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Howard Phillips Lovecraft (the father of "cosmic horror", the creator of the Cthulhu Mythos, and one of my favorite authors) was born 132 years ago on this day - the 20th of August (which is incidentally the same day on which Ron Paul was born 87 years ago).
Human society is hierarchical - it always has been and always will be, for as long as humans remain recognizably human.
Here is a Twitter thread on Lovecraft's socio-political beliefs, by bibliophile Jash Dholani.
Twitter thread by Jash Dholani (@oldbooksguy): https://twitter.com/oldbooksguy/status/1561026171789516800
Thread compiled @ threadreaderapp.com: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1561026171789516800.html
H.P. Lovecraft transformed the horror genre, wrote 100,000+ letters to frens, and was, above all, a soulful aristocrat. On his 132th birthday, let's explore his attacks on democracy, his critique of our modern priorities, and what he believed civilization MUST aim at.
1/
A great society is only built when the most gifted contribute
And for their contribution, the aristocrats must be rewarded:
“Since the only human motive is a craving for supremacy, we can expect nothing in the way of achievement unless achievement be rewarded by supremacy.”
2/
Civilization must create valuable “thoughts and objects” and aristocracy “alone” can do this
Democracies live “parasitically on the aristocracies they overthrow”
And over time, democracies use up “the aesthetic and intellectual resources which autocracy bequeathed them.”
3/
The difference between aristocracy, democracy, and mob rule:
“In an aristocracy some persons have a great deal to live for. In a democracy most persons have a little to live for. In an ochlocracy(mob rule) no*body has anything to live for.”
4/
Science & art trickle down from the top:
The ultrawealthy turn their surplus capital & attention toward the “full appreciation of beauty and truth”
“Most of the pleasures” felt by the average man wouldn’t exist if the wealthy didn’t use their spare resources to cultural ends
5/
No aristocracy is permanently protected from democracy; no democracy is permanently protected from ambitious aristocrats
The masses eventually over-run the palaces
And then the aristocrats eventually take advantage of the indifferent, scatter-brained masses to win power back
6/
Lovecraft doesn’t want repressive autocracies:
“Moderation is essential in all things.”
The problem with an “overstressed” political authority is that it tends to put an “infinity of stupid checks on art and intellect”
7/
Lovecraft gives all governments a very simple task:
“Government need go no further than to safeguard an aristocratic class in its opulence and dignity so that it may be left free to create the ornaments of life and to attract the ambition of others who seek to rise to it.”
8/
Aristocracies can’t be closed off:
“The healthiest aristocracy is the most elastic – willing to beckon & receive all men of whatever antecedents who prove them*selves aesthetically & intellectually fitted for membership”
Make the aspirational life available to the deserving
9/
Real Aristocrat v/s the Fake Aristocrat
HP Lovecraft:
“The real aristocrat is ever reasonable, kindly, and affable toward the masses – it is the incompletely cultured novus **** (new man) who makes ostentation of his power and position.”
10/
HP Lovecraft is spiritually opposed to the democratic reformer, the man who is obsessed with the “welfare of the masses,” who embraces their “mental-emotional point of view” & who’d “willingly sacrifice the finest fruits of civilization for the sake of stuffing their bellies”
11/
Lovecraft wishes to cause no pain
“Deliberate cruelty” towards any form of life is “coarse & unaesthetic”
All he cares about is civilization, which for him, is a system of “gratifying the complex mental-emotional-aesthetic needs of highly evolved and acutely sensitive men.”
12/
Highly evolved humans need great art, noble adventures, and the right to a sincere search for truth. These needs are only satisfied under the aristocratic conditions of wealth, luxury, high artistic & moral standards, generational missions, and protection from everyday fads.
13/
Lovecraft on the difference between him and a democratic reformer:
“The reformer cares only for the masses, but may make concessions to the civilization. I care only for the civilization, but may make concessions to the masses. Do you not see the antipodal difference?”
14/
I love HP Lovecraft’s definition of art
The artist sees something important, good, or beautiful in the world - something invisible to others
Then he sets to work, using the mediums he’s best acquainted with, to bring his vision to the world
Full quote from a letter:
[image hidden to save space]
15/
How H.P. Lovecraft tried to balance his artistic and scientific sides
Lovecraft had a sensitive heart and a sharp mind
Here's how he balanced the two:
[image hidden to save space]
16/
Civilization should be set up for the production of beauty & greatness: “We advocate the preservation of conditions favorable to the growth of beautiful things — imposing palaces, beautiful cities, elegant literature, reposeful art & music, & a physically select human type.”
[images hidden to save space]
17/
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your time!
Lovecraft was a prolific reader too
I went through his essay "Suggestions for a Reading Guide"
And collected 20 book recommendations across fiction, philosophy, history, and more
Lovecraft's book recs
18/
Hope you enjoyed reading this thread as much as I loved writing it
Pls RT
Help your frens take The Aristocracy Pill
Based H.P. Lovecraft
Human society is hierarchical - it always has been and always will be, for as long as humans remain recognizably human.
