Overcoming Covid-19 Pandemic: Nietzsche’s Übermensch and The Filipino Notion of Magpakatao
Abstract
Driven by the pathological situation caused by this COVID-19 pandemic, this paper discusses the human ideal as argued by Nietzsche in his concept of the Übermensch (Superman). It also exposes the Filipino’s yearning to live the human ideal through “magpakatao” (to be human). Using textual analysis, I attempt to see the similarities and the differences between Nietzsche’s Übermensch and the Filipinos’ “magpakatao” in order to come up with a synthesized and better concept of human ideal. To be Superman, Nietzsche encourages one to live life on earth to the fullest by rejecting inter alia, Christianity. Opposed to Nietzsche, Filipinos need to surrender themselves to Bathala (God) which at times hinder them live this material world to the fullest in Nietzsche’s sense. However, this paper concludes the relevance of Nietzsche’s philosophy to reconstruct the Filipino notion of “magpakatao.” With this reconstructed notion of human perfectabillity, I believe Filipinos and people all over the world could overcome any challenges that will come in their lives and still live and authentic and meaningful life amid this pandemic.
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Agapay, Ramon (1991). Ethics and the Filipino. Capitol Publishing House Inc.
Alejo, Albert. Tao Po, Tuloy (1990). Manila. Office of Research and Publications. Ateneo de Manila University.
Ardales, Venancio (1974). A Philosophical Analysis of Philippine Popular Values. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. Cebu City: University of San Carlos.
Biser, Eugen (1981). “Nietzsche’s Relation to Jesus: A literary and Psychological Comparison” Concilium. 141-145 : 58-64.
Bulatao, Jaime, S.J (1996). Split-Level Christianity. Quezon City, Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University.
_____. “Hiya”. 12 Philippine Studies (1964): 424-438.
Cauchi, Franceska (September 2013). “Rilke’s Orpheus and Nietzsche’s Übermensch: Alternative modes of being in becoming.” 43 Journal of European Studies: 209-226.
Calonzo, Andreo (May 12, 2020) “Philippines Counts on Building Boom to Soften Pandemic Blow” Database: Business Source Complete
Covar, Prospero R (1993). Kaalamang Bayang Dalumat ng Pagkataong Pilipino. Quezon City: Dr. Jose Cuyegkeng Memorial Library and Information Center.
Dagmang, Ferdinand (1996). “Hiya: Daan at Kakayahan sa Pakikipagkapwa” MST Review : 66-90
De Leon, Jr., Felipe (September 29, 2016). “A Heritage of Well-Being: The Connectivity of the Filipino”- Retrieved from: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/86025. [7 December 2020]
Dy, Jr. Manuel (May 2013). “Ang Pagtuturo ng Pilosopiya sa K to 12 Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao,” in Kaisipan: Ang Opisyal na Dyornal ng Isabuhay, Saliksikin, Ibigin ang Pilosopiya 1 ISIP: 19.
______. "Ang Tao at ang Maykapal." in Magpakatao: Ilang Babasahing Pilosopiko. Edited by Roque J. Ferriols SJ. Quezon City: Office of Research and Publications, Ateneo de Manila University, 1979.
Enriquez, V. G (1989). Filipino psychology in the Third World. Diliman, Lunsod Quezon, Pilipinas: Akademya ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino, Philippine Psychology Research and Training House.
Foster, Daniel (February 2012). “Waiting for Übermensch.” National Review: 44-45
Gambardella, Steven (October 28, 2018). “Nietzsche’s three steps to a meaningful life: The story of the camel, the lion, and the child” - Retrieved from https://medium.com/the-sophist/nietzsches-three-steps-to-a- meaningful-ife-f063793adfc4 [6 December 2020].
Gleiman, Lubomir (Spring 1967). “The Challenge of Nietzsche.” Thought: A Review of Culture and Idea. 42: 52-68.
Gorospe, Vitaliano R (1974). Search for Meaning: Moral Philosophy in Philippine Setting. Manila: Jesuit Educational Association.
Hernandez, Jose Rhommel (2014). “Manipulasyon o
Pakikipagkapwa: Ang Ugnayang Tao-Anito sa Sinaunang Pananampalatayang Pilipino.” Malay 27: 84-95.
