The Soil of Our Garden

I am not an epicurean; at best, I like to see myself as a gardener. Write, “they” say, of what you know, of your interests. Ok. I am interested in personality and philosophy –separately and together. Under the auspices of the rational mental functioning of our brain they each offer explanation toward understanding our selves and one another. The notion of “understanding” here could be very close to presumptuous if not outright arrogance I suppose. So let me begin with one of those caveats that are bound to be necessary in such a discussion. Clearly a person can live a full and seemingly productive life without a studied grounding in philosophy or personality, neither of which guarantee understanding. After all, as a species we have made it a couple million years to this point of our existence without knowing much about personality, though there has been considerable philosophical effort for some three thousand years. I suspect for some personality Types that argument would be sufficient as evidence to shrug and move on. This is not to say that those who do not pursue the question of personality, or philosophical thought, are not interested. Indeed, it may well be that they have done the consideration for themselves and have the understanding that satisfies their own need. Satisfaction is indeed a major notion in the largest sense of this discussion. They may also be committed to other matters of import that leave them little time or energy for this concern. And finally, there may well be considerations -such as belief- other than particular philosophical points of view, personality theory and findings that impact for one’s understanding. My own notion on that is that if one is satisfied in their understanding, and does not demand my allegiance, so be it. There is much to be said for a contented life.

And yet amongst us there are many who do not hold a thoroughgoing, lasting conviction, a satisfied understanding of self or others. Many are not content with the understanding we have at any given moment. There seems a truth in Daniel Dennett’s notion of “epistemological hunger”. We yearn to know; we yearn for satisfaction. This is demonstrated day after day in common parlance wherever people gather and talk of themselves and others. Always there seems to be occasion for explanation of behavior or thinking, especially if that behavior is not like our own, or that of our primary group. And more often than not there will be competing, sometimes conflicting, explanations, and the conclusion, “well, I just don’t know…” So, many of us continue pursuit toward a more complete understanding. We often subscribe to the notion attributed to Socrates that the unexamined life is not worth living (I’ve read recently that that is not what he said, or in any case its routinely been taken out of context. Unfortunately I completed that reading without setting it aside in a “to remember” pile and now will have to go in search of it again.).

What is it about such an examination of life, such an understanding that makes it worth the effort of pursuit? Perhaps it has to do with relationship both in its broadest form, and in everyday personal interaction, the relationship of nations, societies, cultures; relationships at work, at home and in community. And that is not only relationship amongst people, but between ourselves and all manner of existence from the universe to the microscopic. The worthiness of the effort is in the satisfaction of the relationship. And the first relationship we must be satisfied with is the relationship with our Self. From that knowing, the knowing of other relationships will follow, there will be understanding and the epistemological hunger will be sated –for a moment. In personality concept and philosophy, I believe, we may find the basis of our pursuit. In relationship we will –eventually- find confirmation.

It is good –eventually, satisfying- to know one’s soil and climate, and the preferential habits of the plants one hopes to nurture in a garden. I was nearly prepared to say that the greatest satisfaction in gardening is in the bloom, but quickly it comes to mind that there is tremendous satisfaction in the knowing, understanding and the toil, as well. Though I am prepared to talk of satisfaction, I dare not venture what satisfies the epicurean.