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By the pool, with Schopenhauer

Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.

To live alone is the fate of all great souls

Religion is the masterpiece of the art of animal training, for it trains people as to how they shall think

My friend Solange lent me this book, "The Schopenhauer Cure", by Irvin Yalom. It's not exactly the ideal reading for a sunny Saturday by the pool, but I really enjoyed the first chapters. It's better to think of death when we still have some life ahead... So we have time to make some new mistakes and  recycle the old ones.

The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty supply the commentary on it.

Quotes by Arthur Schopenhauer;

 

Photos taken with my cellphone.
COMMENTS
Noe said at 8:00 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
This is nice
Mthorne said at 8:02 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
very profound.
Eduardo.affonso said at 8:09 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
NOE & MELISA: It was a nice day, and the novel seems to be quite profound, indeed. It's about a therapist who uses philosophy to deal with the perspective of his own death. I recommend it.
Chiloedream said at 8:14 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
Encore un grand Tabblo, j'adore, images et textes, longue vie à Arthur (mais existe-t-il encore? dans nos pensées certainement). Vivre seul est le destin des grandes âmes, je suis grand quelque part depuis quelques années... Bravo Eduardo, amitiés.
Chiloedream said at 8:17 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
I forget that : congratulations to your cellphone, can you phone too with it? Amitiés.
Mashpee_Paula said at 8:25 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
Very Cool! Reminds me of a puzzle!
Liliana said at 9:07 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
No concibo ir a la pileta sin un libro... me identifico totalmente (no sé si con el texto en sí, pero es otra historia). Y hablando de historias... todo me resulta muy confuso, excepto el esquema (perfecto, armonioso, purísimo ) del Tabblo...¿Por qué una "cura"...?
Nmat said at 9:27 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
Water and shadows, two of my favorite things. And thanks for the book recommendation, it sounds interesting and I will check the library here for it.
Jasontengco said at 9:32 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
very nice tabblo...i don't know why but it's got a very modern and retro feel at the same time :)
Engelgrafik said at 9:55 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
Excellent Tabblo... dig the faraway shots of the people at the pool. Very "Vegas".
Jillcdunn said at 11:04 p.m. on Oct 30, 2006:
You took these with your cellphone?! Wow. I love your layout and the way you interspersed the quotes. This is such a lovely tabblo--very tranquil and meditative.
Siagian said at 2:12 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
i can appreciate your point of view. both photos and text. você tem uma filosofia interessante a viver sua vida. ( i hope that came out right...)
Chingyo said at 3:32 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see. - brilliant!
Pondering immortality and change while lounging and enjoying the moment you have seems completely appropriate to me...
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:06 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
CHILOE: Our dear Arthur died in 1860, but he is more alive than ever. His philosophy influenced Nietzsche & Freud, I am afraid I'll the next...
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:08 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
PAULA: It's indeed a puzzle, not only for the pics, but also for the quotes and the book itself. The difference is that there's not only way to put the pieces together.
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:12 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
LILIANA: Ainda não li o suficiente para entender o conceito de cura associadoà filosofia. Pode ser uma "cura da alma", não sei. Trata-se da história de um terapeuta que, com um diagnóstico de câncer e pouco tempo de vida, revê sua trajetória para ter certeza de que seu trabalho realmente teve algum efeito. E ele começa justamente pelo que considera seu maior fracasso: um paciente que abandonou o tratamento há 20 anos, sem qualquer melhora. O tal paciente é agora um estudioso de filosofia, apaixonado por Schopenhauer, e propõe que a filosofia ajude o velho terapeuta e enfrentar suas questões. Estava um bom dia para ler à beira da piscina: sol, quase ninguém, silêncio. Não tinha a cam, mas o celular ajudou a registrar as cenas.
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:13 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
NANCY: I'm sure you'll like it. Hope you'll make your own tabblo about your experience reading this book, and let's share our opinions about it.
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:15 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
JASON: A lonely man reading about death by the pool seems to be very retro, indeed... :)
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:16 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
JEFF: That's what I don't like about my condo: it's too "Vegas" for my taste (well, it's called "Four Seasons Residence Service"... in English!). But it's pretty comfortable and I work nearby - and not many people go swimming early Saturday morning, so I sometimes can have it exclusivelly for me.
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:18 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
JILL: Only the pics from faraway (from my balcony) were taken with my regular cam. For the other ones I used my cell phone. It was really a tranquil and meditative morning, and the tabblo reflects that moment.
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:20 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Hey, WOODY, your Portuguese seems to be much better than my English! In fact it's not my philosophy yet, but I'm getting into it. Glad to know we share the same thoughts. You, I and Arthur...
