Good old Boethius. In his 523 (AD, BCE) The Consolation of Philosophy he makes a number of memorable statements that have become platitudes, not because they are worthless thoughts, but because they are just plain true. In one of those statements, he notes that wealth engenders dependence.
I know. We are taught that achieving wealth means achieving independence and a higher level of freedom. We can travel. Build expense homes. Get second homes. Join exclusive clubs. Buy stuff. Buy more stuff. Buy even more stuff. Ah! Wealth.
But then who takes care of the wealth when we get to a certain level of riches? Accountants? Bankers? Investors? Security guards? You know you just can’t keep hiding it under the mattress. I guess Boethius has a point. The very result we hope to get from acquisition places us in its antithesis. Unless we want to stand guard 24/7 over that mattress, we have to rely on others to protect what we thought would make us truly independent.
So, should we go live a hermit’s life, dwell in a lean-to, gather berries, roots, and grubs, do a little hunting, and forego toilet paper to achieve “true” independence? No. You can if you want to, but even in the woods you will be dependent on something like the growth and abundance of food and water. Only a few individuals will be able to sustain themselves in such an environment. If everyone ran to the woods to live, the woods would diminish in extent and quality, the environment would undergo stress, and the multitude of “hermits” would bump into one another in their competition for berries. Conflict or cooperation would ensue, and both are forms of dependence.
You’re stuck in your dependence on others. But that doesn’t lessen who you are. Remember that someone else in some manner depends on you. Maybe your true wealth lies in how many people depend on you not simply for a purchase of goods or services, but for encouragement, emotional support, defense of character, knowledge, skill, cooperation, or advice.
I know. We are taught that achieving wealth means achieving independence and a higher level of freedom. We can travel. Build expense homes. Get second homes. Join exclusive clubs. Buy stuff. Buy more stuff. Buy even more stuff. Ah! Wealth.
But then who takes care of the wealth when we get to a certain level of riches? Accountants? Bankers? Investors? Security guards? You know you just can’t keep hiding it under the mattress. I guess Boethius has a point. The very result we hope to get from acquisition places us in its antithesis. Unless we want to stand guard 24/7 over that mattress, we have to rely on others to protect what we thought would make us truly independent.
So, should we go live a hermit’s life, dwell in a lean-to, gather berries, roots, and grubs, do a little hunting, and forego toilet paper to achieve “true” independence? No. You can if you want to, but even in the woods you will be dependent on something like the growth and abundance of food and water. Only a few individuals will be able to sustain themselves in such an environment. If everyone ran to the woods to live, the woods would diminish in extent and quality, the environment would undergo stress, and the multitude of “hermits” would bump into one another in their competition for berries. Conflict or cooperation would ensue, and both are forms of dependence.
You’re stuck in your dependence on others. But that doesn’t lessen who you are. Remember that someone else in some manner depends on you. Maybe your true wealth lies in how many people depend on you not simply for a purchase of goods or services, but for encouragement, emotional support, defense of character, knowledge, skill, cooperation, or advice.
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