Lent philosopher renunciation as liberation
Philosopher: renunciation „as a great liberation“
02/18/2015
Lent means for many people in this country not only renunciation of alcohol and sweets, but also an inner retreat. Some people use the time to keep their fingers off certain consumer goods. In an interview, a philosopher describes what renunciation has to do with luck.
Many do not just abstain from physical pleasures
Although many people refrain from overeating during religious fasting, they also do good to their health. Reasonable fasting, for example, not only helps reduce weight but also improves blood levels. In addition, many people do not just give up on physical pleasures in time, but also on certain consumer goods, cars or mobile phones. Body and mind can benefit from this conscious life. Philosophy Professor Philipp Hübl from the University of Stuttgart is also concerned with the right use of time. In an interview with the news agency dpa, he describes what waiver has to do with luck.
Consumption of goods makes people dissatisfied in the long term
As Hübl explains, one finds the ritual fasting or other forms of austerity in almost all religions. The idea behind it is always drive control. One should reflect on oneself and not follow their own immediate impulses, such as food, fun, parties or sex. According to Hübl, numerous studies show that while commodity consumption is euphoric in the short term, it is dissatisfied in the long term. Even in the popular media such insights have leaked and quickly been carried away by the spa and Esoterikwelle. However, according to the expert, consumption has often shifted: from materials such as cars or jewelery to experiences such as travel or music festivals. „If we used to be slaves of commodity consumption, then today we are slaves of event consumption“, so Hübl.
„Ownership burdened“
He goes on to say that „Ownership burdened“. Not only because you have to take care of your home or car with repairs and insurance, keep this in mind and so consumes cognitive resources. But also because things are one „stimulative nature“ as the phenomenologists say in philosophy. He cites the iPhone as an example. This helps to find a nearby restaurant, but it also seduces you to constantly check the weather or measure the running speed. „Abandonment can therefore be perceived as a great liberation from such silent requests“, so Hübl. He says the life counselors are right when they say that life should be simplified, the basement cleaned, the desk tidied up and the wardrobe emptied.
„Lifetime is our most precious resource“
Hübl also explains to dpa: „The luxury is certainly not in the renunciation itself, but rather the other way round: in the right use of time. Our lifetime is our most precious resource because, unlike money, it is clearly limited.“ Although the time was well spent when a movie or computer game was good, many still think that you could have saved it. As the expert says, is the statement „My time is too bad for that“ deeply existentialist, even if those who speak this do not have their own death in mind. About himself he explains that he sold some time ago the car he had shared with a brother. He felt that as a great liberation. Hübl concluded that it now goes much more bike and would definitely not do without it. (Ad)
Picture: Rainer Sturm