starrwriter
11-20-2005, 03:28 PM
I think so-called reality is overrated. The human mind must escape reality on a regular basis or it goes haywire. This is done by (1)sleep and dreaming (2)hallucinations from REM sleep deprivation (3)altered mental states from alcohol/drugs and other forms of intoxication.
What does this say about day-to-day reality? That it's too stressful or terrible to bear for extended periods of time without temporary escape? That was Freud's conclusion in his book "Civilization and Its Discontents." If true, it gives human existence a very questionable quality.
In terms of human evolution the adaptive benefits of always remaining in contact with reality seem obvious -- to avoid dangers, accomplish survival tasks, etc. Then why do we sleep and dream? Some animals don't sleep. What is the adaptive value of losing awareness of reality on a regular basis? If this behavior was maladaptive, it would have been selected out of the human gene pool long ago.
Are we in contact with a separate but equally genuine reality when we dream or indulge in intoxication? If so, does this other reality influence our waking reality? Perhaps this explains phenomena like ESP, ghosts, aliens, etc.
Imagination is different than dreaming in that we remain conscious, but there are similarities. Symbolism, archtypes, wish fulfillment and escapism can be found in both. Imagination is a sort of waking dream where the mind is freed from the restraints of ordinary reality. So is intoxication and the things that cause intoxication: alcohol, drugs, sex, even music and dance under the right circumstances.
I have noticed something about people who worship ordinary reality. They are both weird and boring. By that I mean they tend to be anal rententive and obsessive-compulsive, they claim they never dream when they sleep, they lack a lively imagination, they discipline themselves harshly as if they are doing penance for a crime, they avoid intoxicants for fear of "losing control," they are dedicated to accumulating money and social status and I would bet they are lousy lovers.
In short, reality is a crutch for the emotionally lame.
Thoughts? Irate condemnations? Hit me with your best shot. If it hurts too much, I'll retreat into one of my hedonistic havens -- dreams, wild sex, the forgetfulness of intoxication.
What does this say about day-to-day reality? That it's too stressful or terrible to bear for extended periods of time without temporary escape? That was Freud's conclusion in his book "Civilization and Its Discontents." If true, it gives human existence a very questionable quality.
In terms of human evolution the adaptive benefits of always remaining in contact with reality seem obvious -- to avoid dangers, accomplish survival tasks, etc. Then why do we sleep and dream? Some animals don't sleep. What is the adaptive value of losing awareness of reality on a regular basis? If this behavior was maladaptive, it would have been selected out of the human gene pool long ago.
Are we in contact with a separate but equally genuine reality when we dream or indulge in intoxication? If so, does this other reality influence our waking reality? Perhaps this explains phenomena like ESP, ghosts, aliens, etc.
Imagination is different than dreaming in that we remain conscious, but there are similarities. Symbolism, archtypes, wish fulfillment and escapism can be found in both. Imagination is a sort of waking dream where the mind is freed from the restraints of ordinary reality. So is intoxication and the things that cause intoxication: alcohol, drugs, sex, even music and dance under the right circumstances.
I have noticed something about people who worship ordinary reality. They are both weird and boring. By that I mean they tend to be anal rententive and obsessive-compulsive, they claim they never dream when they sleep, they lack a lively imagination, they discipline themselves harshly as if they are doing penance for a crime, they avoid intoxicants for fear of "losing control," they are dedicated to accumulating money and social status and I would bet they are lousy lovers.
In short, reality is a crutch for the emotionally lame.
Thoughts? Irate condemnations? Hit me with your best shot. If it hurts too much, I'll retreat into one of my hedonistic havens -- dreams, wild sex, the forgetfulness of intoxication.