The Human Being Lives in a Vegetative State

I believe it was Hegel who said that “one learns from history that man never learns from it.” Unquestionable truth. But only the symptom of a bigger problem. The human being lives in a vegetative state, although sometimes it seems the opposite. It is not only the lessons of history that he is incapable of grasping, but reality itself. Rationally, living seems an impossibility. If the human being reasoned and used the judgment he thinks to dispose to assimilate his existence, he would immediately put himself on the curb crying. But that is not what happens. It is necessary for a close friend, for a relative to die for him to awakens from the vegetative state and reason something like “it could have been me.” However, the impulse is fleeting: the consciousness awakens and, immediately afterward, puts itself once again into a heavy sleep. Then the being returns to his usual state, in evidence of the vicious character of his judgment. It is incredible! This seems to be an adaptive psychological mechanism, that is, if not plunged into deep unconsciousness, who would move a single straw? Would they build the Titanic, if they knew its end? And of life, the end is very clear… But we are already rambling. “One learns from history that man does not learn from it”: man, the being who ignores everything, the smiling blind being. And it seems the same mental programming that demands numbness to justify from individual stupidity to the collective foolishness of a world that, for more than half a century, has not faced a great war…

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Every Intention That Requires the Action of a Third Party Is Bad

Every intention that requires the action of a third party is bad. Every speech thirsting for approval is bad. Therefore, the intention is only virtuous if it entails an individual action and the word is only fruitful if it is self-sufficient. In a world where these truths are absolutely misunderstood, it is natural that social life is unpleasant, if not unbearable. Majority, consensus, acceptance, these and other words from hell only contribute to making the human being progressively mediocre. The dignity of man sprouts from the consciousness of individuality and respect is only possible in the being who learns to value what is different, instead of always subduing him to his own despicable opinions.

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Few Defects Make a Worse Impression Than the Inclination to Retreat

Few defects make a worse impression than the inclination to retreat or, if you like, misanthropy. However, I do not know the answer: how to know human nature and not be a misanthropist? How not to let our psychology contaminate to the point of repelling any relationship of forced intimacy? How not to hate the theatre of convenience? I study and find the obvious: the great artists shared this quality. And they were mostly hated when not ignored in life. History sometimes deludes appearing to have made some changes in the human psyche. The reactions to external stimuli, the dynamics of personal relationships, the foundation of life together have changed only in detail. The general concept has always repulsed those who hate social life. Not only has repulsed him but has also persecuted him to reform him: the extinction of the individual has always been the task of the collective, society has always arrogated to itself the right to demand that all play roles. That is why it is funny to note how misanthropy, the natural path of an observer of man, tends to worsen to infinity: the search for retreat is necessarily accompanied by persecution.

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The Clash Between Vanity and Conscience

Some natures impress by the complete absence of the clash between vanity and conscience. Perhaps by the very weakness of conscience, which justifies seeing it ignored by the most popular currents of psychology. In some, it seems simply that it does not manifest. But it is incredible to think of someone who, not once in his life, prays for the pettiness of his own conduct, for the motivators of his own “will”. To do so and not proceed with condemnation would be understandable, but the fact is that, in most people, there is not the slightest trace of conflict.

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