The question is when do we really give up? It strikes me that this is the most difficult question rather than coming to terms with the prospect of giving up. Giving up as a thing to do is something we all do at some point in some aspect of our lives. Indeed, even growing up and acknowledging our responsibilities is giving up the pleasure…
The question is when do we really give up? It strikes me that this is the most difficult question rather than coming to terms with the prospect of giving up. Giving up as a thing to do is something we all do at some point in some aspect of our lives. Indeed, even growing up and acknowledging our responsibilities is giving up the pleasure of infancy without its pleasurable conditions of no responsibility and all the time in the world to explore and simply have fun.
But it strikes me knowing when to give up can only truly be achieved with hindsight. Thus doesn't it make sense we would resist it until there is no other way? In the example of de-nazification that is a classic historical case of giving up far too early and easily. Rather than prosecuting many of the senior and secondary tiers of the leadership we gave up, allowed Nazis who knew about and participated in the Holocaust to return to their lives and failed to achieve a wider justice for the victims and their families.
On the opposite side of the coin you can point to the war on terror as withdrawing too late. In reality the Bush administration should have realised their strategy was doomed to failure by 2005-2006 rather than keep it going for another couple of years. This arguably had other kinds of impacts from giving up too early.
So, surely the question is really knowing about when to give up and acknowledge the signs? But even this is difficult given the sheer amount of stories of successful people who perhaps most would say should have given up earlier. Think of the works (like Harry Potter) which have faced constant rejection until eventually someone says 'yes'. In some ways not knowing when to give in allows us the spirit and determination to break new boundaries and shows us the essence of being human.
Really good points, Sam! There's some utility in at least *some* people not knowing when to give up, however obdurate and irrational they may seem in the moment.
The question is when do we really give up? It strikes me that this is the most difficult question rather than coming to terms with the prospect of giving up. Giving up as a thing to do is something we all do at some point in some aspect of our lives. Indeed, even growing up and acknowledging our responsibilities is giving up the pleasure of infancy without its pleasurable conditions of no responsibility and all the time in the world to explore and simply have fun.
But it strikes me knowing when to give up can only truly be achieved with hindsight. Thus doesn't it make sense we would resist it until there is no other way? In the example of de-nazification that is a classic historical case of giving up far too early and easily. Rather than prosecuting many of the senior and secondary tiers of the leadership we gave up, allowed Nazis who knew about and participated in the Holocaust to return to their lives and failed to achieve a wider justice for the victims and their families.
On the opposite side of the coin you can point to the war on terror as withdrawing too late. In reality the Bush administration should have realised their strategy was doomed to failure by 2005-2006 rather than keep it going for another couple of years. This arguably had other kinds of impacts from giving up too early.
So, surely the question is really knowing about when to give up and acknowledge the signs? But even this is difficult given the sheer amount of stories of successful people who perhaps most would say should have given up earlier. Think of the works (like Harry Potter) which have faced constant rejection until eventually someone says 'yes'. In some ways not knowing when to give in allows us the spirit and determination to break new boundaries and shows us the essence of being human.
Really good points, Sam! There's some utility in at least *some* people not knowing when to give up, however obdurate and irrational they may seem in the moment.
Thanks Shadi! It's a fascinating question and definitely all kinds of things you can talk about in relation to it :)