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Oh, dear. I often end up getting into arguments when I post. Is it me? Don't answer that!
Suzy opined that some of the delusions that sabotage affairs of the heart also seem to be present in premies' felt relationship with rawat. I thought that was a good observation, but I also thought identifying them with the ideas of the Romantics was an interesting connection, and went on to suggest that other aspects of the 19th century world view that seemed to me to underlie new ageism might also be attributable to Romanticism to some extent at least. Is there anything there that is objectionable?
Maybe there is. I just went back and re-read my post. At the end, I shouldn't have used the phrase "pitfalls of the romantic/spiritual imagination" I shouldn't have implied that the romantic/spiritual imagination is merely negative. Obviously it's not. The imagination is obviously something that makes human life immeasurable richer. It's where the artist and the mystic (but maybe not the jaguar) roam and explore and return with insights that delight, amaze and shock us into a new appreciation of life. All forms of artistic expression are equally valid, though we all have our own tastes and preferences.
But I really don't think that Botton was denigrating romantic happiness. He was essentially offering the kind of advice about being realistic in relationships that you'll hear all the time from, say, Dan Savage (I speak as a regular listener). In fact, there is a whole movie about the kinds of problem he is discussing: He's Just Not That Into You, which is based on the records of two therapists. It's an ensemble piece with stories about various relationships that are doomed because people don't say what's on their mind, or can't accept each others imperfections, or refuse to believe the evidence that is staring them in the face. Like the girl who is ready to believe any outlandish reason why the guy hasn't called her, rather than the obvious one contained in the movie's title.
Maybe you should watch the video (or the movie, if you haven't already).
rgj
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