Comments on: From Becca Trabin: Everybody Simmer Down, Now

By: Cavatica

Cavatica — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:13:39 +0000

Good point. But what about those who are paranoid about the changes coming? I expect they will stay that way.

By: Michael H

Michael H — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:46:30 +0000

The ultimate aim of government is not to rule, or restrain, by fear, nor to exact obedience, but contrariwise, to free every man from fear, that he may live in all possible security; in other words, to strengthen his natural right to exist and work without injury to himself or others.

No, the object of government is not to change men from rational beings into beasts or puppets, but to enable them to develop their minds and bodies in security, and to employ their reason unshackled; neither showing hatred, anger, or deceit, nor watched with the eyes of jealousy and injustice. In fact, the true aim of government is liberty.

–BARUCH SPINOZA (1632-77, “Tractatus Theologico-Politicus,” Writings on Political Philosophy, ed. A. G. A. Balz, trans. R. H. M. Elwes, p. 65 (1937)

By: Dan M

Dan M — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:05:28 +0000

Interesting political reading, Becca. Nevertheless, it does seem that the definitions of mental illnesses are increasingly broad. The author quotes one scientist: “We are now starting to discover that madness is human and that we need to look at normal people to understand it,” said Dr. Jim van Os, a professor of psychiatry at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. I wonder how much of this marked increase in paranoid thoughts is due to evolving definitions of the problem.

Also, to what degree are these types of thoughts simply instincts of self-preservation? There are often real situations where it pays to be on your guard. The author cites one study that included a virtual reality subway ride. After the hammer attack incident on the Broad St Line, wouldn’t we be foolish not to pay better attention to strangers?

In addition, some of these thoughts might not be unfounded. In the workplace with everyone hustling to get ahead I’m sure there ARE instances where other are trying to “get you” by getting ahead of you. So maybe we can add capitalism’s survival of the fittest mentality to demagogic fearmongering as one of the causes of this increase in paranoia. It sounds like you might be amenable to that idea.