Re: wisdom again
jason varsoke (jjv@caesun.msd.ray.com)
Tue, 25 May 1999 10:44:57 -0400 (EDT)
On Tue, 25 May 1999, Alex Rumford wrote:
> what's the point in knowledge/ wisdom/ genius etc. if youre not happy
> or, as a result of them, cant face up to the reality of life outside
> book and theory? isnt there a little suggestion that ignorance is
> bliss in the stories since few of those blessed with brains are
> socially able, or their wisdom leads them to disillusionment? (a kind
> of perverted ideal of the end product of wisdom) sure, franny
> realises through her brother that we have to accept imperfections,
> and do goodwill for the sake of goodwill etc. but
> 1. seymour didnt seem to ever reconcile wisdom and happiness (and he
> was allegedly the smartest)
> 2. zooey (who realised that everyone is the fat lady) is still a bit
> of a patronising arse despite what he says. he says he cant hold
> conversations etc with people, and bessie accuses him of cruelty to
> those who aspire to knowledge.
> so are these people freaks or depressives because of their wisdom,
> as opposed to the overwhelmingly happy people we might expect to see
> victims, or is it the case that the fact of their wisdom has made
> them celebrities and outsiders which, in turn, makes them freaks? as
> a result of their intelligence they have been singled out (see
> carpenters when seymour is vehemently defended by his brother) and
> thus are societal misfits of a kind. pah! im happy being thick and
> sitting in the pub rather than analysing everything and being
> regarded as a freaky prodigy.
Hmmm, I kind of expected this sort of thing out of an American mouth.
;)
Maybe it was with JS Mills, or Bentham, who started this
obsession with Happiness, but I don't really see why happiness is the goal
of life. I don't think that's what Salinger is looking for either.
Enlighenment is not happiness. Enlightenment is not bliss.
-j