I understand that you are not suggesting I wasn’t a human, but “just want to want stuff” does not seem actionable to me (to quote Philip K. Dick: “I can’t dial a setting that stimulates my cerebral cortex into wanting to dial! If I don’t want to dial, I don’t want to dial that most of all..”).
On a quick skim, the analysis of the problem sounds accurate (and I might be in an existentialist phase). I don’t believe I fall for any of the false dichotomies. https://meaningness.com/fluidity-preview rings a bell:
> Atomization is a fact; it can’t be reversed. The question to ask is “how can we live enjoyably and effectively in a world in which society, culture, and self are atomized?” Part of the answer is: by constructing temporary assemblages of greater meaning...
Duh, but what are some candidate concrete steps for constructing these temporary assemblages that aren’t trivial? Isn’t that begging the original question?
You might even say I’m on the stage 4.5 like the “cutting edge of the Western culture” described in https://vividness.live/developing-ethical-social-and-cognitive-competence#fluid .. but the description of stage 5 seems deeply unsatisfactory (a phrase “pushing water” comes to mind) and I haven’t found any advice how to transition there either :/
“just want to want stuff” does not seem actionable to me
I mean, you already do want all sorts of stuff I imagine. The non-trick is to just figure out which you want more and how capable are you of achieving it.
Duh, but what are some candidate* concrete steps* for constructing these temporary assemblages that aren’t trivial? Isn’t that begging the original question?
Like I said, I don’t think I’ll be able to help. I’m seemingly lucky enough to never having had significant problems of this sort, and I’ve been reading him mostly for enjoyment and intellectual stimulation. He’s active on Substack these days though, so you can try contacting him there for pointers.
I understand that you are not suggesting I wasn’t a human, but “just want to want stuff” does not seem actionable to me (to quote Philip K. Dick: “I can’t dial a setting that stimulates my cerebral cortex into wanting to dial! If I don’t want to dial, I don’t want to dial that most of all..”).
On a quick skim, the analysis of the problem sounds accurate (and I might be in an existentialist phase). I don’t believe I fall for any of the false dichotomies. https://meaningness.com/fluidity-preview rings a bell:
> Atomization is a fact; it can’t be reversed. The question to ask is “how can we live enjoyably and effectively in a world in which society, culture, and self are atomized?” Part of the answer is: by constructing temporary assemblages of greater meaning...
Duh, but what are some candidate concrete steps for constructing these temporary assemblages that aren’t trivial? Isn’t that begging the original question?
You might even say I’m on the stage 4.5 like the “cutting edge of the Western culture” described in https://vividness.live/developing-ethical-social-and-cognitive-competence#fluid .. but the description of stage 5 seems deeply unsatisfactory (a phrase “pushing water” comes to mind) and I haven’t found any advice how to transition there either :/
I mean, you already do want all sorts of stuff I imagine. The non-trick is to just figure out which you want more and how capable are you of achieving it.
Like I said, I don’t think I’ll be able to help. I’m seemingly lucky enough to never having had significant problems of this sort, and I’ve been reading him mostly for enjoyment and intellectual stimulation. He’s active on Substack these days though, so you can try contacting him there for pointers.