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Simpsons and Philosophy

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Simpsons and Philosophy
Simpson's and Philosophy

In the chapter Thus Spake Bart: On Nietzsche and the Virtues of Being Bad, Mark T. Conard shows us why people believe Bart Simpson is similar to a philosophical theorist named Friedrich Nietzsche. Bart being the bad boy of the Simpson's and Nietzsche being the bad boy of Philosophy. Conard says that Bart does not take on the chaos like Nietzsche says but he is just an empty being of bad actions. This argument is ridiculous; Bart Simpson is as creative as creative gets. In this chapter, Conard is first shows us how people consider Bart as Nietzsche like character because he does not try to change the world of chaos and confusion but he accepts it and makes art out of his life. Nietzsche views also point out that living a life like Lisa's is pointless because through all her hard work nothing ever changes. Bart on the other hand accepts the bad and goes with it, creating his own evil plan episode to episode. Towards the end of this chapter Conard tells us that Bart is not Nietzsche's prodigy but simply just a meaningless bad kid who lacks a creative spirit and has no real artistic behavior. Nietzsche says that there is no real "good or bad", that the Nobles created these ideas because they were a meek society. They coined everything like them "good" and everything else was "bad". At this point the nobles were not trying to condemn anyone they were just distinguishing others from themselves. This "good and bad" way of thinking quickly became good vs. evil. Nietzsche says that living a do-good life is a meaningless one, the world is filled with chaos and confusion and to try to overcome this type of world with noble-like actions and thinking is pointless. Nietzsche argues that is a more meaningful life for those who do not conform themselves with this rally to change the world, but to accept the chaos and to make an artistic life out of it. Bart Simpson is exactly that, he not only does not conform to the "good-doers" like Lisa but he

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