EchoesOfTheHorizon wrote: ↑Thu Nov 30, 2017 6:51 am
Hmmm....
....
Hopefully it is public domain now so I don't have to pay a arm and a leg for it.
You actually can find it in the Philosophy Now archives by clicking on the "External Links" button on the Wikipedia entry. If you haven't found it already. It's where I read it, and I think how I found this site in the first place years ago.
I just finished reading it all the way, and I think it applies in several situations. I know I probably use some of the mechanisms illustrated myself, but my thoughts were and are;
1) Being that this is Trixie's thread, it may be something that he/she(?) is going through. They can't find an anchor to tie their consciousness to. They are adrift on the sea of potentiality, and absurdity. They don't want to "distract themselves" except possibly through inanity/showcasing. Can't really isolate the emotions/awareness yet because it is so "raw". And overall as a result can't sublimate said emotions/awareness....yet
2) In a similar note, I may have hit a similar state that Trixie finds themselves presently in years ago (recall how I mentioned questioning too much in my introduction thread?). I found out about the "Last Messiah" then, and have used some of said concepts as a way to anchor myself. Except instead of trying to swim away from the pain...I decided to dive into it. Mainly because of my philosophical exposure prior to said event, and because I couldn't distract myself (social ostracized/isolation at the time) which seems similar to Trixie's situation, but of a different note/character.
Personally, I dug into nihilism with the intents to destroy it...that became my anchor. The absurdity of Nothing Itself. The meaning is self-contradictory as far as I know, and even if it destroys all meaning prior to that realization. One can still visualize themselves in a plain of "Emptiness", kinda like the Protagonist from "The Lego Movie"...he's so dumb, and unaware of being a "master builder" that his "mind is clear". That is what I think Trixie is doing, clearing out the junk, but is having a hard time realizing that there are some constraints (like the body issue/image).
Constraints are fun, and necessary. They give definition to the shape we are trying to form. Running with the "Lego" imagery, the constraints are like the block choices we have. They are defined by production, and out of our control for the most part, but the "infinite" potential is still there. How many possible builds are there with one lego kit? Add a few more Lego, and the possibilities get bigger.
Trixie Note: That is what I think EchoeOfTheHorizon, may be trying to convey...maybe...I'm not him. The idea that you have to accept yourself for who you are, and build from there.
Further Note: I consider myself somewhat in line with the idea of Morphological Freedom (a thought that I found in Transhumanist ideas) where they advocate for the notion that a person should be able to look/act however they please, and through "Science" we may be able to get "avatars" realistically. Who knows, but that is something to aim for...it's another "Anchor/Distraction". It'll only happen if people put forward the effort to making that "Reality" happen, and it won't happen by forcing people to change their minds (aka "You must see me this way...NOW!). They need evidence, and time. Just look at all the "ant-vaxxers, the Flat-earthers;...etc" They want proof, and some of them do turn over to the "rational side" (whatever that is)...you just can't push people because they push back (Fight or flight instinct).
...just some thoughts from a rock. And if you want one of the harshest realizations I've had, when it comes to suicide, there's only one person stopping you. Yourself, and you'll never know if you'll succeed. 1) You won't be there if you are. 2) Failure (highly likely if you're still aware), means you'll be crippled and hospitalized for awhile. And I've been around enough "suicide failures" in my clinic stays to say, "You don't want to go there." 3) And you won't be absolutely certain that you won't have a "hard reset". Meaning, you don't know if you'll reincarnate here, elsewhere, as what, or whom..., so you could end up in a worse situation than now. One you may realize you already had no choice in, so why not actually try not to make the best of it with what you do have? You know play the cards you've been dealt, but play them in your way. I mean would you want to repeat any of the horrors that you've already experienced up to now? That is a strong possibility of happening if you "Succeed"....a "Fresh start", from the bottom, and possibly from a worse off state.