We
are living in the world that adores capitalism, materialism, individualism and
much more inconstant-life. One of the
questions that existential thinkers tried to answer is; how can one live a fulfilling
life? Life that is true for oneself, and life that one is even ready live and
die for. In this article, the existential thinkers; Soren Kierkegaard and
Fredrick Nietzsche will help us to build a stance
of life and awaken us from the slumber of our ignorance.
In
any serious academic writing; a thinker does not presume knowledge to the audience
nor does he take for granted that common sense is common to all. And so, I
would like to clarify what I mean by, “Brief Habit; the Sigh of the Weak.”
Brief Habit means temporary commitment.
Looking at African generation of today,
the great number prefers a life of brief commitment in order to avoid any sort
of uneasiness that might come as result of such commitment. Surprisingly,
others prefer a life of zero commitment. The sigh of the weak, means a relief
of those who choose to live a life of temporary commitment and even those who
negate commitment at all. This is one the of the gigantic challenges confronting
African child today. This is what I call; the sigh of the weak differently from
what Nietzsche propagates in his book “The Gay Science”.[1] Those who choose life of
no commitment, or brief habit life, are the people I call; “The Weak.” These
are people who lack strong will in themselves. They avoid commitment, because
it implies having a constant-self, leading steady life and much more choosing a
style of life among many, and a thought among many thoughts and accountability.[2] In reference to Soren Kierkegaard; living a
fulfilled life is to have a constant self; self that longs for continuity even
when life seems to be disseminated and devastating as well. Anything else
outside this thought leads to despair and frustration.
Looking at African generation of today,
the great number prefers a life of brief commitment in order to avoid any sort
of uneasiness that might come as result of such commitment. Surprisingly,
others prefer a life of zero commitment. The sigh of the weak, means a relief
of those who choose to live a life of temporary commitment and even those who
negate commitment at all. This is one the of the gigantic challenges confronting
African child today. This is what I call; the sigh of the weak differently from
what Nietzsche propagates in his book “The Gay Science”.[1] Those who choose life of
no commitment, or brief habit life, are the people I call; “The Weak.” These
are people who lack strong will in themselves. They avoid commitment, because
it implies having a constant-self, leading steady life and much more choosing a
style of life among many, and a thought among many thoughts and accountability.[2] In reference to Soren Kierkegaard; living a
fulfilled life is to have a constant self; self that longs for continuity even
when life seems to be disseminated and devastating as well. Anything else
outside this thought leads to despair and frustration.
Nietzsche on the other hand actually speaks
the opposite. For him, leading a constant life, is a sigh of the weak. The
people of this kind are cowards because they are scared to face life as it
presents itself to them and therefore, their sigh is to close their
consciousness to a particular life. He
believed that brief habit, inconstancy and unsteadiness in life bring
satisfaction and happiness[3].
This is the mentality that has actually blinded millions of young people in
Africa. Today one marries, tomorrow he divorces simply because time is up and
he/she wants immediate satisfaction. He wants to choose another life because
married life demands commitment, accountability and a certain standard of
conduct. This is the life that lacks moral
risk and discipline. Looking at the ancient Africa, marriage was a sacred union
between a man and a woman, making them one just like the Creator who is one. It
was made once and for all. Thus, in traditional African understanding of
marriage, man and woman becomes one like the Creator
who is unique, and indivisible. This is the reason why divorce was not a good
option in the African vision of the marriage. In case of problems, people could
only reconcile the couple by mediation.[4] What is happening in
Africa today is a new tread that has never been there. Marriage has become a
problematic whereby the great number of the young choose a life of brief habit.
The number of those who endorse commitment in marriage is rapidly dropping down
in our contemporary. Recently in Kenya, according to Daily Nation February 9th
2018 Marriage experts, family lawyers and clergymen who come in frequent
contact with married couples have raised the alarm over rising cases of divorce
and separation among Kenyan couples. They are worried that too many marriages
are unable to stand the test of time and agree that today’s marriages are
facing numerous challenges; commitment over occurring.
Brief
Habit life is a life of immediacy and transitory by nature. It is a life devoid of active rationality
because one satisfies his immediate and demanding desires. If this is the case,
then one lowers the standard of his being and the element of rationality, and
therefore allows immediacy of the senses to drive his life. This is a big
challenge that needs an immediate response. We must understand that man is not
a programmed animal who only responds to environmental stimuli but a rational
being capable to choose a particular life that entails commitment and accountability.
It is the sigh of the strong to lead a life of commitment. Commitment is to say
yes even in the time when you are not able to get out of your bed. The Strong in
Kierkegaard’s approach, choose to lead a certain life because they have under
gone a process of self-affirmation and have known the prerequisites of such a life.
One decides to embrace a certain life unconditionally hence living purposely.
Unconditional Commitment gives us existential identity.
[1] The Gay Science.
Translated by Walter Kaufman, New York: Vintage Books 1974.
[2] Alastair Hannay, Either/ Or A Fragment of Life; (Penguin
Books: London, 1992) 181-184
[3] Beyond God and Evil, Translated by Walter Kaufmann, New York:
Vintage Books 196, pg 59-66
[4] Lisapo ya Kama,
“African History”, http://en.lisapoyakama.org/the-african-couple-the-african-marriage/. 8/1/2018
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