If one doesn't want to comply with the bio-digital thing that's coming, then it seems to me that one would need to find another meaningful way to live outside of society without capital or ownership of means of production, or probably become bored and try to fill the void with drugs etc.
Perhaps one could irritate other people? Point out their hypocrisy and failings etc. as a way to derive meaning and purpose?
Make a game of one's deprivation? Give up a material possession each day, get along without it, then try to beat one's latest personal record for simplicity/austerity by giving up something else?
Those sorts of activities seem to have worked for Diogenes.
A modern revival of cynicism?
The philosophy of cynicism (it's not just negative) seems ready made for this:
"For the Cynics, the purpose of life is to live in virtue, in agreement with nature. As reasoning creatures, people can gain happiness by rigorous training and by living in a way which is natural for themselves, rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, and fame, and even flouting conventions openly and derisively in public. Instead, they were to lead a simple life free from all possessions."
Living in a way that is natural for oneself. . . Rejecting ALL possessions. . . Rejecting ALL conventional desires. . . I can imagine that would be 'challenging', but at least it sounds like it could be authentic, and not totally self-destructive.
Is it ideal? Well, not if one likes having any 'stuff' and the comfort and security that it provides, but the approach seems preferable to huffing aerosols etc. And one will have to either play along, accept however many needles etc, or renounce it all anyway.
One last thought, the powers that be within the system are happy to let refuseniks do nothing at all, or waste away on drugs etc, but they will be less tolerant of challenges to their authority. Just last night on TV I saw a clip of a couple of cops spearing an old man face first into the pavement for wearing a cheeky sandwich board sign in public.
One would need to harden oneself right up. Not the most attractive thought either, but if that's what it takes. . .
no subject
Perhaps one could irritate other people? Point out their hypocrisy and failings etc. as a way to derive meaning and purpose?
Make a game of one's deprivation? Give up a material possession each day, get along without it, then try to beat one's latest personal record for simplicity/austerity by giving up something else?
Those sorts of activities seem to have worked for Diogenes.
A modern revival of cynicism?
The philosophy of cynicism (it's not just negative) seems ready made for this:
"For the Cynics, the purpose of life is to live in virtue, in agreement with nature. As reasoning creatures, people can gain happiness by rigorous training and by living in a way which is natural for themselves, rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, and fame, and even flouting conventions openly and derisively in public. Instead, they were to lead a simple life free from all possessions."
Living in a way that is natural for oneself. . . Rejecting ALL possessions. . . Rejecting ALL conventional desires. . . I can imagine that would be 'challenging', but at least it sounds like it could be authentic, and not totally self-destructive.
Is it ideal? Well, not if one likes having any 'stuff' and the comfort and security that it provides, but the approach seems preferable to huffing aerosols etc. And one will have to either play along, accept however many needles etc, or renounce it all anyway.
One last thought, the powers that be within the system are happy to let refuseniks do nothing at all, or waste away on drugs etc, but they will be less tolerant of challenges to their authority. Just last night on TV I saw a clip of a couple of cops spearing an old man face first into the pavement for wearing a cheeky sandwich board sign in public.
One would need to harden oneself right up. Not the most attractive thought either, but if that's what it takes. . .
The Ninth Mouse