The genius of Freedom … ( 12 / 18 / 2013 )
The genius of Freedom … ( 12 / 18 / 2013 )
David Foster Wallace simply was , to put it mildly , a genius . And as humble proof thereof , I offer the following :
“ Here is just one example of the total wrongness of something I tend to be automatically sure : everything in my own immediate experience supports my deep belief that I am the absolute center of the universe ; the realest , most vivid and important person in existence .
We rarely think about this sort of natural , basic self-centeredness because it ’ s so socially repulsive . But it ’ s pretty much the same for all of us . It is our default setting , hard-wired into our boards at birth .
Think about it : there is no experience you have had that you are not the absolute center of . The world as you experience it is there in front of YOU or behind YOU , to the left or right of YOU , on YOUR TV or YOUR monitor . And so on . Other people ’ s thoughts and feelings have to be communicated to you somehow , but your own are so immediate , urgent , real . And the so-called real world will not discourage you from operating on your default settings , because the so-called real world of men and money and power hums merrily along in a pool of fear and anger and frustration and craving and worship of self .
Our own present culture has harnessed these forces in ways that have yielded extraordinary wealth and comfort and personal freedom -- the freedom all to be lords of our tiny skull-sized kingdoms ; alone at the center of all creation .
This kind of freedom has much to recommend it . But of course there are all different kinds of freedom , and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talk about in the great outside world of wanting and achieving and [ owning ] … The really important kind of Freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline , and being able truly to Care about other people and to sacrifice for them over & over in a myriad petty , unsexy ways every day …
… That is real Freedom .” ~ David Foster Wallace
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