Does anyone else find that there is a conflict between the intellectual satisfaction from surviving in a complicated world, and the desire for the emotional satisfaction of existing in a simple one?
Maybe most of the difficulty in life is learning how to think your way through the world as it is, the whole kit and caboodle of twisting logic and conniving minds, and at the same time, accepting simplicity and beauty in other things – relationships, friendships, art...when there is no sharp boundary between the two worlds.
Just a thought.
I have always accepted that the price for recognising and experiencing great beauty and euphoric emotions is that the complexity of day-to-day life can be frustrating.
It's the trade-off between reason and emotion and the blurry lines which don't quite divide the two. But that's where the real sense of living is, isn't it?
I think I'd trade quite a lot of my intellectual satisfaction for a simple life. Move to the country, live on a self-sufficient farm-holding... although of course that, by evolution, becomes a source of intellectual challenge and hence satisfaction, so maybe you can't ever escape the complexities of life.
But we knew that, didn't we?
(And yes, it is quiet)
I blame the Renaissance for this idea of "conflict between two worlds." We've been in thrall to the scientific paradigm it advanced for 500 years; we're brought up to regard emotion and reason, or intellect, as distinct and separate entities; we're even advised that one is the opposite of the other.
In reality, our emotions require (and can more easily process) greater, and more complex stimulation than our intellects. In fact, I'll argue that ALL the stimuli that the world has to offer are handled first by our emotions, which then stimulate and inform our intellects.
(For a small fee, I am prepared to argue passionately and coherently about this at great length, before resorting to the rational expedience of either:
1. saying, "Kiss me, you mad fool"
or
2. Punching your head.)
That's er, nice to know PB...very nice to know.
Difficult to know which to choose, really.
But I think everyone has a point.
Hi. Very nice indeed. (I tried to comment anonymously, but it didn't happen.)