I had a feeling that's where you were going as I had watched your convo with Zev the day before. In fact, I was deeply moved by your contribution to the last few mins of that conversation. I believe morality always includes emotional, spiritual (however you define it) elements in addition to rationality. Otherwise what is the purpose of continued human evolution if we could already explain everything away? Thank you for your steadfast commitment to goodness in a heavily complicated time.
Mike, thank you once again for such a logically thorough and emotionally full sharing. Your prolific capacity for discernment and clear thinking is remarkable. Do you know Mara van den Lugt, a lecturer in philosophy at the University of St. Andrews? Her latest book, Hopeful Pessimism, addresses the growing pessimism of our times and how humanity is facing deep desperation. In this context, she emphasizes the need to be aware of “false hope.” For example, when companies try to hide themselves through greenwashing - misleading consumers about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or company, making it appear more eco-friendly than it actually is.
She also talks about the “hope washing” that is prevalent today – a dangerous optimism or blind optimism, for example, when people think technology will solve their problems. When interviewing young people, Mara’s research showed that the overwhelming majority only see a dark, abysmal future. They cannot see through or beyond the abyss or current catastrophes. Mara believes, and I agree with her, that this abyss must be encountered. And that the true risk lies not in encountering the abyss, but in the avoidance of it. This is an example of hope washing.
From the closing pages of her book, Mara writes: "The real test is in how our attitudes solidify; in how they come to ground. And so I turn, once more, to that hopeful pessimist Albert Camus: 'At this moment, when each of us must fit an arrow to his bow and enter the lists anew, to reconquer, within history and in spite of it, that which he owns already, the thin yield of his fields, the brief love of this earth, at this moment when at last a man is born, it is time to forsake our age and its adolescent rages. The bow bends; the wood complains. At the moment of supreme tension, there will leap into flight an unswerving arrow, a shaft that is inflexible and free.' "
Mara continues: "The test is not in the nature of the bow but in the trajectory of he arrow, the truth of the aim. Hope means nothing if it does not harden into actions; pessimism means nothing if it keeps us behind closed doors. The call is absolute; the test is in how we answer it. Without this, hope is just hope, pessimism is just pessimism, and this gets us nowhere. As the stone called out to Rilke: 'You must change your life.' And so it is time to turn this page on hopeful pessimism, and do the work. For duty, for justice, for truth, for those who are already suffering, and those who will come after us, for humans and for other species, for solidarity, for the frail lives besides us and the dark earth beneath us - in the knowledge that you, that I, have answered the call."
This is packed with wisdom. Educated trust, trust that can temporarily suspend itself during times when reassessment is called for (with emphasis on "temporarily") is immensely powerful. At bottom this is because belief in the power of experienced judgement is not gullibility; willingness to entertain belief at all is redemptive, and protective. It allows one to make the next empirical judgement.
Thanks for this piece Mike and as someone waking up to the reality of being married to a person with a diagnosed personality disorder, it rings particularly true. Seeing clearly is the hardest thing and I can see so many parallels in my personal life with the daily headlines coming out the US.
One has to believe in and work towards a better future, even if we don't know exactly what that might be in the present.
I’ve enjoyed these two articles about seeing clearly, but I found them to be rather masochistic. For those of you who are not so interested in seeking pain, I can recommend Epicurean philosophy, which is concerned with ataraxia, or peace of mind - leading a tranquil life and cultivating simple pleasures.
I didn't read it as seeking pain, simply acknowledgement and acceptance. ☮️Peace of mind is obviously preferred, yet avoidance isn't possible in every situation. In a crisis we can best focus on reality and take the next best step
Not being a movie fan (although I did get the reference to A Beautiful MInd), I use "woke" in its original use in the African-American community as epitomized in Baldwin's work in place of red-pilled. I worked with a "patient" in a psychiatric clinic over several years who had several versions of his own string-covered board. Earlier therapists had questioned his ability in French and German but with my own background I quickly confirmed he was from Europe and had lived through WW II under god-knows-what-circumstances. His obsessive construction of theories prefigured, for me, what you are describing here. OTOH, I recall the beats of the 50s who made a fetish of the very opposite, in my limited experience with them.
Brilliant, yet I've a feeling that Mother Nature will rid herself of her rash when it becomes too much of problem. Our history is our failure, or desire to understand the irregular world of misery we have developed. It's extremely unfortunate that the innocent will pay an equal price as the guilty.
I like the application of the word finitude to describe this. I had an experience along these lines as a young woman that was foundational to my life.
At 18, in the late 1970s, I inherited $100,000. I was depressed and unhappy from losing my parent. I began doing exactly what I wanted with the money. For two years I did this. I traveled, I went out to dinner, I bought jewelry.
I was not happy. I became more unhappy. At length, I realized that unlimited money had stolen from me the ability to dream about the future and to work toward my dream.
The nihilism that comes from having infinite resources or infinite time has to do exactly with the loss of value that this imposes on those resources and time, and ultimately on life itself.
I had a feeling that's where you were going as I had watched your convo with Zev the day before. In fact, I was deeply moved by your contribution to the last few mins of that conversation. I believe morality always includes emotional, spiritual (however you define it) elements in addition to rationality. Otherwise what is the purpose of continued human evolution if we could already explain everything away? Thank you for your steadfast commitment to goodness in a heavily complicated time.
