Weltschmerz

[Zeno]

All movements go too far, and this is certainly true of the movement toward subjectivity, which began with Luther and Descartes as an assertion of the individual and has culminated by an inherent logic in his complete subjection. The subjectivity of truth is a hasty doctrine not validly deducible from the premises which have been thought to imply it; and the habits of centuries have made many things seem dependent upon theological belief which in fact are not so. Men lived with one kind of illusion, and when they lost it they fell into another. But it is not by old error that new error can be combated. Detachment and objectivity, both in thought and in feeling, have been historically but not logically associated with certain beliefs; to preserve them without these beliefs is both possible and important. A certain degree of isolation both in time and space is essential to generate the independence required for the most important work; there must be something which is felt to be of more importance than the admiration of the contemporary crowd. We are suffering not from the decay of theological beliefs but from the loss of solitude.

-From the essay, ‘On Being Modern-Minded’, by Bertrand Russell (In Unpopular Essays, 1950)

[vulturesrow]

'This has given rise to different forms of agnosticism and relativism which have led philosophical research to lose its way in the shifting sands of widespread scepticism. Recent times have seen the rise to prominence of various doctrines which tend to devalue even the truths which had been judged certain. A legitimate plurality of positions has yielded to an undifferentiated pluralism, based upon the assumption that all positions are equally valid, which is one of today's most widespread symptoms of the lack of confidence in truth.' -Pope John Paul II, on modern philosophy, from Fides et Ratio (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_15101998_fides-et-ratio_en.html) (emphasis mine)


From the same:
'Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.'

[Zygote]

[ QUOTE ]
All movements go too far, and this is certainly true of the movement toward subjectivity, which began with Luther and Descartes as an assertion of the individual and has culminated by an inherent logic in his complete subjection. The subjectivity of truth is a hasty doctrine not validly deducible from the premises which have been thought to imply it; and the habits of centuries have made many things seem dependent upon theological belief which in fact are not so. Men lived with one kind of illusion, and when they lost it they fell into another. But it is not by old error that new error can be combated. Detachment and objectivity, both in thought and in feeling, have been historically but not logically associated with certain beliefs; to preserve them without these beliefs is both possible and important. A certain degree of isolation both in time and space is essential to generate the independence required for the most important work; there must be something which is felt to be of more importance than the admiration of the contemporary crowd. We are suffering not from the decay of theological beliefs but from the loss of solitude.

-From the essay, ‘On Being Modern-Minded’, by Bertrand Russell (In Unpopular Essays, 1950)

[/ QUOTE ]

great post Zeno. Its great to see many of my own thoughts well-articulated. I've only read one of Russel's essays before, but he definitely is an enjoyable read.

[MMMMMM]

"Main Entry: welt·schmerz
Pronunciation: 'velt-"shmerts
Function: noun
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: German, from Welt world + Schmerz pain
1 : mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state
2 : a mood of sentimental sadness"

http://www.m-w.com/
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It is quite clear there are a number of posters on this forum unduly suffering from weltschmerz (and especially, some of the more modern-day "liberal" posters, to whom everything seems to be a tragedy and a woe).

To such misguided souls, I would ask: what profits you, ignoble ones, to falsely cast such dismal pall upon reality? what greatness cannot be made but small by misplaced metaphor? what beauty not made to fade, what song made not a dirge?

Take therefore your ill-cut prisms: smash them upon the rocks, and look anew upon the world! See the sparkles you have ever missed for such ill focus; breathe once again the clear air which you knew from your infancy.

Then, upon returning to this world of cares and tears, recall the clarity you once knew, and touched again so briefly. Forget the labyrinthine philosophies, the politics and plots of humankind, which grow ever higher into airy castles of triumphant steaming nonsense. Leave your weltschmerz in the ditch at last, and look again upon the world with clear unfettered eye.

And then, tell everybody to fuc k off.