Posted by Chris O on July 25, 2014, at 10:34:22
In reply to Re: 'mental illness' or..something else..., posted by Christ_empowered on July 25, 2014, at 2:53:33
Maybe it's reading people like Szasz that has you pondering these issues over and over. Or, maybe it's your seeing an environment around you that seems unjust and chaotic, where those with the most social and economic support seem to get away with murder (with no consequence) while those with little social and economic support are constantly struggling against Sisyphusian frustrations no matter how honest and decent and caring they are. It's certainly a real pickle to figure out, especially in our current (and apparently, very, very long-term) economic crisis. In college, this is probably why books such as Camus's "The Myth of Sisyphus" and Dostoyevsky's "Notes from Underground" appealed to me. But I am long past taking comfort in the idea that "there is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn" or in thinking existential philosophy really gets to the root of my inability to ever feel safe in the world. (Though, like you, I keep returning to these ideas as some enraged solace for my poverty and inability to accomplish anything in life.)
Chris
poster:Chris O
thread:1068682
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140717/msgs/1068776.html