“Inactivity as such is spiritual fasting, and it therefore has a healing effect.” -Byung-Chul Han.
Beautiful piece Helen! Recently I started working a side job as a Christmas casual and the value of philosophy became more apparent to me than ever when I stepped out of my normal academic life. Sometimes only in the absence of something can we truly appreciate it’s effects. At work there is virtually no time to contemplate or think, so I find myself craving those moments during the weekend and my days off to write, to think and to read. I would even say philosophy without degrees of affliction runs the risk of spinning into pure abstraction. Sometimes we can only wake up to it’s essential value after enduring hardship, or after reading stories about how the spirit of philosophy prevails against all odds.
Yes! I am inclined to agree it does help to do some living (and that inevitably means at least vulnerability to suffering, and often actual suffering) to be a good philosopher. A lot of academics have struggled a lot (it's not easy to get an academic job), but it's still common for them to be unmoored, to some extent, from the practical lives of many people. I don't mean to perpetuate the ivory tower stereotype. Obviously we're not really removed from life--we go shopping, pay bills, have friends, etc etc. But for instance manual labor is an important part of human experience we don't reflect on nearly enough, probably because many of us don't do it, and don't know people who do.
Fascinating piece, Helen. I am so moved by this glimpse into this man's life. I too am compelled to spend nearly every moment on philosophy, but to do so after 12 hours of factory work, 6 days a week on subsistence wages, and while living with a partner who cannot relate? On the other hand, perhaps these harsh circumstances are all the more incentive for searching for meaning in one's life. As the grad student observed, this man is far more productive than those with the freedom to philosophize on their own schedule.
I also enjoyed hearing about your childhood neighbors, their open-mindedness and their willingness to live on their own terms. These are all important reminders to refrain from judgment, to realize that everyone contains far more than we might guess.
I wonder if there is something I could do, to wish that I could, say, pledge my support to read his writings about his life and thoughts? Even with my metaphysical belief that there are no victims (as much as it can appear so from our limited point of view), it's hard not to wish for more opportunity and appreciation for this man. As his story and your piece illustrate so powerful, philosophy is for everyone.
Many people felt similarly moved when the story broke (according to my Chinese student who is really my main source for all of this, since I cannot read Chinese [yet at a level good enough to understand]). Indeed, it was because the man requested help to self-publish the book on Chinese social media that his story became so well known. Last thing I heard about is that some university/universities (?) were willing to offer him a place where (presumably with loans, or perhaps through crowdfunding?) he would be able to enroll for a philosophy degree.
I really am very fortunate to have worked for these people for 2 years (after that, I went to college and their son was old enough to make his own way by bike). They really were so much more than meets the eye--neither of the parents had a high school diploma but they had such a sober and positive attitude to life, to raising their kid, etc. For instance, the mother of the woman won the lottery (!) and all the adult kids/her siblings (five people I think) started to fight for a piece of the pie, and began to argue with their parents they were entitled to some portion of it. She said "Wow my mom is so miserable ever since she won the lottery because she only now realizes what a pack of vultures her kids are, I don't want any of it."
“Inactivity as such is spiritual fasting, and it therefore has a healing effect.” -Byung-Chul Han.
Beautiful piece Helen! Recently I started working a side job as a Christmas casual and the value of philosophy became more apparent to me than ever when I stepped out of my normal academic life. Sometimes only in the absence of something can we truly appreciate it’s effects. At work there is virtually no time to contemplate or think, so I find myself craving those moments during the weekend and my days off to write, to think and to read. I would even say philosophy without degrees of affliction runs the risk of spinning into pure abstraction. Sometimes we can only wake up to it’s essential value after enduring hardship, or after reading stories about how the spirit of philosophy prevails against all odds.
Thanks for the piece!
Yes! I am inclined to agree it does help to do some living (and that inevitably means at least vulnerability to suffering, and often actual suffering) to be a good philosopher. A lot of academics have struggled a lot (it's not easy to get an academic job), but it's still common for them to be unmoored, to some extent, from the practical lives of many people. I don't mean to perpetuate the ivory tower stereotype. Obviously we're not really removed from life--we go shopping, pay bills, have friends, etc etc. But for instance manual labor is an important part of human experience we don't reflect on nearly enough, probably because many of us don't do it, and don't know people who do.
Fascinating piece, Helen. I am so moved by this glimpse into this man's life. I too am compelled to spend nearly every moment on philosophy, but to do so after 12 hours of factory work, 6 days a week on subsistence wages, and while living with a partner who cannot relate? On the other hand, perhaps these harsh circumstances are all the more incentive for searching for meaning in one's life. As the grad student observed, this man is far more productive than those with the freedom to philosophize on their own schedule.
I also enjoyed hearing about your childhood neighbors, their open-mindedness and their willingness to live on their own terms. These are all important reminders to refrain from judgment, to realize that everyone contains far more than we might guess.
I wonder if there is something I could do, to wish that I could, say, pledge my support to read his writings about his life and thoughts? Even with my metaphysical belief that there are no victims (as much as it can appear so from our limited point of view), it's hard not to wish for more opportunity and appreciation for this man. As his story and your piece illustrate so powerful, philosophy is for everyone.
Many people felt similarly moved when the story broke (according to my Chinese student who is really my main source for all of this, since I cannot read Chinese [yet at a level good enough to understand]). Indeed, it was because the man requested help to self-publish the book on Chinese social media that his story became so well known. Last thing I heard about is that some university/universities (?) were willing to offer him a place where (presumably with loans, or perhaps through crowdfunding?) he would be able to enroll for a philosophy degree.
I really am very fortunate to have worked for these people for 2 years (after that, I went to college and their son was old enough to make his own way by bike). They really were so much more than meets the eye--neither of the parents had a high school diploma but they had such a sober and positive attitude to life, to raising their kid, etc. For instance, the mother of the woman won the lottery (!) and all the adult kids/her siblings (five people I think) started to fight for a piece of the pie, and began to argue with their parents they were entitled to some portion of it. She said "Wow my mom is so miserable ever since she won the lottery because she only now realizes what a pack of vultures her kids are, I don't want any of it."