Hollingdale, R. J (1999). Nietzsche: The Man and His Philosophy. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
Hornedo, Florentino (2002). Pagpapakato and Other Essays in Contemporary Philosophy and Literature of Ideas. Manila: UST Publishing House.
Hongladarom, Soraj (February 2011). “The Overman and the Arahant: Models of Human Perfection in Nietzsche and Buddhism.” Asian Philosophy. 21: 53-69.
Ibom, Akwa (2020). State post covid-19, Dakkada Philosophy to the rescue. USA: SyndiGate Media Inc.
Javier, Roberto (2010). “Madaling Maging Tao, Mahirap Magpakatao! Panindigan, Pagpakatao at Pakikipagkapwa-tao.” Malay 22.2: 45-56.
_____. “Ang Tao sa Ka-taw-an at sa Ka-tau-han: Pag-uugnay sa Pagpakatao, Pakikipagkapuwa-tao. At Pagkatao. Malay. 30 (December 2017): 70-85.
Magnus, Bernd (March 1983). “Perfectability and Attitude in Nietzsche’s Ubermensch” Review of Metaphysics. 36: 633-659.
Mercado, Leonardo N. Elements of Filipino Philosophy. Tacloban City: Divine Word University Publications, 1994.
_____. The Filipino Mind (1994). Washington D.C., U.S.A: The Council for research in Value and Philosophy.
Miranda, Dionisio (1989). Loob: The Filipino Within. Manila: Divine Word Publications.
_____. PAGKAMAKATAO: Reflection on the Theological Virtues in the Philippine Context. Divine Word Publications, Manila, 1987.
Miranda, Evelyn. Filipino Values and Our Christian Faith. Mandaluyong, Metro Manila: OMF Literature Inc.,1990
Nietzsche, Friedrich (1931). The Works of Friedrich Nietzsche: Thus Spake Zarathustra. Selected by Orson Falk. New York: Tudor Publishing.
_____. The Antichrist, trans. Walter Kaufmann, in The Portable Nietzsche. New York: Viking, 1968.
_____. Beyond Good and Evil, trans. Walter Kaufmann. New York: Random House, 1967.
_____. Human, All too Human, trans. R.J. Hollingdale. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
_____. Daybreak, trans. R.J. Hollingdale. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982.
Olaopa, Tunji (2020). Philosophy in the time of COVID-19. USA: Syndigate Media Inc.
Panopio, Isabel S. Felicidad V. Cordero-MaDonald, and Adelissa A.
Raymundo (1994). General Sociology: Focus on the Philippines. Quezon City, Philippines: Ken, Incorporated.
Pe-Pua, Rogelia and Elizabeth Protacio-Marcelino (2000). “Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino psychology): A legacy of Virgilio G.
Enriquez,” 3 Asian Journal of Psychology: 49-71.
Reyes, Jeremiah (May 2015). “Loob and Kapwa: An Introduction to a Filipino Virtue Ethics.” Asian Philosophy 25: 148-171.
Roman Jr., Guillermo Q. (n.d.). Tao: Being and Becoming Human. Retrieved from: http://po.pnuresearchportal.org/ejournal/index.php/normallights/article/view/61 [14 December 2020].
Teodoro, John Iremil (2013). “Ang Dagat Ug Ang Tawo: Phronesis at Handurawang Moral Sa Tatlong Kontemporaryong Maiikling Kwento sa Sebwano/The Sea and the Human Being: Phronesis and Moral Imagination In Three Cebuano Short Stories” Malay 26 1: 60-70.
Urbano, Ryan (September 1999). “The Death of God in Nietzsche’s Philosophy” USC Graduate Journal: 55-67.
Welte,Bernard (1981). “The Ambiguity of Nietzsche’s Superman” Concilium. 141-145: 53-57.
Zialcita, Fernando (October 1999). “Is Communitarianism Uniquely Asian: a Filipino Perspective.” Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia. 14: 313-321.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Contact:
Editor-in-Chief
MALIM Jurnal Pengajian Umum Asia Tenggara
Pusat Pengajian Citra Universiti
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan
MALAYSIA
E-mail: jmalim@ukm.edu.my
© Copyright Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia