The value of introspection?

hypersonic

sorry if this is the wrong forum but I'm not sure where else I could post this.

I get bouts of introspection where I wonder about the basics like the meaning of life, .humanity, justice, compassion etc. these are some of the grand theme of art and culture, but what I don't understand is why these periods happen and what is the point as i doesn't appear to resolve anything. Is there a reason why people become introspective?

Valmont

It sounds like you are simply philosophising; just like Plato or Jean Jacques-Rousseau -- thinkers who led the way for our entire society as it currently exists. Which makes me glad they didn't think it resolved nothing.

Why do we introspect? It's fashionable to explain such things in terms of brain activity and evolution but that doesn't and can't actually help us solve what would be introspective problems such as what constitutes 'right' and 'wrong', how best to treat other people and indeed to possibly understand the nature of introspective thought itself.

sambuka41

I wish that introspection was more positively viewed in society; so then people wouldn't feel obliged to justify their natural disposition to sit and ponder!

On a similar vein, I watched this video the other day, she makes some valid points, particularly around education and the group work ideal that dominates.

http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html

nyarlothothep

One often sees utterly banal and immediately dismissable posts about 'growing out' of introspection from your teens on boards.ie. Introversion/introspection isn't viewed well, it's a form of prejudice akin to racial bigotry but it's accepted in our society which makes it seem legitimate, just as a lot of racist and religious positions weren't questioned, but were rather defended tooth and nail hundreds of years ago. Society, as in the apparent "mainstream" or majority will can be called up on its legacy of ill advised positions on race, religion, sexual orientation, economic justice, mental illness and in this case introversion. I haven't read her book, but I would be interested in Susan Cain's argument on the nineteenth century ideal of honour, duty and hard work which contrasts with the 20th century ideal of "selling yourself." Possibly one the worst things to happen is the commoditisation of self.

sarkozy

I read Susan Cain's book. I'm definitely an introverted, introspective person. For my own reasons, I chose to study philosophy for my degree. I've found it of profound value to me as I see it as an active practice to explore meaning as it appears to us individually and collectively during our lifetimes. I've found philosophy far from impractical, but in a pragmatically-oriented world, 'skills' and insights from philosophy are not directly valued in mainstream society.

As for the OP questioning the reasons for stepping into these modes of thinking, I think the healthiest thing is to go with that instinct. There is a reason why mankind has created art. Why, for example, did tragedy become the epitome of the theatrical art form for 1,000 years? Why can we stare for hours at paintings? Why is our mainstream culture more and more focused on different forms of entertainment, why, and what does any of this mean? Why are we in economic crisis? What does this mean for the experience of our individual and collective existence? What can be done? What is right and just to do?

A richer life - our only one - is a life where these instincts are explored. The antithesis of the 'selling yourself' attitude exemplified by early-20th century America and increasingly becoming part of our social discourse through the use of the most odious and banal of words: 'entrepreneurship'.

So go for it. Explore. But don't fall into despair.

Torakx

A really nice topic here.
I am also quite introspective and introverted.
I love it! So happy with who I am now that I have accepted my introversion as an advantage rather than the label of social pariah.
I'm currently reading "Thus spoke Zarathustra" by Nietztche a German Philosopher.
Some great writing there and a lot of the ideas in that resonate so much with me.
It is my own form of meditation and therapy to be introspective and read philosophy and psychology books.

Heres some excerpts from a chapter I really loved reading just the other night/morning. I just had to share this

Flee, my friend, into thy solitude! I see thee deafened with the noise of the great men, and stung all over with the stings of the little ones.
Admirably do forest and rock know how to be silent with thee. Resemble again the tree which thou lovest, the broad-branched one--silently and attentively it o'erhangeth the sea.
Where solitude endeth, there beginneth the market-place; and where the market-place beginneth, there beginneth also the noise of the great actors, and the buzzing of the poison-flies.

This is exatcly how I feel when socializing too much.I feel like I have been sucked dry and have to run away and recharge my batteries so to speak.
My time alone is the time I enjoy the most, as I can think clearly without distraction and just...BE.
Also why I love animals so much.They are happy to sit and just BE.

On account of those absolute and impatient ones, be not jealous, thou lover of truth! Never yet did truth cling to the arm of an absolute one.
On account of those abrupt ones, return into thy security: only in the market-place is one assailed by Yea? or Nay?
Slow is the experience of all deep fountains: long have they to wait until they know WHAT hath fallen into their depths.
Away from the market-place and from fame taketh place all that is great: away from the market-Place and from fame have ever dwelt the devisers of new values.
Flee, my friend, into thy solitude: I see thee stung all over by the poisonous flies. Flee thither, where a rough, strong breeze bloweth!

Some parts here remind me of my need to be agnostic about nearly everything. I don't like to believe anything, I would rather accept a possibility that others deem fact or true and also hold open to other ideas on the contrary.
In society today this maybe called indecisive, but I still go for what I want, it's just I live by the saying never say never

To me this chapter called "the flies in the market" expressed a positive light towards introspection and finding oneself.
There is a bit of a storm to pass when searching for yourself I think(I would say it's almost essential, like a right of passage to your self), much like the stories of people going a bit crazy when left alone too long, I would guess this might happen more to extroverts than introverts...to an extent. But just a guess.

I don't know how everyone else feels about all this I've posted, but it lights a fire in me reading this stuff and helps me to feel better in how I think.Quite a lot of the psychology books and philosophy books tend to express how I already feel, and so it makes me feel accepted within myself more and more.
Go with your gut as an introvert/philosophical type, I think intuition may be your greatest tool.
In my view we are just animals with great intellectual abilities.There is no rule or way of being that you must follow(no Yay or Nay).There are only consequences in society and your morals and conscience.

As for why I think like this..
I'm unsure if psychology has an answer to that.
I would say myself it seems to be more of a right brain trait( I know I know thats all bull etc), the creative types may be more inclined to be like this.The need to question and make sense of the world is a very human trait too.
Put them together and maybe it's a start ..maybe.
Whats important is you are content with you lot I feel and with philosophy and introspection there are ussually more questions than answers.
So I say find yourself and enjoy the journey.Embrace the negatives you uncover and take them as a learning experience.
Hope that doesn;t sound allself righteous, I don't mean to come across that way, it's just exactly how I feel about this stuff.

I write a lot because of enthusiam and probably lack of good conversation relating to this stuff Sorry! haha

That TED talk is also really good, when I first saw that a while back I was loving every minute of it.

Roquentin

hypersonic wrote: »

sorry if this is the wrong forum but I'm not sure where else I could post this.

I get bouts of introspection where I wonder about the basics like the meaning of life, .humanity, justice, compassion etc. these are some of the grand theme of art and culture, but what I don't understand is why these periods happen and what is the point as i doesn't appear to resolve anything. Is there a reason why people become introspective?

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."
Carl Jung

Introspection is not a bad thing. Helps you reflect on life. The best psychologist in your life is yourself. Just dont do too much of it, it might look a bit odd!!