Adam Phillips Asks Whether Curiosity Is Good for Us
Is Curiosity Good for Us?
Psychoanalyst Adam Phillips examines why we fear our own curiosity, arguing that the superego—the internalized voice of guilt and shame—functions as the saboteur of self-inquiry. Curiosity is direction without a destination, a risk that exposes our helplessness and dependence, and we often delegate it to others rather than face what it might reveal about ourselves.
Curiosity is direction without a destination, as though the questions about curiosity are always: 'Where will it end? Will it end? And will it end well (whatever well is taken to be)?'
- GolfPopper
"What would make someone, anyone, phobic of their curiosity? What might be endangering about curiosity?"
We could send a ship and a crew out to Big Ben and ask Rorsach.
- psychoslave
That looks very interesting to go read it, but on the other hand who knows where this curiosity might lead to?!
- PandaRider
> (though Freud makes it clear that when it comes to sexuality, it is never entirely clear what it would be to satisfy our curiosity about sex)
Indeed. For such a predictably basic animal behavior, us humans (who pride our humanity as anything but animals) have an insatiable curiosity for "better" sex...
... (Perhaps more so for men then women)