Acedia & anomie

If the rules of the conjugal morality lose their authority, and the mutual obligations of husband and wife become less respected, the emotions and appetites ruled by this sector of morality will become unrestricted and uncontained, and accentuated by this very release; powerless to fulfill themselves because they have been freed from all limitations, these emotions will produce a disillusionment which manifests itself visibly...

Emile D. Durkheim 

Anomie is a sociological term meaning "personal feeling of a lack of norms; normlessness". It describes the breakdown of social norms and values [1].

For Durkheim, anomie arises more generally from a mismatch between personal or group standards and wider social standards, or from the lack of a social ethic, which produces moral deregulation and an absence of legitimate aspirations.

Anomie is characterized by an absence or diminution of standards or values (referred to as normlessness), and an associated feeling of alienation and purposelessness. He believed that anomie is common when the surrounding society has undergone significant changes in its economic fortunes, whether for good or for worse and, more generally, when there is a significant discrepancy between the ideological theories and values commonly professed and what was actually achievable in everyday life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomie

Acedia (also accidie or accedie, from Latin acidĭa, describes a state of listlessness or torpor, of not caring or not being concerned with one's position or condition in the world. It can lead to a state of being unable to perform one's duties in life. Its spiritual overtones make it related to but distinct from depression.  Acedia is indicated by a range of signs. These signs (or symptoms) are typically divided into two basic categories: somatic and psychological. Acedia frequently presents signs somatically. Such bodily symptoms range from mere sleepiness to general sickness or debility.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accidie

Durkheim discussed anomie's effect on the goals of individuals, and corresponding happiness. As social restraints are weakened, humans do not have limits upon their desires and aspirations. Where their goals were once limited by social order and morality, goals now become infinite.  Durkheim warns, "one does not advance when one proceeds toward no goal, or -- which is the same thing -- when the goal is infinity. To pursue a goal which is by definition unattainable is to condemn oneself to a state of perpetual unhappiness"

Without knowing history, we are doomed to repeat it.

I read the news today and wandered back to a fleeting remembrances of Durkheim and had do a limited amount of research.  If only we knew where we were headed, and what the consequences were, we would still go along for the ride?  Careful who you cheer for, I guess. 

I read the news today oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well I just had to laugh

Lennon/McCartney – A Day in the Life

The video, related? Maybe not.  Interesting concept though.  The egoist in video. Purposelessness captured.  I need a better entrance to the weekend.  Durkheim is too dark.  Comments?

1. http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/chinas-school-killings-and-social-despair/?ref=world