Indeed the muse is a ruse... but so is the whole of consciousness... to keep Lessing's son in the world long enough to procreate... to keep the "idea" of food before the animal on a "stick" so that he continues to search for it... the very idea of consuming it fooling the lymbic system and rewarding the brain with small "imaginary" dopamine pleasure doses.
So you are convinced that we need the ruse. And yet, this is what Freud had to say about it:
For Freud, sublimation is not the core of an axiological approach to psychoanalysis, and the introduction of narcissism represented an important turning point in his theory. Sublimation took place "through the mediation of the ego, which begins by changing sexual object-libido into narcissistic libido, and then perhaps goes on to give it a different aim" Sublimation no longer occurs at the expense of the object-libido but offers the narcissistic libido a needed extension. However, it does not protect the individual, who is left at the mercy of the death instinct.
Happy chances are necessary, and many incalculable elements, in order that a higher man in whom the solution of a problem is dormant, may yet take action, or "break forth," as one might say—at the right moment. On an average it DOES NOT happen; and in all corners of the earth there are waiting ones sitting who hardly know to what extent they are waiting, and still less that they wait in vain. Occasionally, too, the waking call comes too late—the chance which gives "permission" to take action—when their best youth, and strength for action have been used up in sitting still; and how many a one, just as he "sprang up," has found with horror that his limbs are benumbed and his spirits are now too heavy! "It is too late," he has said to himself—and has become self-distrustful and henceforth for ever useless.—In the domain of genius, may not the "Raphael without hands" (taking the expression in its widest sense) perhaps not be the exception, but the rule?—Perhaps genius is by no means so rare: but rather the five hundred HANDS which it requires in order to tyrannize over the "the right moment"—in order to take chance by the forelock! (BGE)
Yes, 'repression' is necessary if civilization is to persist. But is it the civilization? Couldn't it have evolved differently. For, remember, not all rings of power were evil, though all turned their wearers invisible. (LOTR)
Of course not, but will taking "backward" steps (like returning to polyamourous lifestyles ala "baboons") extend the range of possible "better" evolutionary outcomes for mankind?
It's but a ruse... who needs a muse? :-)
ReplyDeleteIndeed the muse is a ruse... but so is the whole of consciousness... to keep Lessing's son in the world long enough to procreate... to keep the "idea" of food before the animal on a "stick" so that he continues to search for it... the very idea of consuming it fooling the lymbic system and rewarding the brain with small "imaginary" dopamine pleasure doses.
ReplyDeleteSo you are convinced that we need the ruse. And yet, this is what Freud had to say about it:
ReplyDeleteFor Freud, sublimation is not the core of an axiological approach to psychoanalysis, and the introduction of narcissism represented an important turning point in his theory. Sublimation took place "through the mediation of the ego, which begins by changing sexual object-libido into narcissistic libido, and then perhaps goes on to give it a different aim" Sublimation no longer occurs at the expense of the object-libido but offers the narcissistic libido a needed extension. However, it does not protect the individual, who is left at the mercy of the death instinct.
Of how often we find the muse sick:
ReplyDeleteHappy chances are necessary, and many incalculable elements, in order that a higher man in whom the solution of a problem is dormant, may yet take action, or "break forth," as one might say—at the right moment. On an average it DOES NOT happen; and in all corners of the earth there are waiting ones sitting who hardly know to what extent they are waiting, and still less that they wait in vain. Occasionally, too, the waking call comes too late—the chance which gives "permission" to take action—when their best youth, and strength for action have been used up in sitting still; and how many a one, just as he "sprang up," has found with horror that his limbs are benumbed and his spirits are now too heavy! "It is too late," he has said to himself—and has become self-distrustful and henceforth for ever useless.—In the domain of genius, may not the "Raphael without hands" (taking the expression in its widest sense) perhaps not be the exception, but the rule?—Perhaps genius is by no means so rare: but rather the five hundred HANDS which it requires in order to tyrannize over the "the right moment"—in order to take chance by the forelock! (BGE)
So that the ruse is often at one's own expense... But perhaps what is good for many isn't good for one.
ReplyDeleteNot everyone is born wearing the Ring of Gyges, Nicrap. Besides, Zarathustra's "work" is his own.
ReplyDeleteIntellect will not develop w/o repression. And you either use it, or you lose it.
So what's good for the many IS good for the one, for therein lies "control".
ReplyDelete...the ability to move not only one's-self but others as well.
ReplyDeleteIs only that possible which came to pass?
ReplyDeleteYes, 'repression' is necessary if civilization is to persist. But is it the civilization? Couldn't it have evolved differently. For, remember, not all rings of power were evil, though all turned their wearers invisible. (LOTR)
Is only that possible which came to pass?
ReplyDeleteOf course not, but will taking "backward" steps (like returning to polyamourous lifestyles ala "baboons") extend the range of possible "better" evolutionary outcomes for mankind?
For, remember, not all rings of power were evil, though all turned their wearers invisible. (LOTR)
ReplyDeleteYet the longer one used and wore the ring, the more "corrupted" he became.
It's almost like civilization ("Progress") has become a ruse for repression...
ReplyDeleteLook at what happened to Smeagle. He couldn't even "move himself", the ring moved him.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost like civilization ("Progress") has become a ruse for repression...
ReplyDeleteIn fact, a ruse for imposing a more "totalitarian" external form of control.
I was thinking more of the three elven rings. Nenya. Narya. And Vilya. They were rings of power too.
ReplyDeletewas thinking more of the three elven rings.
ReplyDeleteElven "nature" is beyond my ken, but "human" nature, THAT I know well.... ;)
Of course not, but will taking "backward" steps (like returning to polyamourous lifestyles ala "baboons") ...
ReplyDeleteI think one mistake that Freud made was to call the life instinct Eros.
He didn't come to accept it's opposite, Thanatos, until much later in his career.
ReplyDeletegtg. sorry.
ReplyDeleteIMO - WtP is the name for the combined effect of the two (Eros/Thanatos) that Freud kept struggling towards to explain human behaviour.
ReplyDelete