QUITEVIS, JOVELYN R.

OCTOBER 29, 2021

The epidemic induced by COVID-19 brought the world to a halt. To flatten the curve of the
virus's rate of infection and fatalities, strict procedures have been taken. This viral sickness is
linked to humanity's hegemony over nature, according to Nietzsche’s concept. "We are creating
new circumstances for tiny life to thrive while we continue to eliminate enormous swathes of
macroscopic life by this severing of new links." 1 Our changes to the macroenvironmental
landscape, such as diversion of waterflows, massive logging operations, and deeper mining,
render us more vulnerable to nature's powerful viruses, such as the current epidemic.

As a result, we can see how we are to blame for the current crisis: we have extolled nature's
destruction in the name of economic progress. During this vital period, Nietzsche's thoughts
serve as a helpful counterpoint; if life is to return, do our ideals still stand? The pause that this
pandemic affords is an excellent opportunity for critical reflection on the hollowness of our
contemporary Anthropocene ideals.

Many people have lost their jobs, houses, been sick, been hospitalized, or even died in the last
year. When you encounter media accounts of individuals in desperate situations, you may feel as
if your troubles are inconsequential since you are able-bodied, have a house, enough food, a job,
and so on. After all, how can you "battle" while others are suffering?

You can genuinely struggle, according to Nietzsche. The fact that people are becoming sick and
dying as a result of the epidemic is unfortunate, but it does not negate your hardships. Those
individuals have their own challenges and, like you, come from diverse backgrounds,
experiences, and opinions.

Yes, it's possible that having this milestone online isn't the worst thing in the world. It's still a
bummer since I'll never get a tangible reward for all of my hard work and effort in earning my
Hopkins diploma. This has been my own experience.

To those who argue that my troubles are in no way comparable to those of individuals who are in
a "worse" predicament than me as a result of COVID-19, Nietzsche would respond, "There is
no'reality' for us — not for you either, my sober friends."