The Fountainhead

[shadow_chimera]

I've almost finished this book. I found I was only able to enjoy it though a psychological perspective. The main characters make perfect examples of major disorders. The most obvious being the protagonist, who seems to be a textbook case of Anti-Social Personality Disorder (often called "sociopathy").  However, many of the other main characters

Comments

[shadow_chimera]

I don't think most people have an off switch for caring. Instead, it's up to us to weigh those cares and considerations of what others want against what we want and try to come up with what will be the best choice for us. If I wanted to, I could just use people to get what I want, but that would isolate me from others and in the end cause me unhappiness and pain. I could give into everything people wanted but that would lose me respect and in the end cause me unhappiness and pain. I feel that everyone must find their "middle road". For some it's closer to selfishness, for others selflessness, but it's important for people to not go completely to either side. To not be uncaring about anything others want, feel or say (sociopathy) but to also not be governed by others (leading to dependency, depression, or crippling anxiety).

You fear right now that you're leaning too far into the latter area, but I'm happy you don't have an off switch for caring. It means you're not a sociopath. What you need is to also care about yourself as well as others.

As someone who's been in an emotionless state due to pharmaceuticals, it isn't pleasant. You don't care, but you don't enjoy anything either, making you simply feel a disdain and boredom with life. Sadly, there's no situation where we only get to feel good emotions. But I think you deserve to be able to feel, to give and partake of good emotions. You just need to turn on your switch for caring about what you want as well as what others want.