If these times endure, I shall become a hermit,
For I see nothing here but grief and torment;
Evils reign, good folk are held in scorn,
And the wicked seize the seats of government.
Eustache Deschamps (14th century French poet)
Human life may destroy itself. With so many existential risks confronting the species, it seems likely that we will self-destruct now that we have sufficient power to do so. At any moment the immoral, the incompetent, or the ignorant might launch the nuclear weapons—or enslave, deport, dehumanize, or imprison us. We are mere afterthoughts in the psychopathologies of most of the rich and powerful. Our world is, in many ways, a cold, harsh, hostile, and unforgiving place. Follow the news or sleep in the street and this fact will become apparent.
As I said in my last post, it’s hard not to be infected by what’s happening around you—extremism, political dysfunction, meanness, cruelty, misinformation, bullshit, etc. But how should we respond to all this?
It seems we have to go on living. We should try to appreciate the beauty and goodness that surrounds us (yes, it’s there too) and avoid, reject and not be stained by the stupidity and vice encircling us. This entails retreating somewhat from world, finding peace in solitude. It doesn’t imply moving to a cave, but rather to carving out spots to be alone in perilous times. Even in a city you can be something of an “urban hermit.”
The world has always been a dangerous and perilous place but our ancestors perservered and so can we. But we’ll need a lot of luck.
Seems like he sussed it out pretty well? The Fourteenth Century was a long time ago. In our modern time, being, or becoming a hermit is a difficult avocation. Most of us lack survival skills and other resources necessay to *go off the grid*. Mental toughness does not totally replace physical resilience and one really need to know what one is doing. And then, there too, is the age thing. For by the point in our lives when we are truly fed up, we are in the grip of older age, and living is isolation is not a viable option. Among other responsibilities and commitments, I must soon see to a tax filing. It is pretty easy, costs me a few bucks, and I get some money back. No, hermit life is not viable.
Doctor John
“The world has always been a dangerous and perilous place but our ancestors persevered and so can we. But we’ll need a lot of luck.”
Well we have been ‘Lucky’ so far, so why should that change? Of course we shouldn’t challenge our Luck, that is fool hardy, still, we’ll grope with the challenges when and as they come and make the best with what we have!
As our friend Paul Van pelt said recently; “”doing the best I can with what I have and know”.
What you have and know is all you need if, your motives and demeanor are correct.
Will the cataclysm come? I hope not, but as Dr John said, we now have the atomic weapons and nihilism is prevalent in the ruling class.
A King of England once said; every man’s home is his castle, so rule your castle with justice and love and all the people who gather under your roof will be rewarded!
All best wishes to everyone !
“It is true piety to contemplate the universe with a quiet mind” Lucretius
I did not pay attention to Kahlil Gibran. Was always, already involved with other matters..for example, I read interesting fictions from Casteneda and Redfield. Or, perhaps those tales were meta-fictions? I never really knew, see, but the prose, whatever it was, calmed my spirit, and finally allowed me to make some decisions.
I fled the United States, only to return in, I think it was, 1976.( Little had changed during my exile.) By then, I was thirty years old, watching my mother die, trying to get some sort of job, and so on. Life worked out better than I thought. My mother lived until 1985. Dad re-married In 1986 and that proved a bad decision. Dad and wife#2 are gone now—I did not concern myself with her passing. She was a golddigger. Thing was, there was no gold to which she had access or entitlement. I achieved a thirty-year career. All, pretty good.
Better than I expected, in 1969….yep.
Great quote.
interesting life.
A theoretical physicist such as Smollin might have something to say of entropy, with regard to chaos we are now witnessing. He might even say entropy is rapidly expanding; catching up with us, no matter the mayhem we cause ourselves. But, even chaos we generate, would not measurably affect the Universe’ winding down. Thermodynamics suggests that much, via the three laws.We are only, temporarily, occupying space here and, if, and not only if, we blew up earth and ourselves with it, that would be like a pisshole in the sand, compared with entropic annihilation. Ask Professor Carroll, at Johns Hopkins…He has already written about The Big Picture, so he knows something. Lastly, there is that Italian guy, Carlo, talking about a loop of some sort. I can’t wrap my mind around time as circular in some way…maybe that is not what Carlo is claiming, or, maybe it is and he does not know it.
If the arrow of time is not linear, it might be circular suggesting an Ouroboros effect.
But that does not seem right either.
If the expanding Universe IS expanding, that could suggest time is neither linear nor circular, but, expanding along with its’ physical cohort….so entropy is inevitable and complete? Moreover, perhaps, how can something ethereal be destroyed? Unless it never existed, a priori…
I have heretofore asserted time as an impartial bystander, a fair witness. What I cannot figure is whether it is destructible, along with everything else, as suggested by thermodynamics. But, again and still, how is something that isn’t be rendered isn’tless?
Who conjured up thermodynamics and the three laws? Where did the notion come from? How do we prove it when we won’t be around after it happens? Whoa…
I could ask Newton, Leibnitz, or Einstein, but time took care of them. I only have Smollin, Carroll and the Italian guy.
Smollin, or, Carroll, or, the Italian guy might know. Or, not. I do no know any of them. And, they are far busier than me.
I have stopped watching and listening to any form of news for obvious reasons. I would get angry, stressed and worried. I have had my fair share of problems over the years like most people. The answer? Focus on my children and grandchildren. Make them happy, keep them safe and enjoy their innocence. Hearing my Autistic grandson laugh is a tonic. Enjoy the moment, be kind and respectful to each other. That’s good news!
My remarks, here, and on several blogs, appear to be attracting attention. How should I feel about that? Digame, por favor, Doc. Translation: tell me please, Professor. Just asking, see.
Always Admiration, John.
PadV.
I get tired of AI errors, don’t you?
Paul D. Van pelt.
I agree with everything you say.
maybe someone else can comment on this.