What if the voice of depression is the voice of reason?

[The Grey Man]

Benjamin Franklin said that the sting of any reproach is its truth. Indeed, unless one is so diffident as to be be unable to reject patently false claims about himself, he is not going to suffer from a rebuke unless it is rooted in and makes him aware of some real defect in his character or deeds. All rebukes, then, are rooted in an incongruity between what the object of the rebuke is and what he wants to be; and his awareness of this incongruity is not necessarily occasioned by someone else's comments; for, in some cases, the subject and the object of the rebuke are one and the same, as in the case of the "tortured genius."

A whole genre of movies and TV shows is dedicated to portrayals of the ascetic superman who spurns social norms in his relentless pursuit of truth or power, and whose family and friends continually feel the 'sting' of his theoretical and practical rejection of the hypocrisy and mediocrity of conventional life, even as they punish him for his transgressions (e.g. House, M.D., starring Hugh Laurie). The superman's rejection of mediocrity doubles as a rejection of what he would be lowered to if he abandoned his quest for excellence, so that, in a sense, he is motivated by the sting of his own reproach.

And what is this self-stinging of the melancholic genius if it is not depression? We are told that depression is a 'voice' that abuses us and wants to be cured, like a disease, but what if it is our inchoate awareness of our own moral and intellectual weakness?

 

[Black Rose]

Cynicism

The pessimistic view on humanity.

Just do not care anymore.

Bitterness.

Avoiding pain through cruel realism.

projection.

 

[BurnedOut]

...in some cases, the subject and the object of the rebuke are one and the same, as in the case of the "tortured genius."

Firstly, I don't understand why geniuses need to be tortured by themselves in the first place. These tortured genius try to persistently defy norms not because they are representatives of falsehood but due to their own itch of defying them. Dr. House is more of a phony than a genuine man because his character is based on poking holes in everything that has even acceptable modicums of pretense.

Simply poking holes in everything and being nihilistic, being depressed due to existential questions for an entire lifetime or whining about the world being a lacklustre place only inhibits the potential one genius possesses.

These 'rebukes' hurt because they keep exposing the want of this peculiar character of living harmoniously and their real internal disdain for constant rejection and their own cavalier attitude. But then, they continue to enjoy the infantile fun of defiling authority and feeling orgasmic about it because they think that these rebukes are nothing but motivators to continue such destructive behaviours. Ironically, they are never able to understand its underlying moral undertone. It is a simple assertion, "Fuck you asshole, I will always be better than you."

And what is this self-stinging of the melancholic genius if it is not depression? We are told that depression is a 'voice' that abuses us and wants to be cured, like a disease, but what if it is our inchoate awareness of our own moral and intellectual weakness?

I think that you are absolutely right when you say that depression in such cases are a moral reckoning than a persistent plague. Although, I don't agree that depression in general is indicative of internal moral uprightness. I have personally experienced, seen and have read scientific accounts of depression arising out of perceived moral uprightness which are impossible for others to cater to the depressed person. Other reasons include stubbornness, irrational beliefs, etc (apart from the usual reasons - betrayal, sadness, death, etc)

Depression saddens in a lot of case because it is not able to get its own version of happiness to deter itself. This essentially means that some people are self-destructive because they choose to be. Their lack of acceptance of the world makes them hypocrites and they are forever stuck in the cycle of being sad for not being fulfilled.

 

[sushi]

it often it, just dont cricle jerk and dwell on it.

write it down and move on.

 

[Siouxsie]

In lacanian psychoanalysis melacholy is a delusion of unworthiness. Guilt reaches ridiculous dimensions, but not for that the melacholic is less guilty, of course, if we understand the atack to the self as a disguised murder directed to the object of love. Melacholy is the pain of existence shown to open skies, it´s crude, but real. The self is just an illusion and melacholy tries to kill it.

Maybe not a moral weakness, but a crude display of the nonsense and pain we all experience. I personally have much respect for melacholy and depression.

 

[ZenRaiden]

Easiest cure for depression and most natural is religion. For better effect go orthodox.

 

[Siouxsie]

Why would you want to cure depression?

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

One should strive to improve. This wouldn't be depression in the sense of hopelessness but in the persevering through pain that comes from the pursuit of goals. In particular, things that are good should be made goals. One should strive to be righteous. The righteous suffers at the hands of society for resisting evil. It is weak, you won't cheat! And the conspiracy of evil drives down the righteous. Certainly those who strive for something greater than themselves feel the pain of self-sacrifice. Putting one's joy as some distant island, rather than a nearby landing. If this is the case, the issue needs remedy. Striving while surviving, but treating oneself in accurate standings. Sometimes being hard on oneself goes too far, especially when one is already going well. Seek the highest heights as your goal, and resist the pressures of this world which urge you to betray worthy ideals. Furthermore, go past the world by seeking for those things which are eternal. Seek salvation; let not worldly success be your motto. We are all in this, and will continue to be. What will you be?