(June 9, 2012 at 3:50 pm)Ace Otana Wrote:(June 9, 2012 at 3:32 pm)Tempus Wrote: I've entertained the idea for a while that the more intelligent the person is the more prone they are to depression. I have no idea how this idea tracks reality (if at all). Since higher intelligence is correlated with atheism, it could be that intelligence is causing both depression and atheism. Though again, I haven't any idea whether that's actually the case or not and I have yet to read the study you've linked to. I'll give it a look and I might post again.
It could have something to do with that fact that when you understand reality and uncover the truth about it, you notice how cold and hard it is. The truth often is cold and hard and lies tend to be reassuring, pleasant, desirable ect,ect.
That's just my thought on the matter.
This reminded me of the Total Perspective Vortex from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. The most horrible torture device for a sentient being, it gives you one momentary glimpse of the entire unimaginable infinity of creation, and somewhere in it a tiny little mark, a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot, which says, "You are here."
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. - J.R.R Tolkien
