Peace, Joy, Etc., Pt. Three: Right With the Universe
I can no longer think that I’m right with the universe in any moral sense. My actions can never conform to some ultimate moral law since there is no such thing. And I can therefore never rationally justify any of the thoughts or feelings of fulfillment or righteousness that might follow from such conforming. And I refuse to try to deceive myself into such thoughts or feelings.
But that stubborn rationality and honesty may itself create some consolation. I am right with the universe in this sense: I see it. I face it. I accept it. To the best of my ability, I am conforming my mind to the universe. I am making a faithful effort in that direction.
- – - – - – - – - -
Another consolation I can draw is the approximation to comfort or peace that comes from being at rock bottom. The world can do nothing to disappoint or disillusion me. It can hurt me in countless ways, of course—but I don’t think it can surprise me. Nor do I think that my views can become any more bleak. So in this sense I am secure, and at rest, and safe.
“Another consolation I can draw is the approximation to comfort or peace that comes from being at rock bottom. The world can do nothing to disappoint or disillusion me. It can hurt me in countless ways, of course—but I don’t think it can surprise me. Nor do I think that my views can become any more bleak. So in this sense I am secure, and at rest, and safe.”
Sounds like a pretty good place to be, temporarily: a beginning or an end?
Sounds like Eminem.
Sounds like new Mountain Goats.
“it is about survival but that’s kind of an oversimplification, it’s also about building a vehicle from the defeated pieces of the thing you survived and piloting that vehicle through the cosmos, it’s kind of complicated but people who know what I’m talking about will kind of intuitively get the idea and the rest of you will I hope be able to get a sense of it through the song.” – JD
I’m going to write a bit about the latest album, which I love, and which you really ought to lay your hands on if that quote grabs you at all. (and if you’re still a fan of old tMG)
Abonilox, I’m pretty confident that it is an end. There are plenty of efforts to take something like this as a beginning, but I haven’t yet encountered one that appears sound. The bottom seems to be not only low, but also devoid of viable building materials.
I’m continuing to adjust and reflect and such, and I suppose you could describe that along lines of a beginning, if you like. But I don’t expect to build or to find any account of ultimate meaning or morality, or a true religion, or anything like that. I’m trying to face what I see, but not expecting to spot something new.
Philboyd, I’m most certainly still a fan of old Mountain Goats music, and that quote does interest me. I just haven’t been able to get into their newer (calmer, saner) sound. Maybe I’ll have to put a little more effort in that direction.
Why not worship the sun, akin to what George Carlin has mentioned? Reason through that one, “philawsopher” :)
Come on, man. You can’t joke like that – you know I just might reason through it.