"brick wall" Ansco shur shot, 120 Kodakchrome EEG, iso 100 (crossed-processed)
"The world was a good place to buy in. It seemed like a fine philosophy. In five years, I thought, it will seem just as silly as all the other fine philosophies I've had."
Jack Barnes, from THE SUN ALSO RISES by Ernest Hemingway
I just finished The Sun Also Rises about an hour ago. This quote in particular got me.
We all have a "philosophy" we live by. Some ideology, philosophy or religion governs the way we act and live in this world. For some it is selfishness, others it's selflessness. Some believe in God, others do not. Some are moved by patriotism, others are ashamed of their country.
One thing is certain-our beliefs evolve. They change; they grow as we do. Even one with an ardent faith see events in new light throughout their life, and they certainly can say that what they thought to be true in their younger years was a bit "silly." Although the root of their faith or ideal is the same, their understanding and reaction to that faith changes. I am confident that any reader of this post can agree with me. When I reflect, i can see these philosophies that have governed my days and laugh a little, and cringe...
What governs me now? What belief do i use as a guide and hold so dear in the present will fade away in the future?
It scares me. I feel doomed never to really know what to buy into...
2 comments:
A few thoughts regarding your question: "What governs me now? What belief do i use as a guide and hold so dear in the present will fade away in the future?"
Early philosophers said that you cannot do other than what you desire, that is, your desires control what you do.
Descarte took it a step further and said, that you can only do that which you love. Everything you do goes back to what you love. And of self is supreme. You don't run red lights because you love yourself, you don't want to get hurt, you don't want to get in trouble, etc.
I like Blaise Pascal the best though, your motivation to do everything is that which brings the most joy and pleasure.
Part of the problem is that all philosophers agreed that we cannot control what we desire or love. Martin Luther called it the bondage of the will. They all rightly understand anthropology, in theological terms, depravity. Humans are intrisically selfish, there is a propensity to self-satisfy. Our wills are not something that we can change.
But the beauty of the gospel is that our affections change. Our affections no longer are that of a selfish man-lover, but rather our affections become God's affections. We love the things God loves and we love the way God loves. God becomes our all consuming passion and joy, and that is what becomes our motivation for action. We do that which brings us the most pleasure and joy.
As John Piper says, "Quest joy, found Christ!"
Will it fade? Can affections fade? I suppose an affection is only as strong as the object of said affection. If the object of affection is something that is infinite and boundless and all joyous, I suppose as finite beings we could never reach that point.
I pity those who have nothing to mark their thought evolution with. Those who allow no time for reflection. Those who fight their growth, attempting to move backwards in thought for the sake of simplification. Those who cannot hold two ideas in tension.
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