What are the downsides to simply blanking out any and all news about issues that don't have any direct - or even much in the way of indirect - impact on one's life?
Would ~ say ~ plunging into works of fiction, and making it a major preoccupation on the day-in-day-out level, only perhaps serve to bring one face to face with too many of the "truths" about "reality" contained therein (assuming the fiction was of sufficient quality and dealt in essential realities of the human condition)?
Originally posted by FMF Would ~ say ~ plunging into works of fiction, and making it a major preoccupation on the day-in-day-out level, only perhaps serve to bring one face to face with too many of the "truths" about "reality" contained therein (assuming the fiction was of sufficient quality and dealt in essential realities of the human condition)?
Originally posted by JS357 So are you talking about religion?
No. Not really. I had novels in mind. I am not much a consumer of them myself, preferring non-fiction. I've often wondered what it would be like to take a year out and read good novels full time. Three a week? Sixteen a month? Two hundred in the year? What effect would it have on one's relationship with "reality"?
Originally posted by FMF What effect would it have on one's relationship with "reality"?
For example, as you crawled out of your reading cubby hole and went shopping at the supermarket, would all the observations about the way people are ~ that the novels had filled your head with ~ have enhanced your understanding or appreciation of the "reality" or possible realities of the people you encounter, and even affect your interactions with them or the impressions of those interactions that you take away with you, etc.?
Rereading the Cartesian Meditations always helps me to suspend
reality. In hindsight, the malicious demon exercise may be amusing
but its elegance is undeniable.
Originally posted by Seitse Rereading the Cartesian Meditations always helps me to suspend
reality. In hindsight, the malicious demon exercise may be amusing
but its elegance is undeniable.
"The Truman Show": a modern interpretation of Descartes's 'evil demon' scenario.
We all live in different realities.
I don't believe anyone can hop into someone else's. You can look and try to understand another's but you can't jump in. You can share and /or change yours IMO, but never step out. Not really.
Originally posted by FMF For example, as you crawled out of your reading cubby hole and went shopping at the supermarket, would all the observations about the way people are ~ that the novels had filled your head with ~ have enhanced your understanding or appreciation of the "reality" or possible realities of the people you encounter, and even affect your interactions with them or the impressions of those interactions that you take away with you, etc.?
You really do think people are that weak, don't you?