Arielle Poblete PHILOPE A51

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The Das Man, Overman, and Skeptic in Richard Bachs Jonathan Livingston Seagull INTRODUCTION There will be three aspects of the book that will be discussed in this paper, each aspect having different kinds of problems and questions on freedom, knowledge, perception on the Self and the they, each piece having a philosophy backing them. The first problem will be about the Flocks disability to see beyond flying for food, hence being inauthentic (Sartre) and a Das Man or the they, which is one of the concepts created by German philosopher, Martin Heidegger. To avoid confusion, this paper will emphasize more the second and third problems. The second problem will then be about the protagonist, Jonathan Livingston Seagulls freedom (Sartre), thirst for knowledge, authenticity (Sartre), and most especially his being a great model of Dasein (in connection with the Das Man), overman (Nietzsche), perspectivism (Nietzsche). The third problem would then be, of course, on Jonathans first student from Earth, Fletcher Lynd Seagull. The paper will question Fletchers skepticism, especially the scene in Part II and III where he doubted himself and his abilities to learn to fly and teach the other amateur gulls. Platos infamous Cave Allegory will also be discussed under Jonathan and Fletcher, both gulls representing those who came back to the cave to help uplift those left in the dark. The paper aims to address these problems with the most of my understanding on both the novel and the philosophies partnered with the problems so do expect some shortcomings or possible misinterpretations in my part regarding certain philosophical concepts.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is one of the highly acclaimed novels of Mr. Richard Bach. Having a great interest and experience in flight ever since he was a child, Mr. Bach has required a great capacity of reflective ideas about life and humanity through this hobby. Jonathan is a one-of-a-kind seagull within an ordinary flock living only on fish and bread given to them; the flock lives a cyclical life, I guess you could say. Most gulls dont bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating. These statements in the book already state everything that Jonathan isnt. He teaches himself speed and high-flying, an aspect of flying that his flock cant even imagine possible for their kind, especially for long-winged and habitually-fed seagulls. Jonathan learned a breakthrough in speed-flying, and he ought to share this with the flock, but instead of receiving applause, Jonathan is excommunicated and is casted out into the Far Cliffs, never allowed to go back to the flock ever again, imprinted with a lifelong dent of irresponsibility on his name. But this is where Jonathans true journey begins, the flock debacle was just a spark that started the fire. In the far cliffs, he learned to accept his flock, trained in flying more as long as he is given; he just lived as much as he can, and he became a wise, old gull. He is then introduced to two magnificent gulls into a new world of possibilities and ideas. It is in this second world where Jonathan met Chiang, the most talented gull, learned that he is a perfect, unlimited gull, and that time and numbers were just limitations that we impose on ourselves to satisfy our selfish needs. Its strange. The gulls who scorn perfection for the sake of travel go nowhere, slowly. Those who put aside travel for the sake of perfection go anywhere, instantly. Remember, Jonathan, heaven isnt a place or a time, because place and time are so very meaningless. Heaven is ... Chiang said to Jonathan in one of their lessons. As a result of

this rich learning of his, he realized that all his learning would be of no use and importance if he was just to learn and learn and upgrade to a new world again and again. He wanted to share his thoughts; he went back to earth for the flock. That is where he met Flecther Lynd Seagull, a terrific flight-student, but quite a self-doubting and skeptic character. He taught Fletch and other Outcast gulls all his flight and self-knowledge, and when he thought that it was time to go back to the flock to teach them the truth about life and freedom, the others were unconfident, but they did go back. So the flock, seeing the beauty of the group of gulls, was enticed. They slowly went away from the flocks norms and the Elders orders, and learned. Jonathan realized by this time that it was time to change even more lives, way beyond the flock, and since the flock was looking good in the hands of Fletcher as the instructor, Jonathan left the learning of the flock to his first student. It is in this moment that he mentioned that there might be other flocks, other Flethcers that may need the help he gave to Fletcher. And so, Jonathans journey of learning and changing lives continues. Richard Bachs Jonathan Livingston Seagull is as much a work of individualist thinking as much as it is a rich, metaphor of life, freedom, and the they. Individualism is a kind of philosophy that emphasizes and empowers an individuals liberation and defiance possibly even anarchic from the government, society, or any kind of they. But enough of individualism as it is not exactly a part of the syllabus, though it is a good thing pointing it out now as it might be a great help on this papers following arguments and justifications on the Flock, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and Fletcher Lynd Seagull.

