Absolute Freedom; I've never actually heard of that term before. But after reading Banach's article, I've realized that that wasn't the first time I've came across this idea before. Many claim themselves to be individuals but the truth of the matter is, no one can actually achieve absolute individuality. Everyone has been influenced by an outside source in some way, whether it be through opinions or emotions.
Banach tries to explain that none of us are able to experience what another person is feeling. Everyone has their own variation of what they feel sad is or what happiness is. And even when people say they "understand" they really don't, at least not in the deeper sense. What they're actually doing is trying to recognize your feelings through the senses of their own. The way their feelings are felt, the way they deal with them emotionally differentiates them from everyone else. No two people are the same in their interpretations of the world around them. Our senses and the way we interpret the things we hear, see, and feel is what separates us from the rest and ultimately what makes us so-called individuals.
That's why Banach compares us to the state of being imprisoned in a "dark room with no windows" and the only access we have to the real world is through a television screen on one side of the wall. We don't have any alternate options to understand the world around us. The only way we can perceive situations is through our senses. It's crazy to know that our senses don't really let us perceive our surroundings objectively and that there's is no way of figuring out if our senses are deceiving us or not. Sometimes we do recognize these deceits but for the most part we probably go around not noticing most of the things our senses mislead us into believing. I feel so vulnerable, yet so curious about what's really going on "out there" that our senses are not providing us with information about. It's frustrating to know that I can't ever see or better yet, understand the world for what it truly is because everything we have come to understand is through subjective observations. Objectivity through our senses is impossible.
Realizing the fact that we really are alone in our feelings and knowing that no one else can achieve a replica of our pain is such a distressing thought. Understanding that I can never really have that type of connection with someone where they can have the exact same experience as I did makes me redefine the meaning of connection. How can we say we understand something when we really don't? How can any type of relationship develop if there isn't a connection formed? And doesn't this connection have to be made through something even deeper than a general form of understanding?
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I feel that your correct in saying that you can not "understand the world for what it truly is because everything we have come to understand is through subjective observations." One thing that I have heard is something about mentally ill people and it connects to what you are saying. There are some who say that they are the ones who are better able to understand and see the world for what it truly is. They are not bound by our subjective views but instead their illness can be seen as a way to help them be more of an absolute individual.
ReplyDeleteI feel kinda sad that we are the only ones who can feel what we feel. It makes the world seem so lonely and creates this space between each of us. Because if we are the only ones who can feel what we are feeling then sympathy from other people or joint reaction/ emotions count for nothing if we feel different things. How do you feel about what he said?
enjoyed your post, hope i get to read more
Woah, after reading this blog, I feel envious of your class now. It seems like the things that you guys are learning, are much more insightful than what we're doing now. I've come across similar ideas, like you said. But I really like the whole analogy of "dark room with no windows." Guess this is something I would have to look into- Google time.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I bet you this guy's ideas and understandings are, as you said, "influenced by an outside source in some way." And I bet you that they derived partially from Plato's allegory of the cave.
Alright, google time.