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The moment the mind, a mere tool for the survival of the body, declared itself extremely important. From then on, any imperfection means that death is lurking i

The moment the mind, a mere tool for the survival of the body, declared itself extremely important. From then on, any imperfection means that death is lurking in the shadows. Entropy eats up everything. You can run away, but you can't hide. The extreme narcissism of our time is only the most refined form. Sharpened and promoted by the extreme free-market competition of individuals. Whereby, this did not create it, it only took up the theme and perfected it. Allthough, or better because, for the most time, there is nothing really substantial in them, they yell: Me, me, me. So, they don't have much else, but they want to be something. Sell it to them. Illusion. The priest knew it, the shrink knows it. Every good con man, spin doctor and the whole culture industry knows it. There is a buck to be made, feeding the ego. But every time this Illusion of being something substantial is shattered, the crack threatens to show the truth, the abyss. The abyss of death. The place the ego doesn't.exist.

ganzuul 5y ago
I think the source of the maladaption lies in the use of money to make people do things they would never otherwise do. Asking ourselves who we would be to others if we had money at least somewhat insulates us from the effect of this mental wildfire.
- Borrible 5y ago
  I don't think that the origin of the problem is this or that social structure. I think that these structures bind it in one way or another to make this basic human condition bearable. Both for the individual and for society. But they determine to a large extent who benefits from the dichotomy of being and consciousness. Nor do I believe it can be overcome or cured. To be human is not just to have knowledge of and insight into the world and knowledge of and insight into oneself. It means knowing that this knowledge gives agency. An extremely powerful tool for survival, something special. But this tool is at the same time an instrument of torture of itself. It reflects also its transience and insignificance. You may survive today because you are the cunning hunter, but one day you will die. And nothing, what ever you've done or knew will change that. And another day, everyone who remembers that you and your kind ever existed will be gone. And nothing, what ever you've done or knew will change that. In the end, it even will seem like there never was anything at all. And nothing, what ever you've done or knew will change that. Facing that and dealing with it is the basic premise of human consciousness. Most of the time we have coped with rituals, religion and rules. Recently we have science, technology, entertainment industry and consumption. Art and Drugs have always played a role in escaping the torment. Most can't face it without the help of the above, some even flee the terror of consciousness through suicide.
  - ganzuul 5y ago
    That defeatist philosophy was an excruciating read. I wonder about your purpose sharing it. Keep your tools of torture. If we all die in the end why take them into our hands. You don't make sense to me.
    - Borrible 5y ago
      Gotcha.
randomopining 5y ago
You write that? Nice. Yeah everything is for survival, construction of ego and neuroticism. Depression too.
- Borrible 5y ago
  No, not everything is for survival. There is no teleology. Some things survive, others not. Some things stay for a long time, some barely blink in existence before they're gone. The ego construct did survive so far for a few million years, depending on which organisms you concede the development of an ego before humanity. Neuroticism is a pointed variant of the ego. It may or may not survive in greater numbers for the next 50 years. For now it is a profitable market. Depression is another variant of consciousness, based on a variant brain metabolism. Often associated with a shorter life expectancy and, since it can be lethal in younger years, probably at disadvantage to procreate. Which probably was not the case in times humans procreated at a much younger age than today and had less time to indulge in its quirks. On the other side, if you survive depression, it may give you a much deeper insight in the human condition. Which for sure is nothing for faint-hearted happy fools. ... Oh, just in case some HN kitchen psychology rears its head. I'm not depressed, I'm just outright evil.

ganzuul 5y ago

I think the source of the maladaption lies in the use of money to make people do things they would never otherwise do. Asking ourselves who we would be to others if we had money at least somewhat insulates us from the effect of this mental wildfire.

Borrible 5y ago
I don't think that the origin of the problem is this or that social structure. I think that these structures bind it in one way or another to make this basic human condition bearable. Both for the individual and for society. But they determine to a large extent who benefits from the dichotomy of being and consciousness. Nor do I believe it can be overcome or cured. To be human is not just to have knowledge of and insight into the world and knowledge of and insight into oneself. It means knowing that this knowledge gives agency. An extremely powerful tool for survival, something special. But this tool is at the same time an instrument of torture of itself. It reflects also its transience and insignificance. You may survive today because you are the cunning hunter, but one day you will die. And nothing, what ever you've done or knew will change that. And another day, everyone who remembers that you and your kind ever existed will be gone. And nothing, what ever you've done or knew will change that. In the end, it even will seem like there never was anything at all. And nothing, what ever you've done or knew will change that. Facing that and dealing with it is the basic premise of human consciousness. Most of the time we have coped with rituals, religion and rules. Recently we have science, technology, entertainment industry and consumption. Art and Drugs have always played a role in escaping the torment. Most can't face it without the help of the above, some even flee the terror of consciousness through suicide.
- ganzuul 5y ago
  That defeatist philosophy was an excruciating read. I wonder about your purpose sharing it. Keep your tools of torture. If we all die in the end why take them into our hands. You don't make sense to me.
  - Borrible 5y ago
    Gotcha.

randomopining 5y ago

You write that? Nice. Yeah everything is for survival, construction of ego and neuroticism. Depression too.

Borrible 5y ago
No, not everything is for survival. There is no teleology. Some things survive, others not. Some things stay for a long time, some barely blink in existence before they're gone. The ego construct did survive so far for a few million years, depending on which organisms you concede the development of an ego before humanity. Neuroticism is a pointed variant of the ego. It may or may not survive in greater numbers for the next 50 years. For now it is a profitable market. Depression is another variant of consciousness, based on a variant brain metabolism. Often associated with a shorter life expectancy and, since it can be lethal in younger years, probably at disadvantage to procreate. Which probably was not the case in times humans procreated at a much younger age than today and had less time to indulge in its quirks. On the other side, if you survive depression, it may give you a much deeper insight in the human condition. Which for sure is nothing for faint-hearted happy fools. ... Oh, just in case some HN kitchen psychology rears its head. I'm not depressed, I'm just outright evil.