How does the flock represent the they and the Das Man? As mentioned above, Jonathan barely belonged to the flock. Not because he was he was a socially awkward gull, but because he never really appreciated the flocks norms and beliefs. The flock followed the Elders and the Law of the Flock; they didnt worry, didnt complain, and didnt think beyond food. What they were doing was the same every day: they flew and ate, flew and ate, and flew and ate. If one was to defy or even think of defying this cycle, he or she would then be branded as irresponsible and will be thrown into the Far Cliffs, just like what they did to Jonathan and Fletcher. Martin Heidegger coined this kind of inauthenticity as the they or the Das Man. First though, it is important to be clear of the relationship between the Dasein and the Das Man. For Heidegger, Dasein is us, the beings, and what it means to be human; and a Das Man, is an unavoidable aspect of Dasein who lets generalizations, social norms, predetermined definitions to identify their Beings. It is a mode of life wherein no originality or any self-reflection is created and respected. What others have said, what I have been accustomed to, what seems normal to me and to other people will what I shall follow, believe, and promote, and if you are to defy this, you are not a part of my group, you are to be thrown out of here since you are not in the same page as the rest of us. Hence, the individuals needs are ignored or made less important for the groups benefit. Believing and limiting yourself to something just because it was given to you in a silver platter is one of the biggest faults that one can do to himself or herself. Jonathans father said to Jonathan that the reason you fly is to eat. This is indeed one of the lines from the book that enriches its obvious metaphorical take on the cyclical life that the

general population (especially those from the middle and lower class) continues to experience every day.

Is Jonathan considered an Overman? After being outlawed by the flock, meeting Chiang, teaching Fletcher and the flock, Jonathan has achieved probably one of the highest level awareness, liberation, and acceptance in the world of gulls. Believing that he is a perfect, unlimited gull, he has realized and truly depicted the unlimited degree that we can achieve in knowledge, heaven, and being perfect. Heaven meant perfect, and perfect meant heaven. With this, it is clear that Jonathan is not a Das Man. He is a Dasein who has lived a few lives to understand and esteem the true meaning of life: being perfect and helping others who have yet to realize this, and being a Das Man is totally out of the mind of Jonathan. Although, this does not mean that Jonathan was under pressure in becoming one with the flock, this means becoming a Das Man and surrendering to the predestined rules and culture of the Law of the Flock. One time, he decided to be among the flock, to be a normal, anchovy-getting, gull. But he couldnt make it work. He could have studied and practiced flying at that time instead of fighting with the Flock for food, something that isnt even that important for Jonathan. So, instead of being a Das Man, he decided to continue developing his flight skills, and gaining great wisdom simultaneously. Another philosophical account that is obviously parallel in the book is that of Platos Cave Allegory. In Platos said work, he wrote that when one breaks out into the light, into the nature, he or she would be blinded but will, in turn, realize and appreciate the beauty

more. In this evolution of sight, he or she would then begin to pity those left in the cave. One would then have to go back for it is their responsibility to help open the eyes of his fellow prisoners. This was exactly what happened to Jonathan as he was casted out into the Far Cliffs (with the Far Cliffs as the peak of the cave). As he was free from the tight hands of the Flock, he was welcomed into a rich horizon of boundless possibilities; a horizon that the gulls in his flock cant even imagine exists. Still, despite the freedom he gained from being outlawed and the other worlds, he still came back to enlighten and free his fellow gulls in the shore, hoping to uplift their awareness and life itself. In the book, The Great Gull was mentioned multiple times: Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull, an unlimited idea of freedom, Maynard Gull, you have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way. It is the Law of the Great Gull, the Law that Is. They are saying in the Flock that if you are not the Son of the Great Gull Himself, Fletcher told Jonathan one morning after Advanced Speed Practice, then you are a thousand years ahead of your time. Touched him with a wingtip! Brought him to life! The Son of the Great Gull!

