2020-03-08 Meeting

A brief philosophical diversion: if we try to understand the causes of our fears, we reduce them.

As soon as we begin to speak, we have to presuppose: we have to assume things about words. Let us say that fear is pain. Pain is the loss of power in the same way that pleasure is the gaining of power. Whatever threatens our being brings pain. We can have an external or internal source of pleasure.

So the greatest fears come from the greatest dangers, that is, of things happening in the larger world.

Confidence are hope without fear, and despair is fear without hope.

Are we living in a more civilised time? Yes- in particular young people these days are doing brave things.

Fear: oligararchs controlling the world

Fear of water - being on a boat, being in a canoe. Including having dreams where I’m in the water.

Fear of not having enough friends, fear of rejection, from our peers or the public at large. And afraid of heights. But I say, “I can’t let that fear overtake me”. Heights.

Worms, fire and having my face covered, suffocating.

Fear of dark. Probably when I was in a car accident.

Being incapacitated.

Basements.

Dolls.

Climbing down a ladder - not going up.