Category: 哲学

Once upon a time, I held a somewhat negative view of the word “nostalgia.” Whenever I heard a young person reminiscing emotionally about the “good old days,” I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity, as if their heart had grown old before their body. Shouldn’t we always be looking forward? Could the meaning of life truly be reduced to replaying past achievements? And when I saw society as a whole becoming immersed in a nostalgic atmosphere, I felt certain that something, somewhere, had gone wrong.

However, this book has dissolved my prejudices and given me a brand-new understanding of the positive role nostalgia plays.

Let’s look at some of the constructive functions of nostalgia:

——In the face of hardships that threaten to break our sense of identity, nostalgia enhances our feeling of “self-continuity.”

——Nostalgia reduces defensiveness, making us more open to criticism and advice while fostering a healthy level of self-esteem.

——Collective nostalgia strengthens group identity and inspires the motivation needed for a community to thrive.

——While it cannot turn back the clock, nostalgia truly helps in maintaining a youthful heart.

——Nostalgia not only enhances the meaning of our future but also restores the significance of our past.

——In an era where the internet fuels political polarization and chaos, nostalgia serves as a stabilizing force.

Ultimately, the author shares a vital insight:

Human nature is progress-oriented. Although we have a conservative side, we must first be stable in all aspects to flourish; otherwise, it is easy to lose ourselves in a chaotic world. Remember, humans are future-oriented. By seeking inspiration and guidance from precious memories, we can build a better tomorrow. Nostalgia is not a weakness of human nature, but an undeniable positive force.

To philosophize is to learn how to die.

— Michel de Montaigne, The Essays

What is life?

Life is but “a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness.” Thus did Vladimir Nabokov set a desolate keynote for human existence. This crack of light is so narrow that the moment we open our eyes to glimpse the world’s silhouette, we can already hear the approaching footsteps of the dusk.

This book reveals a profound truth: the grand epic of human civilization is, in essence, our desperate attempt to hold onto that flicker of light for as long as possible between those two “eternities of darkness.” We crave eternal youth; we long for resurrection; we yearn for the immortality of the soul—or at the very least, we hope to leave behind a lingering glow called “legacy” after all has turned to dust.

Civilization is indeed a byproduct of fear. Because we fear death, we built the pyramids, captured eternal smiles on canvas, and now attempt to upload our consciousness into the cloud. Death acts like a stern taskmaster, whipping humanity to extract eternity from the fleeting passage of time. However, in the final chapter, the author reminds us that our efforts to escape death through technology or fame often cause us to lose “life” itself on the road to “immortality.” The meaning of life is perhaps best captured by Leonardo da Vinci’s tender confession: “As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death.”

You, dear reader, might be dissatisfied with the author’s conclusion: “Is that it? But this doesn’t settle my anxiety!” If so, let us shift our perspective and look at Midlife: A Philosophical Guide.

To my shame, the reason I started reading psychology books was that I simply didn’t read them. Once, I was asked what books I would recommend to someone interested in psychology. I searched my mind, only to realize I hadn’t read a single “serious” book on the subject, let alone have one to recommend. Since then, I’ve made a conscious effort to explore works in the field.

What is the use of psychology?

Back when psychoanalysis was first born, figures like Freud and Jung were not exactly welcomed in academia. This was because psychology was not considered “scientific.” In other words, it is a discipline where “right” or “wrong” cannot always be proven. If Freud were to point a finger at me and claim the root of my problems lay in a deep-seated Oedipus complex, and I reacted with fury, calling it nonsense—he would simply laugh and say my anger is the best evidence. How could I possibly refute that?

However, the author of this book, Yang Laoshi, writes:

The most important “root” of a therapeutic or personality theory lies in whether it can, and does, heal people—whether it makes them healthier. If the answer is yes, then being scientifically verifiable is merely the icing on the cake; if it cannot be verified, it matters little. The vast world has both clear patterns and chaotic depths. Therefore, we must hold this conviction: truths proven by experience and truths proven by science possess equal value. Both are vital resources that promote our healthy growth.

Today, no one doubts the value of psychology as a “useful” discipline. It has branched into numerous fields, permeating every aspect of our lives. Furthermore, as a supplement to Yang Laoshi’s brilliant summary, I’d like to quote Professor Richard Feynman:

We must reach the clear understanding from the beginning that if a thing is not a science, it is not necessarily bad. For example, love is not a science. So, if something is said not to be a science, it does not mean there is something wrong with it; it just means it is not a science.

If someone were to ask me now for a book suitable for beginners, I would first recommend Psychology Hidden in Idioms. The book focuses on explaining psychological terminology, using a Chinese idiom in each chapter to introduce a concept before delving deeper. Moreover, it is filled with life wisdom and witty remarks that teach us the art of living.

I found the following commentary on defense mechanisms particularly enlightening:

Although defense mechanisms operate at a subconscious level, understanding them helps us bring subconscious mental activities into our conscious awareness. This not only allows us to know ourselves more deeply but also enables us to catch up with our “second reactions,” aiding both self-awareness and the rational resolution of anxiety-inducing problems.

Indeed, for me, psychology is a discipline that allows me to rediscover myself. The more I understand who I am, the better I can become.

What is philosophy?

Philosophy is the love (philo) of wisdom (sophy).

Is philosophy useful?

For me, it began as an exploration of the fear of death. But as I delved deeper, philosophical inquiry transformed into a way of being—a path toward living a better life. This book is a compilation of lectures by the Spanish master José Ortega y Gasset on the very question: “What is Philosophy?” The author offers profound insights into “what philosophy is”, “why we study it”, and “the nature of doubt and existence”. I found it immensely rewarding. There was a particular moment, while reading his brilliant exposition on Descartes, where I felt as if I’d been struck by lightning; I couldn’t help but gasp aloud. You have to understand, back in my school days, the orthodox philosophy was strictly Marxist materialism; anything resembling idealism was dismissed as heterodoxy.

So, what wisdom has philosophy given me?

I’m afraid I cannot answer that. As Hermann Hesse once said: “Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom.” Gasset echoes this sentiment:

What would one gain by sharing the results he hopes to find at the end of a difficult journey right at the start? Why should we begin our philosophical inquiry at the finish line?

If you, dear reader, wish to embark on your own philosophical journey, this book is an excellent starting point. And if some parts feel a bit dense, I’d suggest reaching for Immortality on the shelf next to it as a companion.