Interesting stuff, John, and I look forward to part 2. I reflect that people do seek diversion, but not merely or always to avoid hard questions. They seek diversion to avoid reflecting excessively on themselves, and thus falling into anxiety and depression. As Narcissus taught us, we are not made to look at ourselves, but to look outward and, for that matter, upward. This is one of the reasons why work is so beneficial and being out of work so damaging. It forces us to focus on other, better things than our own narrow fulfilment.
TD – Thanks for another great comment! Yes, I think you are right, and I think Pascal is saying something like this when he says that we would be ok, if only we would admit that our diversions are diversions. As you say, they divert us from dwelling on our piteous selves, and that’s not all bad. But we are prone to arrogate more for our diversions than that.
Interesting stuff, John, and I look forward to part 2. I reflect that people do seek diversion, but not merely or always to avoid hard questions. They seek diversion to avoid reflecting excessively on themselves, and thus falling into anxiety and depression. As Narcissus taught us, we are not made to look at ourselves, but to look outward and, for that matter, upward. This is one of the reasons why work is so beneficial and being out of work so damaging. It forces us to focus on other, better things than our own narrow fulfilment.
TD – Thanks for another great comment! Yes, I think you are right, and I think Pascal is saying something like this when he says that we would be ok, if only we would admit that our diversions are diversions. As you say, they divert us from dwelling on our piteous selves, and that’s not all bad. But we are prone to arrogate more for our diversions than that.
Indeed, I am going to do so in part 2.