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you are here: > Self > 7.
Mind and self
| 7.15 |
Ego and mental illness
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| In the previous section of Chapter 5, we outlined one of the top 10 trends of modern society is the explosion of mental illness. | ||
| We also discussed that this pandemic remains something both highly controversial and stubbornly refuted by many "experts" and governments. As a result, precious little resource is allocated world wide into both understanding its causes and finding a cure. | ||
| In the meantime, it is time to reveal a strong and compelling connection to the rise of mental illness and the development of the modern ego. Furthermore, it is also time to make the connection between the growth of ego and the growth and sophistication of money. | ||
| 7.15.1 | The lack of "I" prior to 600 BCE in Europe | |
| Is it pure coincidence that the concept of "I", of "self" in Europe coincided with the birth of portable coinage in Greek city states and the emergence of the warrior/poet class? | ||
| Some might say yes, but there is strong evidence to suggest that the invention of not only coinage but easily redeemable money (money that was universally accepted as having real value and highly exchangeable) allowed people the time to think about themselves, without having to spend every working day slaving to make a living. | ||
| Evidence even today shows clearly that people who must constantly work each and every day do not have the practical time to "navel gaze" and look inward. The humble farmer remains a noble image in many cultures as a class of people somehow blessed with not having the curse of the modern city ego. | ||
| 7.15.2 | The sophistication of English money and the sophistication of English culture and ego | |
| Once again, is it pure coincidence that the growth in sophistication of English money in the development of paper money, of companies for trade and insurance to cover potential trade losses also coincided with a boom in English culture and ego? | ||
| Maybe, maybe not. What is clear however is that with the new found wealth and booming cultural development of England came the growth of severe mental disease. So strong is this cultural heritage that even today the saying "mad dogs and Englishmen.." remains a phrase recognizing the English as somehow having a higher degree of susceptibility to madness. | ||
| Many ludicrous excuses for this connection remain part of the rationale for this apparent connection, including the alleged poor weather of England. Yet many European and Asian centres receive the same climactic conditions without any of the historic signs of mental illness of England. | ||
| 7.15.3 | The explosion of American consumer credit, American culture and mental illness | |
| The United States is credited in the creation of the modern mass-consumer age of credit (debt) fuelled purchase and marketing culture. Even today, the United States commands around 23% of the worlds economy, largely dominated by the spending and consuming power of their population. | ||
| At the same time, the American culture of the individual, of the American dream dominates the Western world in movies, music, art, clothes and virtually all apsects of human culture. | ||
| The United States population is also said to have one of the highest rates of mental illness. Again are these things all coincidence, or once again are we seeing the connection between the sophistication of money, the consequential sophistication and growth of ego and mental illness? | ||
| 7.15.4 | The clear connections between ego, money and mental illness | |
| Money is not necessarily a bad thing, nor is a sense of self, nor even the odd eccentric thought. But what is clear is that the pandemic of mental illness has a clear connection to the development of our modern society and more particularly to our sense and behaviour of self and that there is a clear link between our egos and the sophistication of money. | ||
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