This brings to mind the exercise of Hypomnema. We know these things are good for us/ we should do them. Yet we struggle and falter due either to a Socratic ignorance, or the irrational part of the soul (our animal brain). Perhaps rehashing a simple maxim from every which angle is a modern form of Greek Hypomnema: committing a precept to memory so it becomes habit and helps with discernment. Could you argue it's a watered down spiritual exercise?
I love writing in part because it forces me to get clear about a topic. Writing forces me to cut through BS overcomplications and get to the core of the issue. If I don't, it won't be good writing. Writing reveals the poor state of our thinking, and I know more after writing than before.
LIke so many others articles I've written, this one too is a reminder to myself of what I believe but sometimes fall short on. I'll probably be better at over complication because I've clarified my thinking here.
I have a draft article I've been working on exploring the role of memory and reformulating what we know through the process of regurgitating philosophic truth. I have several fat commonplace books full of interesting excerpts where the ideas go to reproduce new idea babies.
So yes, if you mean Hypomnema as writing as a way or reinforcing the truth in our mind, then I agree it's a fantastic pursuit. That's part of what Marcus Aurelius was doing in Meditations.
This has become a ramble in my haste, but as they say, if I had more time I would have written a shorter letter.
This makes me think of The War of Art, which would call this sort of thing "resistance". Our minds create vast complications specifically to avoid the things we most care about.
And there's so many different realms we can do it in. For years I struggled to write a short story. I'd end up with novellas every time. I tried and tried but couldn't complete a plot arc under 8,000 words.
Then I just made myself sit down, figure out what little was inessential, and write the damned thing with no extra fluff. Some of my best stories came out that way.
LOL!!
Yes, another twinky, - beer, - new purse or - pill won't help!!!
You can run but you can't hide... 👍
This brings to mind the exercise of Hypomnema. We know these things are good for us/ we should do them. Yet we struggle and falter due either to a Socratic ignorance, or the irrational part of the soul (our animal brain). Perhaps rehashing a simple maxim from every which angle is a modern form of Greek Hypomnema: committing a precept to memory so it becomes habit and helps with discernment. Could you argue it's a watered down spiritual exercise?
I love writing in part because it forces me to get clear about a topic. Writing forces me to cut through BS overcomplications and get to the core of the issue. If I don't, it won't be good writing. Writing reveals the poor state of our thinking, and I know more after writing than before.
LIke so many others articles I've written, this one too is a reminder to myself of what I believe but sometimes fall short on. I'll probably be better at over complication because I've clarified my thinking here.
I have a draft article I've been working on exploring the role of memory and reformulating what we know through the process of regurgitating philosophic truth. I have several fat commonplace books full of interesting excerpts where the ideas go to reproduce new idea babies.
So yes, if you mean Hypomnema as writing as a way or reinforcing the truth in our mind, then I agree it's a fantastic pursuit. That's part of what Marcus Aurelius was doing in Meditations.
This has become a ramble in my haste, but as they say, if I had more time I would have written a shorter letter.
Bullshit is ubiquitous and only having resources lets you avoid it. Unfortunately, to get resources you have to be compatible with bullshit.
Even the rich are immersed in Bullshit, but often bullshit of a different sort.
The usage you're using actually fits better with a previous article I wrote: https://andrewperlot.substack.com/p/how-to-rid-yourself-of-lifes-bullshit?r=1xulhu
This makes me think of The War of Art, which would call this sort of thing "resistance". Our minds create vast complications specifically to avoid the things we most care about.
And there's so many different realms we can do it in. For years I struggled to write a short story. I'd end up with novellas every time. I tried and tried but couldn't complete a plot arc under 8,000 words.
Then I just made myself sit down, figure out what little was inessential, and write the damned thing with no extra fluff. Some of my best stories came out that way.
Yeah, every creative project can be delayed and complexified to the point of absurdity.