Mike, thank you once again for such a logically thorough and emotionally full sharing. Your prolific capacity for discernment and clear thinking is remarkable. Do you know Mara van den Lugt, a lecturer in philosophy at the University of St. Andrews? Her latest book, Hopeful Pessimism, addresses the growing pessimism of our times and how humanity is facing deep desperation. In this context, she emphasizes the need to be aware of “false hope.” For example, when companies try to hide themselves through greenwashing - misleading consumers about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or company, making it appear more eco-friendly than it actually is.
She also talks about the “hope washing” that is prevalent today – a dangerous optimism or blind optimism, for example, when people think technology will solve their problems. When interviewing young people, Mara’s research showed that the overwhelming majority only see a dark, abysmal future. They cannot see through or beyond the abyss or current catastrophes. Mara believes, and I agree with her, that this abyss must be encountered. And that the true risk lies not in encountering the abyss, but in the avoidance of it. This is an example of hope washing.
From the closing pages of her book, Mara writes: "The real test is in how our attitudes solidify; in how they come to ground. And so I turn, once more, to that hopeful pessimist Albert Camus: 'At this moment, when each of us must fit an arrow to his bow and enter the lists anew, to reconquer, within history and in spite of it, that which he owns already, the thin yield of his fields, the brief love of this earth, at this moment when at last a man is born, it is time to forsake our age and its adolescent rages. The bow bends; the wood complains. At the moment of supreme tension, there will leap into flight an unswerving arrow, a shaft that is inflexible and free.' "
Mara continues: "The test is not in the nature of the bow but in the trajectory of he arrow, the truth of the aim. Hope means nothing if it does not harden into actions; pessimism means nothing if it keeps us behind closed doors. The call is absolute; the test is in how we answer it. Without this, hope is just hope, pessimism is just pessimism, and this gets us nowhere. As the stone called out to Rilke: 'You must change your life.' And so it is time to turn this page on hopeful pessimism, and do the work. For duty, for justice, for truth, for those who are already suffering, and those who will come after us, for humans and for other species, for solidarity, for the frail lives besides us and the dark earth beneath us - in the knowledge that you, that I, have answered the call."
Very powerful.
Is peace of mind the way forward to living in this crazy world?
There is calm in the eye of the storm.
This is packed with wisdom. Educated trust, trust that can temporarily suspend itself during times when reassessment is called for (with emphasis on "temporarily") is immensely powerful. At bottom this is because belief in the power of experienced judgement is not gullibility; willingness to entertain belief at all is redemptive, and protective. It allows one to make the next empirical judgement.
Thanks for this piece Mike and as someone waking up to the reality of being married to a person with a diagnosed personality disorder, it rings particularly true. Seeing clearly is the hardest thing and I can see so many parallels in my personal life with the daily headlines coming out the US.
One has to believe in and work towards a better future, even if we don't know exactly what that might be in the present.
Brilliant, Mike. Truly the philosopher we need in these times. Well, maybe all times.
Mike, I was sobbing after reading this- in the best way. Thank you. I really, really needed to read this.
Oh yeah, this is why I've subscribed to you. Brilliantly said. Thank you.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-old-experiment-with-mice-led-to-bleak-predictions-for-humanitys-future-180954423/
Thank you for this incredible piece!
I’ve enjoyed these two articles about seeing clearly, but I found them to be rather masochistic. For those of you who are not so interested in seeking pain, I can recommend Epicurean philosophy, which is concerned with ataraxia, or peace of mind - leading a tranquil life and cultivating simple pleasures.
I didn't read it as seeking pain, simply acknowledgement and acceptance. ☮️Peace of mind is obviously preferred, yet avoidance isn't possible in every situation. In a crisis we can best focus on reality and take the next best step
You read it correctly!
Having had a career as a medical oncology & adult bone marrow transplant nurse, your excellent essay resonates. Thank you!
Not being a movie fan (although I did get the reference to A Beautiful MInd), I use "woke" in its original use in the African-American community as epitomized in Baldwin's work in place of red-pilled. I worked with a "patient" in a psychiatric clinic over several years who had several versions of his own string-covered board. Earlier therapists had questioned his ability in French and German but with my own background I quickly confirmed he was from Europe and had lived through WW II under god-knows-what-circumstances. His obsessive construction of theories prefigured, for me, what you are describing here. OTOH, I recall the beats of the 50s who made a fetish of the very opposite, in my limited experience with them.
This was a fabulous piece to read first thing in the morning. I’m floored. Just brilliant.
Brilliant, yet I've a feeling that Mother Nature will rid herself of her rash when it becomes too much of problem. Our history is our failure, or desire to understand the irregular world of misery we have developed. It's extremely unfortunate that the innocent will pay an equal price as the guilty.
I like the application of the word finitude to describe this. I had an experience along these lines as a young woman that was foundational to my life.
At 18, in the late 1970s, I inherited $100,000. I was depressed and unhappy from losing my parent. I began doing exactly what I wanted with the money. For two years I did this. I traveled, I went out to dinner, I bought jewelry.
I was not happy. I became more unhappy. At length, I realized that unlimited money had stolen from me the ability to dream about the future and to work toward my dream.
The nihilism that comes from having infinite resources or infinite time has to do exactly with the loss of value that this imposes on those resources and time, and ultimately on life itself.