"We tell ourselves stories in order to live." That quote by Joan Didion has always resonated with me. But what I didn't realize until this moment is that she was probably saying, like you (or rather, what I believe you're saying), that these stories come in retrospect to explain away our actions. Pre-destined in hindsight. So much easier…
"We tell ourselves stories in order to live." That quote by Joan Didion has always resonated with me. But what I didn't realize until this moment is that she was probably saying, like you (or rather, what I believe you're saying), that these stories come in retrospect to explain away our actions. Pre-destined in hindsight. So much easier to build your origin myth around events that have already happened!
I think a large number of people would be shocked at how little free will they actually have. Many (most?) believe they have free will. And many (most?) can prove it by choosing the chocolate ice cream today instead of their usual strawberry, just out of spite. They don't really think that, hey, they're still eating ice cream, so they aren't truly thinking too far "outside of the box".
(For the record, I personally believe that we all have free will, but that we tend to make our choices out of laziness, convenience, and opportunity. If strawberry is my favourite flavour, why wouldn't I choose it? Should I choose pistaschio, even if I'm allergic to nuts, just to prove the universe wrong? Exercising your free will is about as easy as changing your personality or adjusting your lifestyle: theoretically possible, but in practicality, doesn't have a high chance of succeeding often.)
To follow your logic a step further: hearing someone's personal origin myth says more about that person in this moment than it does his or her actual origin. Fitzgerald uses that as a storytelling technique in "The Great Gatsby". Gatsby's war service, "Oxford man" status, and medal from Montenegro illustrate -- and contrast -- the myth he wants everyone to believe (including himself and most particularly Daisy) rather than his actual humble origins. When Tom challenges Gatsby on it and the "truth" comes out, we see that the story isn't completely wrong, but it's definitely embellished. (Of course, though, is Gatsby really a "fraud"? And is Tom really a "truth-seeker"? But that's going probably too deep for a comment in a comment section... lol)
We do tell ourselves stories. They might not reflect "truth" or "reality" in the way others might hope or expect. But that's okay; it's not their story. Tell the story *you* want to hear. That's probably where the deeper and more interesting truths are anyway.
Interesting Graham, thank you. If anything, what I learned from this bit of writing was that it’s all a story and I can write it the way I want. Now this free will bit … it’s just next to impossible to get your head entirely around, isn’t it?
"We tell ourselves stories in order to live." That quote by Joan Didion has always resonated with me. But what I didn't realize until this moment is that she was probably saying, like you (or rather, what I believe you're saying), that these stories come in retrospect to explain away our actions. Pre-destined in hindsight. So much easier to build your origin myth around events that have already happened!
I think a large number of people would be shocked at how little free will they actually have. Many (most?) believe they have free will. And many (most?) can prove it by choosing the chocolate ice cream today instead of their usual strawberry, just out of spite. They don't really think that, hey, they're still eating ice cream, so they aren't truly thinking too far "outside of the box".
(For the record, I personally believe that we all have free will, but that we tend to make our choices out of laziness, convenience, and opportunity. If strawberry is my favourite flavour, why wouldn't I choose it? Should I choose pistaschio, even if I'm allergic to nuts, just to prove the universe wrong? Exercising your free will is about as easy as changing your personality or adjusting your lifestyle: theoretically possible, but in practicality, doesn't have a high chance of succeeding often.)
To follow your logic a step further: hearing someone's personal origin myth says more about that person in this moment than it does his or her actual origin. Fitzgerald uses that as a storytelling technique in "The Great Gatsby". Gatsby's war service, "Oxford man" status, and medal from Montenegro illustrate -- and contrast -- the myth he wants everyone to believe (including himself and most particularly Daisy) rather than his actual humble origins. When Tom challenges Gatsby on it and the "truth" comes out, we see that the story isn't completely wrong, but it's definitely embellished. (Of course, though, is Gatsby really a "fraud"? And is Tom really a "truth-seeker"? But that's going probably too deep for a comment in a comment section... lol)
We do tell ourselves stories. They might not reflect "truth" or "reality" in the way others might hope or expect. But that's okay; it's not their story. Tell the story *you* want to hear. That's probably where the deeper and more interesting truths are anyway.
Interesting Graham, thank you. If anything, what I learned from this bit of writing was that it’s all a story and I can write it the way I want. Now this free will bit … it’s just next to impossible to get your head entirely around, isn’t it?