In these statements, it is evident that the gulls innately entail the Great Gull as a supreme and flawless being. This concept may be put under Nietzches (and one of my favorites) concept of thinking of the Overman or the Ubermensch. An Overman, according to Nietszche, is the next evolution of the normal man. The Overman is someone who has his or her own thinking and beliefs, one that is highly influential on other people, but does not let them influence his thinking and beliefs, nor does he think of himself as the superior being.

The Overman lives for the betterment of all humanity and is not afraid to end his or her life for other people. An Overmans independence, though, is never for himself only; it acts as an inspiration for other people to be independent and authentic themselves. Hence, an Overman is a person that opens the minds of people, thus making him or her unforgettable and legendary over time. An Overman is as well should have a positive outlook in any flock, situation, or world they are in, no matter how dreadful or tedious that place is. He/she treats this as a challenge or an overcoming of self, if you may. He accepts individual subjectivity or perspectivism (Nietzsche) since he knows that everyone is different; he respects the choice of others, whether they want to stay in the flock and live a cyclical life or become a free and unlimited gull with no fears and boundaries. This is Jonathan; he is an Overman, no doubt. To be clear though, the Great Gull is not Jonathan, the Great Gull is in every single gull. All they have to do is discover and patiently learn about the inner Great Gull in them. All of them can fly just like Jonathan, all of them can be perfect just like Chiang, and all thats needed is just a matter of curiosity and a little rebellion from their predetermined selves.

How does Fletcher become a skeptic? Fletcher, as mentioned, is the very first student of Jonathan since he came back to earth for the flock. Fletcher appeared to be a bitter, rebellious, and slightly immature character; it is obvious just from the first line he ever said in the book: I dont care what they say, he thought fiercely, and his vision blurred as he flew out toward the Far Cliffs. Theres so much more to flying than just flapping around from place to

place! A ... a ... mosquito does that! One little barrel-roll around the Elder Gull, just for fun, and Im Outcast! Are they blind? Cant they see? Cant they think of the glory that itll be when we really learn to fly? Although he was set to be a tough gull, he doubted his abilities. He even secondthought in going back to the flock to help them, but the mere fact that he felt that he had to go back, the fact that he knew it was the right thing to do, was a signal that Fletcher Lynd Seagull was no ordinary rebel. He had taken the step into being his own Great Gull. Yet along the way, skepticism still wandered about in his mind, making him falter at times in his lessons with Jonathan. This skepticism was made evident even more in the last part when Jonathan was saying his goodbye to Fletch. He didnt want to be the the instructor for Jonathan was and always will be the wisest and knowledgeable. He was a mere fly to Jonathans reverence.

CONCLUSION In this paper, I have synthesized a collection of interpretations and juxtapositions of the different, prominent characters of Richard Bachs Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a book best known for its allegorical and philosophical take on humanitys continuing turning away to freedom and passion. The first problem is about Jonathans flock and how they are too uptight and engraved to the pointless laws/norms and the idea of food (an impermanent and unimportant thing), compared to Sartres Authenticity, and Heideggers Das Man concept. The second problem is on the protagonist, Jonathan Livingston Seagull,

and the apparent characteristic of him as an Overman (Nietzsche), with the support of the gulls concept of the Great Gull. The third and last problem is about Fletcher Lynd Seagull and his skepticism. These three problems are metaphors on the world now. With the flock as possibly the oppressed or disabled due to religion, law, or social pressures; Jonathan as possibly the freethinkers, teachers, activists, or philosophers that continue to strive and help those left in the dark; and Fletcher as the upcoming futures of society, possibly the youth. They are all connected because they are codependent, one would not exist without the other, and one wouldnt have turned out to be like that without the other.

REFERENCES: Nietzsches idea of an overman and life from his point of view. Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics. https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~pj97/Nietzsche.htm (accessed December 10, 2012). JJSYLVIA (website username), Philosophy Book Club: Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Philosophy Matters. October 23, 2012. http://www.philosophymatters.org/2012/10/bookclub-jonathan-livingston-seagull/ (accessed December 11, 2012). Flynn, Thomas, "Jean-Paul Sartre", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. December 5, 2011. http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2012/entries/sartre/ (accessed December 11, 2012). Solomon, R.C., Sartre, Heidegger, facticity and transcendence, December 9, 2008. http://mimaxxblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/sartre-heidegger-facticity-and.html (accessed December 11, 2012)