Is it the case that we construct our own sophisticated world of values, explanations, maxims, and truths just to feel good about the reality we are living? Or rather to deal with the things that are too difficult to face when bare and exposed. Even on a very small personal scale I can say it is quite common. It may be very obvious and then people say somebody lives an illusion or is in denial. I think it is more interesting when nobody notices the illusion or even when the illusion is a generally accepted norm. When you do not subscribe you are a lunatic. It works on every level - from individual people, through social groups, communities, up to entire nations. It may be increasingly difficult to find a commonly built fantasy as the number of people grows, but if we accept a few exceptions or variations here and there I believe it can be done .
Is it a sign of weakness or wisdom? Is there any boundary we should not be allowed to cross in this charade of ours? Can we live our lives without it and stay sane?
3 comments:
Good evening, Eva. I think that it is absolutely necessary that we construct our own world of values in order to be able to live with ourselves.
We have talked about this -- everything can be rationalized. It's just a matter of what tools we use to make those rationalizations. Do we subscribe to traditional mores because they fit conveniently into our lives? Or...
When we do things against the grain, people very easily and suddenly "reconstruct" their value system to make their actions acceptable to themselves.
I don't think doing this is a sign of either weakness or wisdom. It's simply a survival instinct.
Everybody crosses boundaries -- or at least desperately wants to cross some boundaries all the time.
Constructing a "revised" value system makes it possible for us to to actually live with ourselves when we do cross those boundaries. Just think about how comfortable the people we know can live with themselves after doing atrocious things.
We'd have a lot more people jumping from bridges if we didn't have the capability of editing our value systems to excuse our actions or at least make them acceptable.
This is the kind of thing to talk about around a campfire...
Be careful with relativism and solipsism, it is a tempting but ultimately wasteful path. We are all human animals with needs and desires. Yes, they may ultimately not mean anything and just be pure illusions and justifications, but they are all we have. They should not be discarded but cherished and embraced. Do not lose yourself in the idea that we all exist separately from each other, just follow your heart.
Relativism - yes, solipsism - no. I would never venture to say that I know myself completely, my opinions and feelings are hardly real or stable sometimes. I am trying to be aware of all the illusions and justifications I construct or the ones I manage to notice around me. It is a mental exercise. An attempt to keep in touch with reality, whatever that may be. I don't feel safe embracing some figments - I prefer to watch them. With caution.
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