André Comte-Sponville, a contemporary thinker, uses philosophy daily. Useful for “life service”. at this interview with Psychologies journalist Hélène Fresnel, he offers some reflections that may help you “cope” at a challenging time.
As between portion and whole or species and genus. Mammals include dogs, cats, tigers, and humans. The genus "thought" encompasses various species, including physics, mathematics, history, sociology, psychoanalysis, and philosophy. Definition of the latter? It is a rational, abstract, conceptual activity that seeks wisdom, reason, and the totality.
It is intelligent. Freely developing one's faculties is fun. Walking, running, dancing, and thinking are enjoyable when done well. Few occupations are unpleasant to develop, yet we prefer some over others.
Others love dancing. Some, like myself, enjoy to think. It is a power, and exercising it is fun, especially when done correctly.
Obsessions and ruminations are less reasonable than these. Like insomniac thoughts, these are awful. You will be released when it is light. It takes work to think as Althusser called it, “theoretical practice”—with words, concepts, and arguments.
It's not about repeating concepts. This endeavour is energising, healthy, and freeing. I use contemplation and meditation to combat rumination, which my anxious nature tends to lock me up.
Nobody is healed by philosophy! A few years back, a book title irked me: More Plato, less Prozac! Contradiction. I often quote Freud: “Psychoanalysis is not about being happy; it serves to move from neurotic suffering to banal unhappiness.” This makes psychoanalysis a huge advance.
Neurotic pain enslaves us to our unconscious, childhood, and symptoms. We can struggle through everyday misfortune. Freud is right, but what happens when neurotic pain turns into commonplace unhappiness? Answer: we do philosophy! Philosophy begins after therapy.
It was educational and disappointing. My two-year analysis involved two sessions per week. I did it because of personal issues, especially my relationship. Psychoanalysis, a narcissistic wound, disappoints because we considered ourselves more intriguing.
Dad, mom, pee, poop, the willy, abandonment anxiety, love need, inner child crying... All true, but boring and absurd. Psychoanalysis helped me understand, but I was bored after two years.
It felt like stomping. Then I wrote my Little Treatise on Great Virtues. I was more interested in philosophy than psychoanalysis, the universe than myself, and consciousness than the unconscious.
Really liked it. Still love him. My life choice was opposite his. When my brother told me about our mother's suicide, this statement started the text. I thought, “Everything was wrong with her, except the unhappiness.” Her sadness and depression were always known.
Her joy and apparent cheerfulness were fake. When she cried in my arms, it was heartbreaking. I implied to my youngster that joy was illusion and truth was despair.
Philosophy taught me the opposite: that illusions produce disappointment, which makes us miserable. When living and thinking are enjoyable, the truth lets you control your life and be happy. My first experience with philosophy was disillusionment. I wanted to get rid of these endless hopes that generate trouble.