Thursday, December 20, 2012

Existence and Inspiration

I can't decide whether inspiration or ecstasy is the proper pangrammatical supplement of existence. (As a result, I can't decide whether they are merely different names for the same emotional complex.)

Either: The philosopher is trying to solve the problem of existence; the poet is trying to solve the problem of inspiration.

Or: The philosopher is trying to solve the problem of existence; the poet is trying to solve the problem of ecstasy.

The words "solve" and "problem" should probably be set off with scare quotes. Philosophers and poets engage with problems that are not quite problems because there is ultimately no solution. Sages and lovers, of course, merely suffer these problems perfectly, wholly accepting their insolubility.

Dasein is the form of existence that belongs to humans, it is "in each case mine". Duende is the form of inspiration that humans belong to, we are in each case his. Dasein is the being "we ourselves are". Duende is the becoming that is us. The philosopher and the poet pursue their being and becoming more doggedly than most.

2 comments:

Andrew Shields said...

Being inspired can be a matter of ecstasy, but being ecstatic is rarely inspiring.

Thomas said...

It is possible that ecstasy an extremity, an extreme form of inspired ... a matter of being profoundly inspired.

Likewise, I suppose, existence is an extreme there-being? Or there-ness an extreme form of existence.

Like I say, I'm openminded on this still.