«KNOW THYSELF» I Think Therefore I Wonder…

KNOW THYSELF

Know Thyself… The quest to know one’s self must have begun as a concept, but once in a while we allow it to become a festering thought or a perhaps a sandstorm that races across our thoughts and fills our head with sand. It is a subject that one cannot truly fathom and that one tends to push aside to think on another day. But what day? When? We, the collective “I” simply does not know. I’ve no idea, perhaps never.

Well, like it or not I will refer to this ancient aphorism that throughout history has been thought about and transmitted, generation to generation, expressed in one way or another. But then I ask myself, what the hell for? Sadly, I don’t know. My conclusion is that it could be something valuable or merely rubbish.
But since this aphorism, supposedly, comes from Ancient Greece it should be something important for us. After all Ancient Greece is the cradle of our Western civilization, no? Well, in my country there’s also an old saying: The devil is wise not because he is the devil but because he is old. So old things are wise? Then if we have been told, since ancient times, that we must know ourselves, then the thought is more than an ancient aphorism it is an imperative. It must be considered. It must be analised. It must be studied. Or not.

But, caveat emptor, if you do decide to look inside and search through your inner self, lookout. Be aware that the results may not really make you happy, or enlighten you in any way. You see, you may discover that you are a worthless cretin, or an idiot. And it is also quite possible that the devil is not wise because he is old but because he is the devil. Since we do not know, then everything is possible, no?

In any event, psychological experts (good grief experts!) say that we must be conscious and well aware of what we are and who we are. And to know that we must endeavour to search diligently and bravely. That whatever the results of the search may be, we must accept it. But The Beatles, much more important to me than psychological experts, said, to let it be. What is the purpose if the results can lead us directly to a loony bin? So who the hell wants to dive into the abyss of the psyche…as the Ancient Greeks called the soul…and discover who we are?

Can this be the real meaning/purpose of life, to know ourselves?
Personally, after analysing this aphorism from various angles, instead of searching within myself, I prefer to instead ask myself, what is it good for? I do not believe that such a “psychological” epiphany will lead me to greater riches, fame or make me more good looking. And if it does not serve these purposes, or do these things which are crucial for modern life, then what is it good for? Well, guess what, I cannot answer that question either. I just do not know. All I know is that it may lead to a discovery that I may find atrocious, or one that I may find glorious? Hmm…

Now, since we are told (by experts in history!) that ancient philosophers were wise men, we confront our modern life with their “wise sayings” and try to live according to their ideals. Their ancient words are considered valuable. Our modern society venerates them to the point of practically considering them infallible truths.

And not only old sayings, we also value very highly what we consider to be a classical education. Our culture, after all, comes from Ancient Greece and Rome. We show off uttering something in Latin or Greek (or Chinese, Hindi, Hebrew or Arabic) even if we really don’t know what it means. To be consequential with how sophisticated and cultured we think we are, we attend concerts of classical music, sonatas, cantatas, opera. We sit in the theatre as the music flows through our bored out ears, but steadfast we remain to the final curtain. We stroll through museums admiring statues of Ancient Greeks and Romans standing there naked defying our new puritanical ways. We rummage through archaeological ruins et cetera et cetera.

But when we return home, tired of so many music conservatories, theatres, museums and archaeological sites, the only thing we want is a cold beer or a glass of Rioja, and perhaps, if you are Spanish, accompany our wine with chorizo, Iberian ham and Manchego cheese. No?

So, in my humble opinion, I would rather not know any more about myself and stay as I am. I am happy in my ignorance. And I think I’ve a point as there is another old saying (at least in my country) that says that better to stick to the evil known than look for the good to be discovered. So, since I think like this, I am willing to leave my interior self wandering through the depths of my soul, at least for the time being. I don’t care to make its acquaintance. I do not know about you, but I like the “me” I live with.

Francisco Bravo Cabrera – 04 DEC 2024 – Valencia, España