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:21 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
I'm dealing with these questions right now, CHINGYO, that's why this book (and philosophy) are so appropriate for this moment.
DEE-Trow said at 7:53 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Eduardo, first I am with Jill that I cannot believe that alot of the photos were taken with your cellphone. The pictures you took, and the narrative you included, make me feel like I was right there with you feeling what you were feeling. So many of my Tabblos are for fun. Not too many are serious as this one is. It is very insightful. Definitely well done. I really like the last couple of sentences. As for me, I already have the text. I've been working on the commentary for a few years now. I am enjoying the commentary so much more than the text. Have a great day, Eduardo.
Eduardo.affonso said at 9:03 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
My cellphone is even able to talk, DEE!! I seldom use it for taking pictures because there's no way to be sure of the framing, exposure, focus. But it's perfect for such "casual moments", when the "truth" is most important than our "view" (or version) of things. I've been "commenting" for the past 7 years, but I'd gladly rewrite the whole text if I was allowed to.... Have a great day, and a loooooooooong commentary ahead!
Thebeautifullife said at 11:09 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Great Tabblo! I enjoyed the pics and quotes. Your cell phone takes such great pictures! So clear. My fav pic was the man swimming in his speedo across the empty pool....
Thebeautifullife said at 11:10 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
but i change my mind on that being my fav picture if my husband reads this...:-D...then, it is the glasses on the book.... :-)
Pkeener said at 5:49 p.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Eduardo, this Tabblo really touches me in so many ways. Visually, it is equisite... the colors, the point of views on the shots, the awesome way you put it together. I love the use of shadows and your feet to tell the story! You are truly a master of composition and style. I always identify with your philosophies in all of your Tabblos. Happy or Dark, they are always provocative.
Banafsheh said at 12:37 a.m. on Nov 1, 2006:
Deep perhaps! but Dude ,you you got some nice feet!
ElZorroTOX said at 8:19 a.m. on Nov 1, 2006:
Eduardo: As always I enjoy your Tabblos. Schopenhauer's philosophy sounds "right on" to me. Saravá!
Eduardo.affonso said at 10:52 a.m. on Nov 1, 2006:
KELLY: It could be worse: you could have mentioned my feet (as Banafshed did...) instead of the anonymous swimmer. The glasses are a good second choice ("don't go for second best, baby!") just in case Mr. Wonderful Life decides to take a look at this tabblo.
Eduardo.affonso said at 10:55 a.m. on Nov 1, 2006:
Thanks, PAM. As Dee once said, we don't share just pics, we share life here. I'm glad I could share some thoughts with these photos & quotes. It's not as provocative as some other tabblos I've already seen, but it has reached its goal since it has touched you.
Eduardo.affonso said at 10:56 a.m. on Nov 1, 2006:
Thanks, BANAFSHEH. I was afraid none would notice my feet!!!
Eduardo.affonso said at 10:59 a.m. on Nov 1, 2006:
Saravá, EL ZORRO! May I suggest that you create a tabblo taking some philosophical ideas as theme? This could be an interesting challenge, don't you think so? No, no, I don't think Madonna or Jennifer Lopez could be considered philosophers in some way.
Liliana said at 7:23 p.m. on Nov 1, 2006:
Ahora veo que también tenés "Cuando N. lloró"...¿Te volviste un fanático...? :)
Eduardo.affonso said at 8:40 a.m. on Nov 2, 2006:
Não, Liliana, não tenho o pranto nietzschiano, só mesmo a suposta cura schopenhaueriana. Mas talvez me torne um fanático por filosofia. Se tiver neurônios para tanto, claro.
Liliana said at 8:48 p.m. on Nov 2, 2006:
Eduardo, ¿¿¿¿tan mal veo???? Yo veo, en la foto del libro bajo los anteojos, abajo, el otro del "pranto"... ¿Es una visión profética, un sueño, un reflejo...?
DEE-Trow said at 6:06 p.m. on Nov 3, 2006:
Wow, Eduardo, a Featured Tabblo! Very, very cool. Congratulations!!!!!
Eduardo.affonso said at 2:13 p.m. on Nov 5, 2006:
Aparentemente, está precisando de óculos para ver menos... Deve estar vendo com os olhos do futuro, possivelmente.
Eduardo.affonso said at 2:14 p.m. on Nov 5, 2006:
Still don't know what a "featured tabblo" means, DEE, but... thanks anyway :)
Katkee said at 1:49 p.m. on Feb 12, 2007:
~i think you hit both targets~
Leftofcenter said at 3:13 p.m. on Sep 25, 2007:
man oh man, it's been almost a year since you released this tabblo, i can only say it in French UN BIJOU!! the glasses on the book, the flip flops, the feet peeking from behind the pages - and that water, cleansing, purifying, so blue... it's almost a club med ad, the pool, the palm trees, the yellow speedo... but then you introduce us to whats-his-face, very deep, Freud would've had a field day with this one, i simply love it!!! a year later- oh well. ;)
Leftofcenter said at 3:14 p.m. on Sep 25, 2007:
thx P- u should be his publicist!
Charlespop said at 2:17 a.m. on Nov 14, 2008:
Love it !
Eduardo.affonso said at 5:51 a.m. on Nov 14, 2008:
Hi, CHARLES, thanks for visiting this old, old tab. And thanks for bringing me back to it, too - I need to read these quotes again.

ANNELIES: I think I hadn't read your comments until now (more than one year after you posted them). Well, it's never too late to say... you are always welcome! I will consider your suggestion to be Schopenhauer's (or maybe Freud's...) publicist.
Welshchick said at 9:19 p.m. on Feb 14, 2009:
I've NEVER lived alone...never. Guess that says something about me, eh? :^)
Eduardo.affonso said at 9:27 a.m. on Feb 16, 2009:
I left home (to live by myself) when I was 15. I used to share my apartment with some friends when I was at University, but have been living alone for many years now. And I do enjoy it. Don't know if I would be able to live with someone else (human beings, of course, because dogs are a perfect match to me).
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