Recently I had cause to check the specific definition of ‘nihilism’ for a book I’ve been working on. That definition led to a new word for me – ‘anomie’. I don’t mean a new word for ‘me’, but for my vocabulary if you see what I mean. Anyway, here’s the definition:
anomie, also spelled anomy , in societies or individuals, a condition of instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values or from a lack of purpose or ideals.
It seems to me that this is close to being a symptom of depression. Bear with me…
I have just started reading the biography of Bruce Chatwin by Nicholas Shakespeare. I don’t usually read biographies, but my reading pile has come to an end for now, bar one. Early days yet, but I’m enjoying it. Anyway, back to the point: Chatwin when just a schoolboy said ‘Everyone needs a quest as an excuse for living’.
So the question arises: ‘Is questing a cure for depression’?
That’s quite a leap, but I can see that having drive towards a specific end might shift a depressive’s focus. A quest is a search, though, and ‘anomie’ suggests a failed search or at least a lack of belief in the findings of a search.
I think I just failed the philosophy examination…
Back to pseud’s corner for me.
