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Relation to oneself· Presence

Diversion embraced

Axis: Attention and diversionIs diverting oneself a flight from what matters, or an art of living?

To divert oneself is not to betray one's life but to make it livable: no one can stare forever at death or misfortune, and diversion relieves, sometimes heals, sets us moving again. Knowing how to be distracted, to change objects, to play, to converse, is an art of living and a wisdom, not a weakness to blush at.

Problems
  • PrescriptiveExistential
    Captured attention

    When entire devices are designed to capture every available minute, is diverting oneself still a choice one owns, or must attention be defended as a scarce good, diversion ceasing to be an art the moment it is administered?

    attention-capturing devices