The Paradox of Disappearance
Exploring solitude, creativity, and authentic living in a connected world
“ If you are lonely when you’re alone, you are in bad company ” - Jean-Paul Sartre
Feeling extremely bored, I found myself browsing my old YouTube account. The algorithm suggested content related to "mysteries" and "disappearances," which I found interesting even though I couldn't recall why I was drawn to it when I was younger. As an older version of myself, I found it intriguing from a different perspective and started questioning why people disappear and whether the desire to disappear is a form of cognitive manipulation. I also wondered if the "art of disappearance" is becoming more necessary in today's world.
What are some reasons that might tempt someone to disappear? Though this question may seem complex, the answer lies in humanity's ongoing attempt to adapt to society. We often hear the phrase "I need a break" in today's world, but are we looking to explore ourselves or is it boredom with life that leads to these thoughts? Or, perhaps it's the constant search for freedom and purpose in life?
We will never know, I suppose. But one thing is clear, at the end of the day, it is nothing but our emotional fragility that makes us detached from the rest of society owing to our temperamental expectations. This very isolation from the rest of humanity is perhaps a desire, a desire which disguises itself as an opportunity, an opportunity to reshape the world the way you want to. Ever since the inception of philosophical thought, humans have always been in search of “meaning”, the exploration of which gave rise to the philosophy of existentialism. Theories after theories have resurfaced ranging from absurdism to nihilism but have men been able to find the meaning in life?
Why do some people crave isolation? It is said that a bright mind thrives only when it is alone, and philosophers like Sartre have dedicated their entire lives to amplifying this cause. The constraints of being judged by the outer world and the disrupting awareness of world events restrict creativity and development in the free world. Solitude provides us with the space to think freely and discover our interests. The constant pursuit of freedom is perhaps what instigates people to separate themselves from the rest of the world. But, to what extent do we know the connotations of personal freedom?
“Life is a continuous distraction, which does not even allow for consciousness of what it distracts from” - Kafka
According to Kafka, freedom is nothing but a means to deceive ourselves. Kafka believes that self-exploration will not bring us any closer to our actual purpose but rather divert us away from the path. The Kafkaesque philosophy implies one final destination, which is unavoidable, and anything else that does not correlate with our final destination is nothing but a distraction. Kafka asserts that freedom is nothing but an illusion, and he constantly highlights how the absence of a definite objective in life contributes to nothing but feelings of dejection and hopelessness.
On the other hand, ancient philosophers like Aristotle and Descartes have held the importance of free will in high regard. Their narrative considers freedom and self-determination to be the two most important virtues a man can possess to achieve greatness.
Thus, it is challenging to argue on what actual freedom looks like, but one thing is for sure. As residents of Earth, we have an inborn affinity toward achieving freedom.
It is certain that no matter how much one tries to escape the dreadful realm of life, he is bound to fail eventually. Freedom is the target, but it doesn’t serve its purpose unless it establishes some value in our lives. There are two aspects of a single reality, and whichever we might choose to assume, they both imply a bridge between one another. In our desired narrative, we crave a life free from the emotional loopholes that restrict our true identity, but in the other one, we have no choice but to live the life enforced onto us by modern standards of living.
Consider the example of Friedrich Nietzsche, the philosopher who perhaps possessed the most brilliant mind, which was never interpreted correctly. Try to put yourself in his shoes and imagine yourself as a highly intellectual figure, ruined by the injustices and ambiguities of the world as a whole. For a second, imagine that you have no career, no fame, no reputation, no friends, or family. In a situation like this, what could be the best decision for you? Of course, to disappear - into the realm of your utopian version of the world, and that is precisely what happened in his case. Isolated from the busy crowds of Prussia, Nietzsche settled in the quiet, serene Alps where he eventually succumbed to his inner world and irreality.
Well, what if we somehow manage to disappear? Would it make a difference? This reminds me of pretty much all of Kafka and Dostoevsky’s works, all of which are centered around one protagonist, and in almost every work, the author provides a deep introspective into the psychological condition of these characters. However, if one observes closely, none of the characters play an essential role in society, and thus their disappearance from the rest of the world makes simply no difference. Be it Gregor Samsa’s transformation into an enormous vermin in Metamorphosis or be it Raskolnikov’s doomed fate in Crime and Punishment, the thread that connects the two characters is their desperation to stay in solitude and reflect on their unfortunate fate. It is during the period of isolation that the author penetrates deep into the psychological realm of the characters.
However, the point is, that regardless of what these characters are going through, their existence in society is nothing but a burden. In case of their disappearance, society would be least affected or concerned, and the only people who might get affected are their family, but even they learn to adapt over time, and slowly but surely, these characters become nothing but victims of fate and fade into the realm of darkness.
Peter Bergmann, probably a name that you haven’t heard of, was a man who appeared suddenly and subsequently deceased without anyone claiming any relation to the man. As absurd as this case might seem, it is true, and in fact, every movement of the man in the small town of Sligo was captured in surveillance. To this date, no friend, family, or relative of this man has come forward and identified him. For all of us, this case might be nothing but another one of those unsolved internet mysteries, but for once, if we look at the case from a different perspective, we get to envisage the actual torment that Bergmann probably went through. He was no one but another loner, so much so that his disappearance made no difference.
Every year, thousands of people disappear, often intentionally. Should we be concerned about this? Is it something to worry about? The answers to these questions are not straightforward. The desire for isolation and freedom has always tempted humanity, and if it helps someone escape their tormenting agony, is it wrong?
Social media was supposed to connect us, strengthen our society, and maintain bonds with our families. However, it has weakened the very moral fiber that our relationships were built upon. Many social media users deactivate or abandon their accounts every day, with some never returning. Perhaps social media's alluring nature contradicts itself and makes us victims of inferiority. Maybe not everyone is suited to establish social validity as introverts.
Has life become boring for us? Think twice before answering. Has life truly become boring, or have we detached ourselves from the roots of social interaction as social creatures? Humans have thrived on this planet for millions of years, and humanity will continue to exist. However, our attitude towards achieving perfection will change. Isaac Asimov's novel The Naked Sun predicted an eccentric perfect society where social contact is eradicated and all personal contact is despised. Perhaps he was not entirely wrong.
Excellent! Debarko, u've truly delved into the deepest niche of this present generation's heart ❤️