Philosophical Discussion Concerning Desire

"There is no fear for one whose mind is not filled with desires." [Buddha]

Greetings,

We live in a world shaped by capitalism. All the good, bad, and ugly within it are the direct or indirect consequences of its unyielding driving force: desire.

Since time immemorial, it must have been in the best interest of the human species to desire to be—to exist, survive, and continue to be. But under capitalism, we do not simply desire to be; we desire to be in a certain position, with a certain income, in a certain attire and body shape, driving certain vehicles and living in certain houses. Ultimately, we come to desire to be in a particular place and time, surrounded by people we like, who share our values and thoughts in absolute unity, like a dystopian Singularity.

Join me for a discussion concerning desire in its moral, ontological, and spiritual aspects.

I hope you find this topic interesting and desirable.

================================ Oxford Dictionary defines Desire as follows:

"a strong wish to have or do something".

Etymology:

욕망 (欲望) => (欲: Open mouthed + bent person figure)

le désir (french) => de sidere (from the stars in latin original sense)

"to wish or long for, express a wish to obtain," c. 1200, desiren, from Old French desirrer (12c.) "wish, desire, long for," from Latin desiderare "long for, wish for; demand, expect," the original sense perhaps being "await what the stars will bring," from the phrase de sidere "from the stars," from sidus (genitive sideris) "heavenly body, star, constellation" (but see consider). Related: Desired; desiring.

❓ Questions:

Question 1): What is desire? Is it something evil? Do we tend to regard it as "undesirable" when expressed? Or, on the contrary, is it admirable to have desire, express it, and realise it whenever we feel it?

Question 2): Is there a good desire and a bad desire? How do we draw the line?

Buddhist approach to desire can be simplified as the cause of all suffering; perhaps the desire at issue here is not the natural one, but unnatural desire, which is also open for discussion.

Question 3): Can the Stoic approach to desire promote making a difference in our world? To what extent should we take moderation in desire? And can moderation make a difference?

Stoic approach to desire can be simplified as recognising those things that are in our control and those that are not, and disciplining our desire to focus on things that are within our power. And ultimately, towards virtue and living in harmony.

Question 3-1): Can we truly desire what we already have?

Question 4): Can we truly control what we desire?

Question 5): " Is desire a positive force that drives the human will and actions, and should be cherished and promoted?

"Both in the West and in China, in the past as well as in the present, desire is usually understood as something abnormal, avaricious and excessive, the opposite of rationality, to be controlled and suppressed in man." But some thinkers view it as the ultimate source of affirmative vitality, which doesn't have either object or subject but is productive and actualisable only through practice.

Question 6): When we desire something, do we do it for us to be desirable or the peak of feeling that we receive while experiencing it?

Question 7): Do all desires and realising them eventually come to a point of aftertaste, the loss of intense desire and appreciation? If so, what is it we desire ultimately?

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