"All our energy is spent for the purpose of getting what we want, and most people never question the premise of this activity - that they know what their true wants are. They do not stop to think whether the aims they are pursuing are something they themselves want.
In school they want to have good marks, as adults they want to be more and more successful, to make more money, to have more prestige, to buy a better car, to go to places, and so on.
However, if I do get this new job, if I get this better car, if I can take this trip - what then? What is the sense of it all? Is it really I who wants this? Am I not running after some goal which is supposed to make me happy and which eludes me as soon as I have reached it?
Therefore, man lives under the illusion that he knows what he wants, while he actually wants what he is supposed to want."
- Eric Fromm, Fear of Freedom (1955)
In school they want to have good marks, as adults they want to be more and more successful, to make more money, to have more prestige, to buy a better car, to go to places, and so on.
However, if I do get this new job, if I get this better car, if I can take this trip - what then? What is the sense of it all? Is it really I who wants this? Am I not running after some goal which is supposed to make me happy and which eludes me as soon as I have reached it?
Therefore, man lives under the illusion that he knows what he wants, while he actually wants what he is supposed to want."
- Eric Fromm, Fear of Freedom (1955)
This was discussed in one of the lectures on discourse analysis during the semester. It struck a chord with me probably because I'm one of those people that are not really sure what they want. I mean, I know what I'm supposed to want, but what do I really want? If you think about it, there's really quite a difference between the two. Sometimes it feels like I've been disconnected with myself. I feel like an outsider looking in on my life and I don't really identify anymore. It's scary really.
I think I'm going to miss the clear, crisp air of winter. Oh, the irony.
I think I'm going to miss the clear, crisp air of winter. Oh, the irony.
Currently listening to - High Times by Landon Pigg and the Turbo Fruits
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