Bacchus
Written on July 15, 2007
Last week I was in Borders and picked up a copy of Bertrand Russell’s The History of Western Philosophy. For those unfamiliar with the book, it is possibly the most widely read introduction to western philosophy in print. I started reading the book yesterday and came across the below quote in an early section talking about the Dionysus/Bacchus cult in ancient Greece.
“It is evident that this process can be carried too far, as it is, for instance, by the miser. But without going to such extremes, prudence may easily involve the loss of some of the best things in life. The worshipper of Bacchus reacts against prudence. In intoxication, physical or spiritual, he recovers an intensity of feeling which prudence had destroyed; he finds the world full of delight and beauty, and his imagination is suddenly liberated from the prison of every-day preoccupations. The Bacchis ritual produced what was called “enthusiasm,” which means, etymologically, having the god enter into the worshipper, who believed that he became one with the god. Much of what is greatest in human achievement involves some element of intoxication,* some sweeping away of prudence by passion. Without the Bacchis element, life would be uninteresting; with it, it is dangerous. Prudence versus passion is a conflict that runs through history. It is not a conflict in which we ought to side wholly with either party.”
* “I mean mental intoxication, not intoxication by alcohol”
I’ve been coming across quotes like this for a couple of months now and I always end up contemplating how they fit into the passion that is the heart of being a geek (no matter what kind of geek you are).
I probably need to just bite the bullet and start researching the Dionysus cult.
Hey Paul, you still reading this blog? Put that philosophy degree to use and give some leads on books, will ya?
So, that’s it. No major revelations or reviews or rants. Just sharing a quote that I’ve been chewing on.
Filed in: Thoughts.
In intoxication, physical or spiritual, he recovers an intensity of feeling which prudence had destroyed; he finds the world full of delight and beauty, and his imagination is suddenly liberated from the prison of every-day preoccupations.
Asperger’s?
Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
I’ve got issues with the whole Asperger’s thing. Or actually the whole process of diagnosing illnesses in geeks which cause them to be geeks.
The implication is that there is something wrong with us. Even if you just accept the diagnosis and don’t do anything about it, there is still that implication that there is something wrong with you.
This whole thing takes on an even more sinister feel when you realize that the “correct” mindset is a creation of the industrial age. For industrialization to work individuals must be willing to put aside their own passions to become parts of the industrial complex. Right or wrong, it made sense to criticize individuals for not being “normal” in an industrial society because to not be normal was to act in opposition to the larger community. In a purely industrial society, being a geek becomes a revolutionary act in and of itself.
The thing is that we are no longer in an industrial society. And, in my opinion, there is evidence to show that our ability to follow our passions, and balance them with other needs, is becoming crucial to survival with in this new society.
So, not only is the diagnosis of geekyness as various ailments oppressive in a sense, it is also counter productive. It is keeping us from evolving into a new mindset which will allow us to function in this new society, by implying that there is something wrong with that mindset.
I guess you could look at it as the social equivalent of the RIAA and MPAA lobbying congress to pass laws so that they are not forced to adapt to the new post-internet business environment.
I realize this isn’t what you were getting at in your comment, but as I said, the whole Asperger’s thing is a sore spot with me.
Yes, I do actually. But I missed this post long, long ago.
I actually don’t know what the recommend offhand. What have you read?
Little to nothing. I’ve got History of Western Philosophy, a collection of Plato’s Dialogs, and a Greek play dealing with the cult, who’s name I can’t recall right now.
I got sidetracked on a urban/modern fantasy kick, so I haven’t really read any of the above, but do intend to get back to them sooner or later.