Existential Ennui of the First Order

[crazy canuck]

Why so combative all the time, CC?

equal and opposite reaction I guess.

[Capetan Mihali]

(and on top of that, unethical under Kantian morality which I espouse).

[Camerus]

Getting married and having kids is probably the most tried and true method of combating existential ennui, and perhaps even the best one in many ways.  That being said, it is not the option for everyone, and cannot be done, as it were, at the drop of a hat (though it's certainly within the realm of possibility for most of us).

What I find depressing about *contemplating* it (as opposed to actually being in it, which may well be different) is that it is rather heavily prescriptive in terms of one's future life, and also that it is just a rather banal existence.  Also, I'm not sure creating another human life just to solve my boredom is the best reason to have kids, although that's probably why most of us are here.   

[Eddie Teach]

Also, I'm not sure creating another human life just to solve my boredom is the best reason to have kids, although that's probably why most of us are here.   

Also because our parents were afraid of death.

[CountDeMoney]

(and on top of that, unethical under Kantian morality which I espouse).

An obvious reference to Manny Kant, great thinker and proprietor of Manny's Auto Upholstery of Islip, New York.

[crazy canuck]

What I find depressing about *contemplating* it (as opposed to actually being in it, which may well be different) is that it is rather heavily prescriptive in terms of one's future life, and also that it is just a rather banal existence.  Also, I'm not sure creating another human life just to solve my boredom is the best reason to have kids, although that's probably why most of us are here.   

Well that is the root of your problem isnt it.  You are contemplating and not doing.  Viscious cycle I suppose but one you need to break at some point by doing something - anything really.  Pretend I linked back to Jacob's original post here.

[Josquius]

The trouble with settling down into the family thing to stop depression is that its so damn final.
Sure, there might be days when it sounds tempting....but its a lifelong commitment. Its gotta get old before too long. You won't go your entire life without having anything else to do.

[Barrister]

The trouble with settling down into the family thing to stop depression is that its so damn final.
Sure, there might be days when it sounds tempting....but its a lifelong commitment. Its gotta get old before too long. You won't go your entire life without having anything else to do.

If you're married with kids there is never any shortage of something else to do.

[crazy canuck]

The trouble with settling down into the family thing to stop depression is that its so damn final.
Sure, there might be days when it sounds tempting....but its a lifelong commitment. Its gotta get old before too long. You won't go your entire life without having anything else to do.

You are making the same fundamental error Garbon was making.  One does not settle down into a family for the purpose of stopping dpression but having a family is a good way of avoiding depression for the very reason that it is a lifelong commitment and more importantly attachment.

[garbon]

The trouble with settling down into the family thing to stop depression is that its so damn final.
Sure, there might be days when it sounds tempting....but its a lifelong commitment. Its gotta get old before too long. You won't go your entire life without having anything else to do.

You are making the same fundamental error Garbon was making.  One does not settle down into a family for the purpose of stopping dpression but having a family is a good way of avoiding depression for the very reason that it is a lifelong commitment and more importantly attachment.

Unless of course that isn't enough for someone. Not everyone is the same and that might not be the cure-all for one's ennui - which of course PP has now said himself.

[crazy canuck]

The trouble with settling down into the family thing to stop depression is that its so damn final.
Sure, there might be days when it sounds tempting....but its a lifelong commitment. Its gotta get old before too long. You won't go your entire life without having anything else to do.

You are making the same fundamental error Garbon was making.  One does not settle down into a family for the purpose of stopping dpression but having a family is a good way of avoiding depression for the very reason that it is a lifelong commitment and more importantly attachment.

Unless of course that isn't enough for someone. Not everyone is the same and that might not be the cure-all for one's ennui - which of course PP has now said himself.

I am not sure why you keep making the same fundamental error.  It is not a cure.  It is a lifestyle that lends itself to not having the types of problems PP is complaining about.

[Malthus]

The trouble with settling down into the family thing to stop depression is that its so damn final.
Sure, there might be days when it sounds tempting....but its a lifelong commitment. Its gotta get old before too long. You won't go your entire life without having anything else to do.

You are making the same fundamental error Garbon was making.  One does not settle down into a family for the purpose of stopping dpression but having a family is a good way of avoiding depression for the very reason that it is a lifelong commitment and more importantly attachment.

There is a possible correlation-not-causation issue: it could be that those who are *capable* of making such comittments work, are not as likely to be subject to crippling fits of ennui.

Ennui is in part caused by excessive focus on the self (hence things such as interests that 'take you out of yourself' tend to combat it). Being excessively focused on the self is not good for forming lifelong attachments to others, or putting the needs of children before one's own. Those who can do those things are thus less likely to suffer ennui. 

[crazy canuck]

There is a possible correlation-not-causation issue:

Good thing nobody was suggesting such a thing.

[Valmy]

Considering that the purpose of life is whatever you invent (and convince yourself, with the help of drugs, whether generated by your body or ingested or injected from outside) as your purpose, wouldn't it be fair to say that the lack of purpose is the default state for a human being?   

That would be very inaccurate to say.  Humans are meaning making machines.  Not seeing meaning everywhere would be a very strange thing for a human to do.

[Malthus]

There is a possible correlation-not-causation issue:

Good thing nobody was suggesting such a thing.

Not saying anyone was.