The Seven Traits of Curious People (remix)
Whoops! I did it again.
My Linkedin profile now proudly bears another article, another blind stumble through the dark alleys of wisdom. Yes, I recently posted The Seven Traits of Curious People. All very worthy and an exciting read, no doubt.
Why curiosity, Tim?
Why not, arsehole?
Seriously, why? Explain to us your thoughts in this windswept and ill-visited corner of the internet?
Okay. Let's lift the curtain behind the creative process this one time shall we?
At university I studied some evolutionary biology and psychology. Totem and Taboo, The Future of an Illusion, some bollocks by Marx (obligatory at Sussex), Durkheim's Protestant Work Ethic, Hobbes, Rousseau, Masters and Johnson and Shire Hite (for the more racy stuff). Recently, I've been reading my copy of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, marvelling at Ecclesiastes and listening and purusing Jordan Peterson.
What interests me is the un-variability of the human condition. Again and again, Marcus Aurelius returns to this theme; how everything has been done before. Human emotions and dramas that is. Okay so we have a laptop and a mobile phone, Tinder and central heating but the pride, the wants, the seeking of status, the lies we tell others and ourselves; not changed.
And this interests me. Whilst we perfect the material side of life, the spiritual aspect remains the same. Marcus was, of course, a stoic who believed in the Pagan Gods. Solomon was a wise but over indulged King who sought meaning in life when none appeared to him (all is vexation and vanity). He moved away from his god (Jehovah).
Where rests truth and where lies meaning?
Fuck knows, to be honest. But let's be curious about everything, open our eyes and seek answers, however small, however insignificant.
Or maybe I've just turned fifty and so have tripped over the stone marked 'existentialist crisis'?
But I haven't the money for a red Ferrari, I don't seem able to attract women twenty five years younger than myself and I can't grow a ponytail. So, navel gazing philosophy and flimsy theories it is then.
As usual. Or as Danny Dyer - sage of our time says - Ter-wat!