Mid-Life Crisis

[Didymos Thomas]

With regard to the thread though I still think Metaphysics is a great section to put the mid-life crisis under because Metaphysics deals with our perception of reality, and really that's what a mid life crisis challenges does it not? Or any existential crisis for that matter. Do they not challenge the way we've come to understand ourselves ontologically?

Maybe. But even defining metaphysics is problematic. How are we supposed to rely on something we can't even sufficiently define?

[Aedes]

The problem of our "perception of reality" isn't really at issue in a mid-life crisis. It's a problem of inner meaning -- not the grand meaning of life, but how one can find meaning on one's own, when one is running out of time. The only true philosophy that deals with this is existentialism; and by presenting a philosophy that frees us from definition, existentialism is anti-metaphysical.

Second, if we are to understand why a person might just lose it at age 50, leave his family, quit his job, buy a sports car, whatever during this crisis, then we cannot ever understand that person's crisis through metaphysics. I mean how can metaphysics tell us about a thought process? It can't -- we can make metaphysical arguments about it all day, but metaphysics can't ever reveal why people do things.

While metaphysics may deal somewhat with our perception of reality, its sole tools are logic and language, and this prevents it from having any necessary correspondance to actual reality. What metaphysics truly does is present how bright, articulate philosophers organize reality. But what psychology does is present how humans organize reality.

[Doobah47]

Has a mid-life crisis got something to do with the burden of responsibility, responsibility regarding being a decent honest human being and ignoring hedonism - alot of people feel responsible to themselves and others to stay in a job, and follow moral codes dictated to them, maybe they feel responsible for children or for their wife etc.

So when somebody suddenly ceases to feel that the burden of responsibility is a just desert they suddenly have a crisis of regret for all the hedonism they've missed out on whilst being responsible, they might have a nervous breakdown and realise that what they've done with their life is take a monkey on their back, or they might become mindless hedonists and go a little nuts.

So it is less an existential crisis regarding the meaninglessness of menial life, and more of a symptom of moral living, if you could call that a sickness...

[Doobah47]

Originally Posted by Aedes

While metaphysics may deal somewhat with our perception of reality, its sole tools are logic and language, and this prevents it from having any necessary correspondance to actual reality. What metaphysics truly does is present how bright, articulate philosophers organize reality. But what psychology does is present how humans organize reality.

I concur, was it Nietzche who said psychology is the queen of the sciences.

The only problem with psychology is that you could study brain behaviour all day on one of those CT scanners and you still wouldn't be any closer to understanding why people do things. Then the problem is precisely the same as with metaphysics; you've got qualitative research and the logical application of this onto patients. The closest psychology could come to quantitative research is to ask people to rate their emotions for example on a scale of 1-10, which is pretty shabby if you ask me.

But they have achieved a great deal these psychologists, they can cure all manner of psychological ills, yet they dont really understand things like schizophrenia in great detail, they just have medication that gets the voices out of peoples' heads. I have a therapist at the moment, and I am studying psychology, and basically there is so much that goes on in the mind of a 'mentally stable' person that is similar to the effects of full-blown mental illness yet without all the trappings that come with something like schizophrenia, just small border-line illnesses that come and go - the human condition. An example might be violence and aggression; people feel compelled to become boxers or wrestlers or to go to war just like the crazy dudes feel compelled to go out with a gun or stab somebody 65 times. Another great example is religion, it demonstrates all the classic symptoms of psychosis - intense focus on a few delusionary points (like heaven or God), ritual, compulsion (perhaps to take out the non-believers), paranoia (God is watching), and of course eating disorders (no pork, no squid, etc).

So anyway, back to what I was saying, that metaphysics and psychology research aren't to dis-similar, it's just psychologists study empirical evidence and qualitative accounts whereas metaphysicists just sit in armchairs trying to be clever.

[dancinginchains]

Originally Posted by Doobah47

So anyway, back to what I was saying, that metaphysics and psychology research aren't to dis-similar, it's just psychologists study empirical evidence and qualitative accounts whereas metaphysicists just sit in armchairs trying to be clever.

Sense perception isnt always a good indicator of whats real and whats not. Usually it is...but not always. Sense perception is commanded by the brain.

[GoshisDead]

Midlife Crisis: Railing against the realization that your childhood dreams of being a fireman will never come true.

[Holiday20310401]

Originally Posted by Aristoddler

Mid-life crisis:
Aside from a feeble grasp at youth, why do we get it?
What is it to you, and how can those of us with sharper minds avoid the social spills caused by it?
Why do some people succumb to it so easily, while others manage it so easily?
Can someone who is in the throes of mid life crisis make proper judgment calls when it comes to their careers, and those that depend on them?

I think that it is best to try to think less of what makes you depressed, as if trying to solve a problem, because to me there isn't a solution to depression except thinking in a context that makes you happy. And living in this way is simply the best way to have purpose.
Still I always want to create an impact on humanity that I can see as well as posible, sort of. It's weird, intelligence is like a disease because it evokes self realization and isolation, and conceives pessimism. Yet it is the cause for innovation by allowing intellect, the creativity and ingenuity of humanity that makes us sane and with a cause. Yet I feel that it is hard to distinct one's own potential and purpose among 6.5 billion people, and make an impact that is tangible. I believe that people have a mid life crisis thinking that they are now destined to be aberrant of purpose; and that their meaning of life's tie to their hopes are lessened. This would make me depressed. As a teen I am searching for the meaning in life that will create the biggest crater. Is it about the impact or is it about the ones who notice it.

[FatalMuse]

Originally Posted by Aristoddler

Mid-life crisis:
Aside from a feeble grasp at youth, why do we get it?

I think there's two relatively recent developments that have increased mid-life crisis. This is pure speculation, but I think it's linked to:
-the increase in life expectancy; 'mid-life' is now much later than was in the past.
-the increase in media exposure; people in developed nations are now much more acutely aware of the possessions and wealth of others. They are also exposed to a lot more tales of extraordinary lives than in the past, which makes what previously may have been considered an interesting life now fall into the realm of the mundane.

What is it to you, and how can those of us with sharper minds avoid the social spills caused by it?

To me it is an existential & cultural crisis caused by a sudden awareness of mortality and that the individual has reached the apex of their expected life. I think the best way to avoid the social spills is to continualy question and define for yourself what meaning & purpose you want your life to have, and then pursue it.

I also believe in adopting the Buddhist idea of accepting the things you cannot change. Worry based on regretting your past is pointless. You can learn from past mistakes, but you cannot relive them. If you have learned from past mistakes, then they have already surved a purpose. If you have not learned from past mistakes, then a mid-life crisis is a probably both a warning beacon and also a good time to address them.

Why do some people succumb to it so easily, while others manage it so easily?

I'm a firm believer that you can change your happiness by changing your desires. If one allows their desires in life to diverge from their actions, then they will at some point reach a crisis. I guess it's also important to have 'checkpoints' throughout your life to asses what you consider important for the future and to make sure you're taking the right path to get there.

Can someone who is in the throes of mid life crisis make proper judgment calls when it comes to their careers, and those that depend on them?

Well it all depends on how you define mid-life crisis an whether you allow it have a scale of severity. I think for some people, a mid-life crisis is essential to stock-take their hopes and direction in life. It can also make people do incredibly damaging and harmful things. I see it as depending on the severity of the crisis, but more importantly what's brought it about and the ability of the individual to be aware of the causes and effects of the crisis.

[Holiday20310401]

Metaphysics fits well with mid life crisis. Just as mid life crisis is a problem in finding meaning, there is little meaning in metaphysics