Here is a Twitter thread on Lovecraft's socio-political beliefs, by bibliophile Jash Dholani.
Twitter thread by Jash Dholani (@oldbooksguy): https://twitter.com/oldbooksguy/status/1561026171789516800
Thread compiled @ threadreaderapp.com: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1561026171789516800.html
H.P. Lovecraft transformed the horror genre, wrote 100,000+ letters to frens, and was, above all, a soulful aristocrat. On his 132th birthday, let's explore his attacks on democracy, his critique of our modern priorities, and what he believed civilization MUST aim at.
1/
A great society is only built when the most gifted contribute
And for their contribution, the aristocrats must be rewarded:
“Since the only human motive is a craving for supremacy, we can expect nothing in the way of achievement unless achievement be rewarded by supremacy.”
2/
Civilization must create valuable “thoughts and objects” and aristocracy “alone” can do this
Democracies live “parasitically on the aristocracies they overthrow”
And over time, democracies use up “the aesthetic and intellectual resources which autocracy bequeathed them.”
3/
The difference between aristocracy, democracy, and mob rule:
“In an aristocracy some persons have a great deal to live for. In a democracy most persons have a little to live for. In an ochlocracy(mob rule) no*body has anything to live for.”
4/
Science & art trickle down from the top:
The ultrawealthy turn their surplus capital & attention toward the “full appreciation of beauty and truth”
“Most of the pleasures” felt by the average man wouldn’t exist if the wealthy didn’t use their spare resources to cultural ends
5/
No aristocracy is permanently protected from democracy; no democracy is permanently protected from ambitious aristocrats
The masses eventually over-run the palaces
And then the aristocrats eventually take advantage of the indifferent, scatter-brained masses to win power back
6/
Lovecraft doesn’t want repressive autocracies:
“Moderation is essential in all things.”
The problem with an “overstressed” political authority is that it tends to put an “infinity of stupid checks on art and intellect”
7/
Lovecraft gives all governments a very simple task:
“Government need go no further than to safeguard an aristocratic class in its opulence and dignity so that it may be left free to create the ornaments of life and to attract the ambition of others who seek to rise to it.”
8/
Aristocracies can’t be closed off:
“The healthiest aristocracy is the most elastic – willing to beckon & receive all men of whatever antecedents who prove them*selves aesthetically & intellectually fitted for membership”
Make the aspirational life available to the deserving
9/
Real Aristocrat v/s the Fake Aristocrat
HP Lovecraft:
“The real aristocrat is ever reasonable, kindly, and affable toward the masses – it is the incompletely cultured novus **** (new man) who makes ostentation of his power and position.”
10/
HP Lovecraft is spiritually opposed to the democratic reformer, the man who is obsessed with the “welfare of the masses,” who embraces their “mental-emotional point of view” & who’d “willingly sacrifice the finest fruits of civilization for the sake of stuffing their bellies”
11/
Lovecraft wishes to cause no pain
“Deliberate cruelty” towards any form of life is “coarse & unaesthetic”
All he cares about is civilization, which for him, is a system of “gratifying the complex mental-emotional-aesthetic needs of highly evolved and acutely sensitive men.”
12/
Highly evolved humans need great art, noble adventures, and the right to a sincere search for truth. These needs are only satisfied under the aristocratic conditions of wealth, luxury, high artistic & moral standards, generational missions, and protection from everyday fads.
13/
Lovecraft on the difference between him and a democratic reformer:
“The reformer cares only for the masses, but may make concessions to the civilization. I care only for the civilization, but may make concessions to the masses. Do you not see the antipodal difference?”
14/
I love HP Lovecraft’s definition of art
The artist sees something important, good, or beautiful in the world - something invisible to others
Then he sets to work, using the mediums he’s best acquainted with, to bring his vision to the world
Full quote from a letter:
[image hidden to save space]
15/
How H.P. Lovecraft tried to balance his artistic and scientific sides
Lovecraft had a sensitive heart and a sharp mind
Here's how he balanced the two:
[image hidden to save space]
16/
Civilization should be set up for the production of beauty & greatness: “We advocate the preservation of conditions favorable to the growth of beautiful things — imposing palaces, beautiful cities, elegant literature, reposeful art & music, & a physically select human type.”
[images hidden to save space]
17/
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your time!
Lovecraft was a prolific reader too
I went through his essay "Suggestions for a Reading Guide"
And collected 20 book recommendations across fiction, philosophy, history, and more
Lovecraft's book recs
18/
Hope you enjoyed reading this thread as much as I loved writing it
Pls RT
Help your frens take The Aristocracy Pill
Based H.P. Lovecraft
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