Who was Zarathrustra? I ask the Owner. And what did he Say?

The Moral Dog is referring to Thus Spoke Zarathustra, says the Owner. This was Friedrich Nietzsche’s Great Work of Philosophy, one that he was inspired to write by the sight of a Large and Striking Rock.

He got all of that from a Rock? I ask. The Moral Dog feels slightly Inferior at the thought that Philosophers are inspired by Rocks, I say. When the Moral Dog sees a Rock, I say, his first thought is that he needs to Wee behind it, I say. Particularly on Longer Walks, I say.

Do not feel Inferior, says the Owner. I expect Nietzsche saw many Rocks in his lifetime that did not inspire him to write Great Works of Philosophy. Indeed he may well have Weed behind them on his Longer Walks.

I suppose, I say, Thus Spoke Zarathrustra is all about the Meaning of Life and does not Mention Moral Dogs.

The Moral Dog is Not Far Off, says the Owner. The Book chronicles the Fictitious Life of Zarathustra. Nietzsche aimed to question Traditional Christian Morality. He saw the concepts of Good and Evil, and the belief in Heaven, as Squandering This Life in pursuit of Perfect Afterlife, of which there is no Evidence. Nietzsche described Thus Spoke Zarathrustra as the greatest present Mankind had ever been given, the highest and deepest book ever written, born of the Innermost Truth.

Blimey, I say. Modest, wasn’t he, I say.

I get the feeling the Moral Dog is still Holding against Nietzsche the fact that he said little about Moral Dogs, says the Owner.

He said Nothing, in fact, about Moral Dogs, I say. I think you will find that in Thus Spoke Zarathrustra Nietzsche was entirely focussed on Humans as a bridge between Animals and Future Supermen, I say. this rather seems to relegate Moral Dogs to the Wrong Side of the Bridge and to entirely deny the possibility of Future Superdogs, I say. I have it on Good Authority that Superdogs are a Very Real Possibility, I say. And may even be Among us Now, I say. I do not want to say more lest the Owner guesses my secret.

Ah, says the Owner, the Moral Dog is more familiar with Nietzsche than he lets on, says the Owner. I think one could assume that Nietzsche was merely using Humans as an Example, says the Owner, given that the original Zarathrustra saw All of Creation as having a Philosophical Role. I am sure the original Zarathrustra was aware of Superdogs, says the Owner.

I doubt it, I say, if he was a Friend of Nietzsche, I say. These Doggists tend to Stick Together, I say. Leaving us in the Cement at the Foot of the Bridge, I say. The place where it is Shoved into the Rock, I say. Designated to be Stepped Upon for All Eternity, I say.

He was not a Friend of Nietzsche at all, says the Owner, he was an ancient Iranian God who founded Zoroastrianism. He has been called the First Philosopher. Zarathustra is known for his focus on the Love of Wisdom and the search for Ultimate Truth. He believed that the purpose of all Beings, both Persons and Moral Dogs, is to Find the Meaning of Life through Free Will. This occurs through living a Moral Life filled with good thoughts, words and deeds, whether one is Dog or Person. Zarathrustra emphasised Free Will and Individual Responsibility as the means to increase the Positive Meaning in the world and in Ourselves, says the Owner.

That sounds Rather Better, I say, although I note that the Ultimate Truth and the Meaning of Life have Sneaked In There but Still without Specific reference to Moral Dogs.

That is the Nature of Philosophy, says the Owner. The Ultimate Truth and the Meaning of Life are always In There First, says the Owner. Nevertheless, says the Owner, it seems to me that a Moral Dog would make an Excellent Zoroastrian.

The Moral Dog would like to be a Zoroastrian, I say. What do I need to do? I say. Are there Robes? I say. Or a Cloak? I ask. Possibly a Red Cloak with a yellow ‘S’ on it? I ask. As it Happens, I say, I can Obtain such a Cloak, I say. As I say it I watch the Owner carefully for a sign that she has Guessed my Secret.

Indeed, says the Owner, a Cloak such as the One the Moral Dog keeps under the bed would be Perfect for a Zoroastrian. I had wondered what it was for, says the Owner. It looked a little like the cloak that Superdog wears, says the Owner, although Only a Little.

Now that you mention it, it is Rather Similar, I say. I have been saving it, I say, for the Right Philosopher.

I thought that Must be the Case, says the Owner.

The Moral Dog. Already Superdog but now Conveniently Disguised as a Zoroastrian.

Categories: dignity dog dog philosophy Zarathrustra Zoroastrianism

Hergest the Hound

I am a dog of many thoughts.