Art of Life – Page 3 – Maverick Philosopher

Slow Down and Accomplish Non-Accomplishment

Successfully resisting the hyperkineticism of one's society, saying No to it by flânerie, studiousness, otium liberale, Thoreauvian stewardship of the moment, traipsing over mountain trails at sunrise and whatnot — this too is a sort of accomplishment. You have to work at it a bit. Part of the work is divesting oneself of the expectations of others and resisting their and the larger society's suggestions. Eradicating one's suggestibility is actually a life-long task, and none too easy.

The world's a vast project of often useless neg-otiation. It is the enemy of otium, leisure, that basis of culture. (Josef Pieper) There is need of those who will 'otiate' it, enjoying "leisure with a good conscience" to cop a phrase from Nietzsche, that untimely saunterer.

Slow down! You'll get to your grave soon enough. Why rush? Is the universe in a rush to get somewhere? It already is everywhere. Are you any less cosmic, you microcosm?

The Troubled

The troubled are often trouble. Do you need more? Avoid the troubled and avoid trouble. But if you can help them while retaining your equanimity, then do so.

Superficial Acquaintances

We need them, but we need to keep them superficial. Two reasons. First, if you try to go deep with the superficial, you will only frustrate yourself. Second, superficial relations hide faults and allow for idealization. Ignorance aids admiration.

The Optimist and the Art of Life

The optimist is no cosmologist seeking the final truth about the world but a cosmetologist who puts a pretty face on it. He applies cosmetics to the cosmos. He knows the art of life and how to make the most of life, and does not shy away from such life-enhancing illusions as are conducive to his making the most of it. The philosopher, however, seeks the truth of life. Come hell or high water, or both, or neither.

There is the art of life and the truth of life, and there is a tension between them, a tension to be investigated by those of us who seek the truth of life. The investigation of this tension cannot be recommended to the artful livers. They would do well to ignore, and leave unexamined, the Socratic "The unexamined life is not worth living."