The (In)Sane Society, Climbing to Greatness, and Existential Courage
Existential Espresso Vol. 7
What I’ve been reading:
“The Sane Society” by Erich Fromm.
Can a society be sick?
Rather than doing what most psychologists do, explore the pathologies of individuals, in this book Fromm explores the pathologies of society which contribute to the alienation and mental health issues of the individuals.
If you ever felt like there is something wrong with the modern society, like it’s not designed for human being in need of meaningful connections but rather for robots, if this ever made you feel alienated from the rest of the society where most people spend their days just going through the motions, Fromm would say that you are right.
This alienation might make you feel like there is something wrong with you, it might even make you feel like you are insane, but Fromm would say it’s the exact opposite.
“The very person who is considered healthy in the categories of an alienated world, from the humanistic standpoint appears the sickest one.”
This book is an extremely powerful critique of what kind of an effect the modern capitalist society had on our mental health so far. But it’s not just a critique, Fromm was actually optimistic and in the book he proposes ways of thinking about our society and organizing it so that the individual is not treated as a resource, but as a human being.
However, considering that the book was published in 1990, and looking at the current state of our society, I would say that Fromm was either too optimistic, or that not enough people have payed attention to his message.
I will continue exploring his ideas and writing both short and long form posts on them, in the hope of doing my small part in spreading his message.
So far, the main takeaway that I got from the book, and what I want you to keep in mind: Don’t think that there is something wrong with you because you don’t feel at home in this society and it makes you anxious or depressed. Chances are that you are one of the few sane people in your environment. But you are not alone.
What I’ve watched:
Re-watched the Joe Rogan podcast with Nirmal Purja - Nimsidai.
I view a good podcast the same way I view a good book - if it’s good, it’s worth re-reading, or re-watching/listening.
Nirmal Purja, better known as Nimsidai, is a Nepal-born mountaineer and an ex-member of the special forces of the British Royal Navy.
In 2019, Nimsidai set the world record by climbing all of the world’s 14 mountain peaks that stand over 8000 meters in just 6 months and 6 days. The previous record for completing "14 eight-thousanders" was around 7 years. You are free to read this once again and take a moment to appreciate the magnitude of his accomplishment.
I talked about Nimsidai in my “Modern Example of Nietzsche’s Great Individual.”
When I listen to him, I hear an individual who would be successful in anything that they wanted to do. Why? Determination.
What I’m left wondering is if this level of determination can be developed, or if it’s something you have to be born with. Let me know what you think.
What I’ve been thinking about:
“Writing of the things you love like it’s a hobby. Sounds like something only grown ups would do, don’t you think?” - Masako Saeki*
Not everyone is able to make a living from their passion. In fact, very few people are able to do that.
But treating the thing you love like it’s merely a hobby, like it’s just something that you do in your free time and you are not actually committed to, it’s a bit cowardly, isn’t it?
Because that’s one of the biggest differences between grown ups and children or young people - courage. For most people, the process of “growing up” involves losing most of their courage.
Not the courage to go bungee jumping or sky diving, but existential courage.
But the courage to say “This is what I care about. This is what I love. Others may find it weird. Others may think that it’s a waste of time. But this is what lights a fire in my soul.”
You don’t have to quit your job to pursue you passion. For most people that would be a terrible decision.
But you can always find time, no matter how busy your schedule is, to give yourself fully to that thing that makes you feel alive.
*Masako Saeki is a fictional character from a manga called “Blue Period,” so I guess the real credit for this quote goes to the author, Tsubasa Yamaguchi.
Thank you for reading.
I hope you found something interesting and valuable in this one.
Stay strong, love life, and never feel sorry for yourself.
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Ah, Fromm! Love him. Freedom is not for everyone. Freedom inevitably comes with responsibility. Freedom is not something given or not given, it is in fact something that should be gained.
This is what intrigues me lately about society: the interesting parallel between Nietzsche's view on how Christianity turned moral of those days from its feet to its head, flipped it upside down, and how modern over-victimization and wokeism intended to do the same again. At least in the American society. The surge and rise of that ideology seems to be pretty strong. Curious if they eventually succeed like Christianity did.