Rethinking Humanity 10: Further Aspects of Having & Being II - Fear of Dying vs Affirmation of Living, Solidarity vs Antagonism
Oct 21, 2020
52:26
In our first episode in the double digits, we hear more about Sonya's road trip as she joins us from sunny Venice Beach, California. We hear Lacey's experience voting early in Fulton County, Ga (Atlanta) and give some thank yous to the first person to buy us a coffee to support the podcast. We discuss further elements of Having and Being from Chapter 6 of Erich Fromm's To Have or To Be in the form of comparing the approach of the fear of dying versus the affirmation of living. Additionally, we discuss how solidarity and antagonism play a role in each of the corresponding approaches to life (Having or being modes).
Some ideas from the chapter that we discuss:
1. To the extent that we live in the having mode, we must fear dying. 2. The more we rid ourselves of the craving for possession in all its forms, the less strong is the fear of dying, since there is nothing to lose. 3. Desire for mortality is deeply ingrained in our society - evidence being many rituals and beliefs that aim at preserving the human body. 4. The only way to overcome the fear of dying is by not hanging on to life, but not experiencing it as a possession. 5.It is not easy for western man to experience enjoyment separate from having. 6. In interpersonal relations, neither partner is satisfied to simply enjoy the other - they must have the person for him or herself. Hence, each is jealous of those who also want to "have" the other. Each partner seeks the other for survival - these relationships are heavy, burdened, filled with conflict and jealousy. 7. Antagonism is a natural result of a society centered around having -it manifests itself on a personal level, as persons individually compete with each other to have more or have better. It also manifests itself on a global level with countries competing against each other for more and more, to be the best, which leads to war. It also manifests itself in class war - people competing with each other to get to the top because of the greed that the having mode fosters. 8. Instead, in the being mode, I do not need to own something to enjoy it, and thus I and many others can enjoy something at the same time. This leads to further connection, and experiences of shared enjoyment, on which the human soul thrives.
Follow us on our new IG page @rethinkinghumanity
Episode credits:
Victor Ho - Technical Production (@VictorWainHo on IG & TWTR)
Sonya Larrea - Producer and Co Host (@LarreaSonya on IG)
Lacey Delayne - Producer and Host (@LaceyDelayne on IG & TWTR)
Richard Berry - Intro & Outro readings, taken from Erich Fromm's To Have or To Be Chapter 6. (@designtheoryatl on IG)
Buymeacoffee.com/VictorHo buymeacoffee.com/SonyaLarrea buymeacoffee.com/LaceyDelayne
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rethinkinghumanity.us/subscribe
Some ideas from the chapter that we discuss:
1. To the extent that we live in the having mode, we must fear dying. 2. The more we rid ourselves of the craving for possession in all its forms, the less strong is the fear of dying, since there is nothing to lose. 3. Desire for mortality is deeply ingrained in our society - evidence being many rituals and beliefs that aim at preserving the human body. 4. The only way to overcome the fear of dying is by not hanging on to life, but not experiencing it as a possession. 5.It is not easy for western man to experience enjoyment separate from having. 6. In interpersonal relations, neither partner is satisfied to simply enjoy the other - they must have the person for him or herself. Hence, each is jealous of those who also want to "have" the other. Each partner seeks the other for survival - these relationships are heavy, burdened, filled with conflict and jealousy. 7. Antagonism is a natural result of a society centered around having -it manifests itself on a personal level, as persons individually compete with each other to have more or have better. It also manifests itself on a global level with countries competing against each other for more and more, to be the best, which leads to war. It also manifests itself in class war - people competing with each other to get to the top because of the greed that the having mode fosters. 8. Instead, in the being mode, I do not need to own something to enjoy it, and thus I and many others can enjoy something at the same time. This leads to further connection, and experiences of shared enjoyment, on which the human soul thrives.
Follow us on our new IG page @rethinkinghumanity
Episode credits:
Victor Ho - Technical Production (@VictorWainHo on IG & TWTR)
Sonya Larrea - Producer and Co Host (@LarreaSonya on IG)
Lacey Delayne - Producer and Host (@LaceyDelayne on IG & TWTR)
Richard Berry - Intro & Outro readings, taken from Erich Fromm's To Have or To Be Chapter 6. (@designtheoryatl on IG)
Buymeacoffee.com/VictorHo buymeacoffee.com/SonyaLarrea buymeacoffee.com/LaceyDelayne
---
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rethinkinghumanity/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rethinkinghumanity/support
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rethinkinghumanity.us/subscribe