A slave has much in common with his friends. The peasants are all friends with one another but the lord lives alone his kids shunned by their mental superiority. Such arrogance begins as a group but slowly deteriorates as arrogance flares. The master can be a lone individual. One who charts his own path with antagonism brewing behind him. Discontent with his life hoping for change that will never satisfy him.
Master morality is a hoax. It is a single person bent on control. Insecurity and fear presses him to press his feelings to the public. Hoping his charisma attracts and convinces them. All that partake are slaves to this master. Yet worse is the master’s blazing insecurity that leads to his own downfall. That causes such destruction because he couldn’t accept otherness or faults. Incapable of seeking peace and only monism. Such masterful intent is its own undoing.
