Influence Read Online Free PDF Page A

toddler impression. The classroom was altered
in the usual way. The other three students sat at their places in a small
semi-circle facing Sully’s chair which sat in front of the teacher’s desk
rather than behind it. Sully insisted on a more relaxed atmosphere in his
class. It was designed to encourage a free exchange of ideas and to promote
conversation.
    ‘We were
just discussing Nietzsche. Robert here had some points he wanted to voice on
Nietzsche’s concept of Will to Power.’ Sully’s open hand was extended to Robe
inviting him to continue whatever conversation Lizzie had interrupted.
    ‘As I was
saying, why do you insist on bringing society into it? It doesn’t serve as an
argument to the contrary. It is, at best, an excuse not to discuss the issue of
Will to Power; it’s a coward’s way out.’ Lizzie instantly felt uncomfortable;
clearly the conversation had been a heated one. Robe stood face to face with
Sully, his hands in fists by his side.
    ‘Okay Robert,’
said Sully anticipating the debate spilling over, ‘I’m simply trying to explain
that the concept, although complete in and of itself, is fundamentally flawed
in practice, not in theory, due to the civilised world we live in.’ Sully’s
gestures were open and passive, trying to calm the situation.
    ‘There you
go again,’ said Robe throwing his hands in the air and walking away before
turning again to face Sully, ‘congesting a perfectly logical and dispassionate
debate with moot and redundant factors. I am simply proposing Nietzsche’s idea
on the matter as a perfectly plausible concept, and its practical application
is one that we all, in your “civilised world” demonstrate on a daily basis,’ he
framed Sully’s words with exaggerated finger quotations. ‘Whether we like to
admit it or not we all strive for power - over ourselves, over our surroundings
and over each other, it’s human nature, and to deny it will inevitably cause
internal disharmony.’
    ‘Actually,
what I have a problem with Robert, is not the idea of Will to Power as an
explanation of human behaviour, it is true that many of our less flattering
qualities as humans fall within this proposed framework, at least in accordance
to one interpretation of it, but rather it was your conjecture on submitting to
the principle completely. To accept that we, as humans, will always strive for
power, and to curb this inherent quality is to deny what it is that makes us
human, as you put it, is slightly dangerous territory. There have been some
infamous examples of the misinterpretation of Nietzsche’s work and you need to
understand that your thoughts on the principle are, in fact, a very slim view
on a much larger philosophical idea, it needs to be tempered with the bigger
picture, with context.’
    ‘All I am
saying,’ said Robe, his face now turned an unsettling shade of red, ‘is, in
theory, the concept is sound as long as someone commits to the principle, that
they abandon compassion and sympathy and strive to take control of themselves
and their surroundings. Doing so would be to truly accept the overriding human
drive and tap into a fuller potential, what the hell is wrong with talking
about these things?’
    Sully moved
away from Robe. ‘I’m bringing this conversation to a close Robert, apart from
anything else, this is not covered in the curriculum and you have dominated today’s
class, it’s not fair to the other students. If you want to talk about it
another time out of class we’ll arrange a session, but that’s it for today.’
    Lizzie was
impressed how Sully had handled the situation, how he had remained calm but at
the same time had allowed Robe to vent his point.
    What
remained of the class time was devoted to exam preparation, covering topics
likely to appear. Robe did not contribute any further to the class and when the
bell rang he shot out of his seat hooking one hand around the strap of his
backpack sending it into a wide arc before catching up