Re: wisdom again
Thor Cameron (my_colours@hotmail.com)
Thu, 27 May 1999 01:34:24 -0700 (PDT)
OK: /I'm ;ooking for help here:
Anyone who has a copy of their old philosophy book;
Who was the author/philosopher who wrote about the greater virtues/pleasures
vs the beastial pleasures. He's the one who talked about pearls before
swine.
Anyway,
Once you have a taste for the finer knowledge, you cannot go back to the
baser, beastial pleasures. I am grateful that I'm a (former) Mensa member,
but knowledge and philosophy have not brought me joy. I'm currently
entertaining the notion that knowledge/wisdom and happiness are mutually
exclusive. I entertain suicidal fantasies daily. I am compelled to read &
know more. Knowledge satisfies my thirst, but it does not make me happy...
Thor
>what's the point in knowledge/ wisdom/ genius etc. if youre not happy
>or, as a result of them, cant face up to the reality of life outside
>book and theory? isnt there a little suggestion that ignorance is
>bliss in the stories since few of those blessed with brains are
>socially able, or their wisdom leads them to disillusionment? (a kind
>of perverted ideal of the end product of wisdom) sure, franny
>realises through her brother that we have to accept imperfections,
>and do goodwill for the sake of goodwill etc. but
>1. seymour didnt seem to ever reconcile wisdom and happiness (and he
>was allegedly the smartest)
>2. zooey (who realised that everyone is the fat lady) is still a bit
>of a patronising arse despite what he says. he says he cant hold
>conversations etc with people, and bessie accuses him of cruelty to
>those who aspire to knowledge.
> so are these people freaks or depressives because of their wisdom,
>as opposed to the overwhelmingly happy people we might expect to see
>victims, or is it the case that the fact of their wisdom has made
>them celebrities and outsiders which, in turn, makes them freaks? as
>a result of their intelligence they have been singled out (see
>carpenters when seymour is vehemently defended by his brother) and
>thus are societal misfits of a kind. pah! im happy being thick and
>sitting in the pub rather than analysing everything and being
>regarded as a freaky prodigy.
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