Sickness unto death?
Soren Kierkegaard Published Sickness unto Death in 1849. For him the sickness unto death was despair. He thought that a person is in despair if he/she does not align himself/herself with God or God’s plan for the self. He posited that to be a true self one must be grounded in love which for him meant be grounded in the one who created it - the god of his understanding. For Kierkegaard one can be unconscious of having a self, refuse to accept the self or refuse to accept one’s dependence on love which he equates with God.
Philosophers and theologians have always struggled with the concept of self. Famously Rene Descartes suggested that “I think therefor I am.” Others have suggested that “I am, therefore, I think.” Still others would suggest that the self is merely this temporary life form; one is born, lives and dies with no other purpose. The search for a meaning or purpose to this life journey has occupied the thoughts of humans dating at least back to the discovery of communication via language in all its forms. Various Gods have been posited who created and/or judged the actions of humans and/or who themselves demonstrated the creativity as well as the foolishness of humans. Famously the Greek gods may have been the most human like in their playfulness as well as their range of ambitions and emotions.
Palaces and pyramids often served the purpose of identifying with the gods and or imbuing oneself with the luxuries of the gods. Modern day commercialism has, perhaps, allowed the possibility of imitation of the gods to a larger group of individuals. In fact, it might seem as if the goal is to create the self as defined by the scope, size, and glitter of what one can accumulate. Mansions, clothes (some might say the lack of clothes), degrees, titles, choice of food, and a host of other creations have become, for many, synonymous with the self. In times of economic crisis many commit suicide because in their mind they have ceased to exist without the material wealth to create a self.
Many studies reveal that the ‘sickness unto death’ for many today is loneliness or isolation which is not far from the thinking of Soren Kierkegaard. Whether one thinks of God as a supreme being, pure love, and/or as the seen or unseen web which connects all that is, it is impossible to envision a sense of self which is separate from the rest of the universe(s).
The pandemic has, in many respects, destroyed a sense of connection. Even those who live in a nuclear or extended family situation during the pandemic often discover that the sense of self could not be contained in that relatively small community. One may the blame one’s spouse or other family members for not being the breath which brings forth and sustains life. In this case it was not being in relationship for which they were looking but birthing itself.
Often, it seems, humans decide, perhaps on the basis of past experience, it is not safe to connect or allow the connection with other people to be manifest. During the pandemic it has been even more obvious, things/possessions did not fulfill their mission of birthing them. Thus, despair ensued. Perhaps some, for a time, turned to alcohol or other drugs only to find the temporary escape, like their partner or other family members, failed them.
With or without a concept of a supreme being or a god, it is obvious that we are social beings who exist only in connection with other people and the rest of the universe. Just as our brain cannot function with one neuron, we cannot avoid the “sickness until death” of isolation. We may think of this wholeness or connection as the god of our understanding. We may just think of it as this wholeness of energy which never ceases to exist. It is true that energy cannot be created or destroyed. Perhaps the self does cease to exist if one erects barriers to connection. Perhaps war and other forms of violence destroys both the one who is violent and the one who is a victim of the violence. Perhaps we can avoid sickness until death by embracing the life-giving connection with each other and Mother Nature.
Written August 26, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
Soren Kierkegaard Published Sickness unto Death in 1849. For him the sickness unto death was despair. He thought that a person is in despair if he/she does not align himself/herself with God or God’s plan for the self. He posited that to be a true self one must be grounded in love which for him meant be grounded in the one who created it - the god of his understanding. For Kierkegaard one can be unconscious of having a self, refuse to accept the self or refuse to accept one’s dependence on love which he equates with God.
Philosophers and theologians have always struggled with the concept of self. Famously Rene Descartes suggested that “I think therefor I am.” Others have suggested that “I am, therefore, I think.” Still others would suggest that the self is merely this temporary life form; one is born, lives and dies with no other purpose. The search for a meaning or purpose to this life journey has occupied the thoughts of humans dating at least back to the discovery of communication via language in all its forms. Various Gods have been posited who created and/or judged the actions of humans and/or who themselves demonstrated the creativity as well as the foolishness of humans. Famously the Greek gods may have been the most human like in their playfulness as well as their range of ambitions and emotions.
Palaces and pyramids often served the purpose of identifying with the gods and or imbuing oneself with the luxuries of the gods. Modern day commercialism has, perhaps, allowed the possibility of imitation of the gods to a larger group of individuals. In fact, it might seem as if the goal is to create the self as defined by the scope, size, and glitter of what one can accumulate. Mansions, clothes (some might say the lack of clothes), degrees, titles, choice of food, and a host of other creations have become, for many, synonymous with the self. In times of economic crisis many commit suicide because in their mind they have ceased to exist without the material wealth to create a self.
Many studies reveal that the ‘sickness unto death’ for many today is loneliness or isolation which is not far from the thinking of Soren Kierkegaard. Whether one thinks of God as a supreme being, pure love, and/or as the seen or unseen web which connects all that is, it is impossible to envision a sense of self which is separate from the rest of the universe(s).
The pandemic has, in many respects, destroyed a sense of connection. Even those who live in a nuclear or extended family situation during the pandemic often discover that the sense of self could not be contained in that relatively small community. One may the blame one’s spouse or other family members for not being the breath which brings forth and sustains life. In this case it was not being in relationship for which they were looking but birthing itself.
Often, it seems, humans decide, perhaps on the basis of past experience, it is not safe to connect or allow the connection with other people to be manifest. During the pandemic it has been even more obvious, things/possessions did not fulfill their mission of birthing them. Thus, despair ensued. Perhaps some, for a time, turned to alcohol or other drugs only to find the temporary escape, like their partner or other family members, failed them.
With or without a concept of a supreme being or a god, it is obvious that we are social beings who exist only in connection with other people and the rest of the universe. Just as our brain cannot function with one neuron, we cannot avoid the “sickness until death” of isolation. We may think of this wholeness or connection as the god of our understanding. We may just think of it as this wholeness of energy which never ceases to exist. It is true that energy cannot be created or destroyed. Perhaps the self does cease to exist if one erects barriers to connection. Perhaps war and other forms of violence destroys both the one who is violent and the one who is a victim of the violence. Perhaps we can avoid sickness until death by embracing the life-giving connection with each other and Mother Nature.
Written August 26, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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