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> I think that being surrounded by your fellow man in a hive day after day, without hope of solitude, produces contempt and alienation, a feeling that the human

> I think that being surrounded by your fellow man in a hive day after day, without hope of solitude, produces contempt and alienation, a feeling that the humans are interchangeable, that the surfeit of their numbers reduces their individual worth and meaning. In such a state of crowding, [...] a man of compassion is sickened because he is overwhelmed This is highly individual. I actually think that generally, the opposite applies - if one isolate themselves, it's very easy for their mind to become an echo chamber; connecting with people often will moderate and shape one's thoughts.

codetrotter 3y ago
Staying alone for a very long time is probably unhealthy as well indeed. But go for a two week long stay high up in the wild mountains and breathe the fresh air there alone by yourself or with just one or two of your closest friends or members of family, and I am convinced that you would feel that all war and all other man made problems of the world could be solved if everyone got to experience just a few days of this one-ness with nature that you are bound to feel in the fresh air of the mountains when you are there all by yourself with not a soul in sight in any direction.
- pyinstallwoes 3y ago
  To compare the monk vs the city-dweller. Hmm. I think I’ll go with monk.
- lynx23 3y ago
  This might work as long as I do not take anyone from my family along... In fact, everything would be better then staying two weeks with memebers of my family at a remote place. The more I think of it, the more I understand why this article is abou solitude.
  - trgn 3y ago
    Right, the article talks about isolation more as if going on a spa retreat. In reality, an actual hermit will more likely tend to be an antisocial misanthrope, rather than a caring neighbor.
    - haswell 3y ago
      The way I interpreted the article, it’s not about being a hermit at all. It doesn’t talk about isolation either, which is distinct from solitude, even if the two at times resemble each other. Instead it points out the opposite extreme. Solitude as a sharp contrast to the realities of city life that we often don’t pause to consider. As a city dweller, I find myself doing the same things described by the author (minus the nakedness, but to each their own). I spend time away from others so that I can spend time with them. This is more about finding balance than embracing any extreme or becoming a hermit.
    - taskforcegemini 3y ago
      but also has to act that way, otherwise people will not leave them alone
      - trgn 3y ago
        interesting take, love it :)
- bheadmaster 3y ago
  > all war and all other man made problems of the world could be solved if everyone got to experience just a few days of this one-ness with nature that you are bound to feel in the fresh air of the mountains when you are there all by yourself with not a soul in sight in any direction Unless someone figured out that in order to keep the solutide in the mountains, they need to own the mountains, which leads to conflict and wars...
agumonkey 3y ago
True, it's matter of fit and balance. Having space to be alone if needed is very healthy. Constant friction kills. But total isolation can lead to misanthropy or other strange psychological effects. You need regular amounts of little benefiting interactions.

codetrotter 3y ago

Staying alone for a very long time is probably unhealthy as well indeed. But go for a two week long stay high up in the wild mountains and breathe the fresh air there alone by yourself or with just one or two of your closest friends or members of family, and I am convinced that you would feel that all war and all other man made problems of the world could be solved if everyone got to experience just a few days of this one-ness with nature that you are bound to feel in the fresh air of the mountains when you are there all by yourself with not a soul in sight in any direction.

pyinstallwoes 3y ago
To compare the monk vs the city-dweller. Hmm. I think I’ll go with monk.
lynx23 3y ago
This might work as long as I do not take anyone from my family along... In fact, everything would be better then staying two weeks with memebers of my family at a remote place. The more I think of it, the more I understand why this article is abou solitude.
- trgn 3y ago
  Right, the article talks about isolation more as if going on a spa retreat. In reality, an actual hermit will more likely tend to be an antisocial misanthrope, rather than a caring neighbor.
  - haswell 3y ago
    The way I interpreted the article, it’s not about being a hermit at all. It doesn’t talk about isolation either, which is distinct from solitude, even if the two at times resemble each other. Instead it points out the opposite extreme. Solitude as a sharp contrast to the realities of city life that we often don’t pause to consider. As a city dweller, I find myself doing the same things described by the author (minus the nakedness, but to each their own). I spend time away from others so that I can spend time with them. This is more about finding balance than embracing any extreme or becoming a hermit.
  - taskforcegemini 3y ago
    but also has to act that way, otherwise people will not leave them alone
    - trgn 3y ago
      interesting take, love it :)
bheadmaster 3y ago
> all war and all other man made problems of the world could be solved if everyone got to experience just a few days of this one-ness with nature that you are bound to feel in the fresh air of the mountains when you are there all by yourself with not a soul in sight in any direction Unless someone figured out that in order to keep the solutide in the mountains, they need to own the mountains, which leads to conflict and wars...

agumonkey 3y ago

True, it's matter of fit and balance. Having space to be alone if needed is very healthy. Constant friction kills. But total isolation can lead to misanthropy or other strange psychological effects. You need regular amounts of little benefiting interactions.