The stresses of being a single working mother to two kids distracted me from despair. I was pressed financially at times, I was busy, I was under pressure, to the point where half an hour of peace recharged me. Now I'm facing a bank holiday weekend and I've nothing planned. One of my kids has moved out and I'm not sad about that but having only one very busy young adult living at home, I'm now free to notice that there was nothing but BUSINESS and Responsibilities in my life for years. And I met them. Now I have a three day weekend and only one pilates class planned. I try to maintain friendships but I feel like I'm chasing after people with more exciting lives. I want to live a long life because life is valuable but I haven't built that life yet...
It sounds like you did great. As long as your kids turned out okay, that's really your only purpose. All the rest of it is just dead time to fill. Seriously, that is a woman's purpose. And I guess a man is half of that equation, as far as both the pregnancy and the child-rearing. Though men skip out on the second part a lot of times, unfortunately. But there is no blueprint for all the dead time, it's just whatever you do. And nobody really cares, to be blunt. If they did the world would be a very different place. If it makes you feel any better, it's a very evil and nasty and unjust world we live in, quite obviously, with a thin layer of civility on the surface for appearances' sake. And it destroys everyone. All of us. It's built in to the system, almost as if by design, and there's no escaping it. So if you feel and suffer with despair, I think it speaks to the humanity you still have within you, yearning for love and security, as if you still have a just claim on it, which a great number of people have none at all. And they lost theirs, ironically or not, when they were successful in securing their own, while leaving so many others to languish alone. So hopefully that's some consolation...
Thanks Professor Moore for this video and all your efforts to make this a better world. May there be more people like you to move us to new beginnings. Wishing you well and all your students and all those fortunate to hear your thoughts. I am grateful for the people, past and present and those to come, who have and will inspire us all. Wishing you good health and to those dear to you.
"To resist despair, that second makes you see... To resist despair, 'cuz you can't change everything... To resist despair in this world is what it is to be free."
I'm always so thrilled to get the notification that you've published another video. I simply love listening to you explore these works. I'm wondering if you've ever considered publishing your lectures? I'm not sure if this is something that is feasible or even allowed with university regulations, but the more I engage with your work, the more I find myself wishing I could take your course.
What a kind and generous comment! I’m glad you enjoy the videos. Maybe someday down the line these UA-cam videos will occasion a book. For now, they’ll just live here.
the thing with hope for me is that it is very much bound to a point in time and place. the idea that doom is *not* inevitable is rational to us (WEIRD people) now maybe. but imagine being a middle aged or older non-nazi person in the thirties in Europe: your life ends in the middle of a second world war in your lifetime and the most heinous and horrible acts of unimaginable cruelty. you see everything, the whole world go to shit and there is nowhere to go. so hope - for me - is not a good medicine against despair, because for us as individuals it is or can be, depending on time and place you're in, just naive, completely unrealistic and escapist. what lifts me up from despair or maybe better put, distances me from despair time and again is the message from albert camus' the plague: accept that there is (or may be) no rational reason for hope, accept that doom is or at least very well may be at your doorstep, accept that you have no power to change reality, no power to change the world. and now ask yourself: how do you want to exist until the inevitable end? do you want to exist in despair and give up? do you want to "make the best of it" and at least try to get yourself the best position? or do you still want to live according to your values to the bitter end because it's who you are? every time i ask myself these questions a heavy weight falls off my shoulders and i say to myself: yes, there maybe no hope, there almost certainly is no chance for the world to become a utopia (or at least free of the most terrible banes like war) and with absolute certainty not in my lifetime. but does that change how i want to live? does that change my values and principles? no. i will continue to "fight" in the face of my certain failure to reach the goal. why? because it's just who i am.
That's pithy, but what's it based on? Putting aside for a moment how hard it would be to get group consensus on what "civilization" even means. In what way does any definition thereof oppose human needs?
@er... I am. But I suspect this is a definition question rather than an actual disagreement. By "Civilization" I'm thinking humans living and working together in some form of social structure. By "Human needs" I'm thinking about Maslow's Hierarchy stuff: Physiological Needs: Civilization definitely helps us get that Safety Needs: That too Love & Belonging: I'd say neutral. Civilization helps us form larger belonging groups like nations, tribes, and sects. But I can see how it often gets in the way too, ex: homophobia. Esteem: Basically doesn't exist without a societal standard to inform what you hold in high esteem. Self Actuallization: Again, I'd say it's a wash. Civilization certainly tells you "no" a lot, but without role specialization, we could never have had things like sports, which give great meaning to many people. The amount of time for self actualization freed up by having dedicated food producers is pretty hard to overstate.
I don't wanna put words in your mouth, but are you perhaps speaking specifically of *Modern Western* Civilization? That I could totally see where you're coming from. Though I'd still disagree personally. 😉
@@michaelblakemutschler594 We're basically on the same page. My main focus includes all of the above, with the addition of extreme inequality and predatory capitalism, along with their concomitant consequences for humanity in the long term.
I know bad things keep happening, but don't give up! Further thoughts 👉 ua-cam.com/video/D5K7HhD8pdY/v-deo.html
The stresses of being a single working mother to two kids distracted me from despair. I was pressed financially at times, I was busy, I was under pressure, to the point where half an hour of peace recharged me. Now I'm facing a bank holiday weekend and I've nothing planned. One of my kids has moved out and I'm not sad about that but having only one very busy young adult living at home, I'm now free to notice that there was nothing but BUSINESS and Responsibilities in my life for years. And I met them. Now I have a three day weekend and only one pilates class planned. I try to maintain friendships but I feel like I'm chasing after people with more exciting lives. I want to live a long life because life is valuable but I haven't built that life yet...
It might be helpful to remember that your life is still valuable, regardless of what you've built it to be right now.
It sounds like you did great. As long as your kids turned out okay, that's really your only purpose. All the rest of it is just dead time to fill. Seriously, that is a woman's purpose. And I guess a man is half of that equation, as far as both the pregnancy and the child-rearing. Though men skip out on the second part a lot of times, unfortunately. But there is no blueprint for all the dead time, it's just whatever you do. And nobody really cares, to be blunt. If they did the world would be a very different place. If it makes you feel any better, it's a very evil and nasty and unjust world we live in, quite obviously, with a thin layer of civility on the surface for appearances' sake. And it destroys everyone. All of us. It's built in to the system, almost as if by design, and there's no escaping it. So if you feel and suffer with despair, I think it speaks to the humanity you still have within you, yearning for love and security, as if you still have a just claim on it, which a great number of people have none at all. And they lost theirs, ironically or not, when they were successful in securing their own, while leaving so many others to languish alone. So hopefully that's some consolation...
Thanks Professor Moore for this video and all your efforts to make this a better world.
May there be more people like you to move us to new beginnings.
Wishing you well and all your students and all those fortunate to hear your thoughts.
I am grateful for the people, past and present and those to come, who have and will inspire us all.
Wishing you good health and to those dear to you.
Thank you, Michael! I appreciate that so much. I hope you have a great day.
I think this made so many of us feel very seen ❤ Just calling something by its name is so freeing!
Elaine Scarry has been on my wishlist for a few weeks now. Thank you for the recommendation.
@@philosophyoftrucking I really love that book. It’s a pretty quick read too.
"To resist despair, that second makes you see...
To resist despair, 'cuz you can't change everything...
To resist despair in this world is what it is to be free."
Beautiful video, thank you!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!
Soo glad I came across this channel!! Thank you
Happy you found your way here! Welcome!
Wow! Thank you for that Arendt quote. Just what I needed.
Been having an equally beautiful and equally hard year; this helped a lot. I will continue to do art ❤
Do the work! ❤️
I'm always so thrilled to get the notification that you've published another video. I simply love listening to you explore these works. I'm wondering if you've ever considered publishing your lectures? I'm not sure if this is something that is feasible or even allowed with university regulations, but the more I engage with your work, the more I find myself wishing I could take your course.
What a kind and generous comment! I’m glad you enjoy the videos. Maybe someday down the line these UA-cam videos will occasion a book. For now, they’ll just live here.
Fear and anxiety many times are a response to avoid dying and cutting that time short.
the thing with hope for me is that it is very much bound to a point in time and place. the idea that doom is *not* inevitable is rational to us (WEIRD people) now maybe. but imagine being a middle aged or older non-nazi person in the thirties in Europe: your life ends in the middle of a second world war in your lifetime and the most heinous and horrible acts of unimaginable cruelty. you see everything, the whole world go to shit and there is nowhere to go.
so hope - for me - is not a good medicine against despair, because for us as individuals it is or can be, depending on time and place you're in, just naive, completely unrealistic and escapist.
what lifts me up from despair or maybe better put, distances me from despair time and again is the message from albert camus' the plague:
accept that there is (or may be) no rational reason for hope, accept that doom is or at least very well may be at your doorstep, accept that you have no power to change reality, no power to change the world. and now ask yourself: how do you want to exist until the inevitable end? do you want to exist in despair and give up? do you want to "make the best of it" and at least try to get yourself the best position? or do you still want to live according to your values to the bitter end because it's who you are?
every time i ask myself these questions a heavy weight falls off my shoulders and i say to myself: yes, there maybe no hope, there almost certainly is no chance for the world to become a utopia (or at least free of the most terrible banes like war) and with absolute certainty not in my lifetime. but does that change how i want to live? does that change my values and principles? no. i will continue to "fight" in the face of my certain failure to reach the goal. why? because it's just who i am.
What we call civilization demands the denial of human needs. So can we be human beings in the midst of "civilization?"
That's pithy, but what's it based on? Putting aside for a moment how hard it would be to get group consensus on what "civilization" even means. In what way does any definition thereof oppose human needs?
@@michaelblakemutschler594 I truly hope you are not being serious.
@er... I am. But I suspect this is a definition question rather than an actual disagreement. By "Civilization" I'm thinking humans living and working together in some form of social structure. By "Human needs" I'm thinking about Maslow's Hierarchy stuff:
Physiological Needs: Civilization definitely helps us get that
Safety Needs: That too
Love & Belonging: I'd say neutral. Civilization helps us form larger belonging groups like nations, tribes, and sects. But I can see how it often gets in the way too, ex: homophobia.
Esteem: Basically doesn't exist without a societal standard to inform what you hold in high esteem.
Self Actuallization: Again, I'd say it's a wash. Civilization certainly tells you "no" a lot, but without role specialization, we could never have had things like sports, which give great meaning to many people. The amount of time for self actualization freed up by having dedicated food producers is pretty hard to overstate.
I don't wanna put words in your mouth, but are you perhaps speaking specifically of *Modern Western* Civilization? That I could totally see where you're coming from. Though I'd still disagree personally. 😉
@@michaelblakemutschler594 We're basically on the same page. My main focus includes all of the above, with the addition of extreme inequality and predatory capitalism, along with their concomitant consequences for humanity in the long term.