“Loneliness, a Pervasive Affliction in the Modern World”: A Conversation between Arash Naraghi and Mostafa Malekian

Professor Mostafa Malekian, a teacher and moral philosopher in contemporary Iranian society, in a live Instagram program organized by the "Ghadir Charity" and in conversation with Arash Naraghi, another esteemed Iranian thinker, raised noteworthy points regarding the affliction of loneliness in the modern world, which, due to their importance, my interest, and my field of work, I will present an account of. It goes without saying that the crisis of loneliness is today one of the most widespread maladies of the human world, to the extent that some Western countries have even established a "Ministry of Loneliness" to address it. It is evident that such an affliction is also significant and worthy of examination in Iranian society. In this regard, Mostafa Malekian, who has spent several decades of his precious life dedicated to the ethical living of human beings, has shown special attention to this affliction. In the aforementioned session, and regarding the intensification of the loneliness crisis, he discussed and examined two categories of factors: external factors and internal factors. The importance of his discussions lies in the fact that all of us humans are each confronted with these factors in various forms. A brief description of these factors is presented below.

A: External Factors of the Loneliness Affliction:

1- The loss of supernatural forces and their weakening in human life is the first factor in the intensification of the loneliness affliction. In his view, unlike in the ancient world, humans have lost their connection with supernatural forces, and this has led to the intensification of loneliness.

2- Extreme individualism is the second factor that causes loneliness for us humans. Atomism has today become a serious crisis in human life. In this factor, the human feels a kind of independence, self-sufficiency, and disconnectedness, and the result of the spread of such a thing is human loneliness and a lack of connection with others.

3- Adopting a success-oriented and achievement-driven lifestyle also plays an important role in our loneliness as humans. As long as all our efforts are directed towards gaining more power, pleasure, profit, and achievement, we have no need for connection with others, and this intensifies loneliness. Attention to external successes and goods draws us into competition and a lack of connection with others, and this matter plays an important role in the spread of loneliness.

4- The dominance of a consumerist and materialistic lifestyle is another factor intensifying loneliness. Today, consumerism has become a kind of lifestyle. Hence, as long as all our concern is for more consumption and living in material things, we have no need for socializing and companionship with others.

5- Dynamism, mobility, and migration for education, jobs, and professions are other factors intensifying loneliness. Such dynamisms in human life are inevitable, but it must be noted that through this, we are placed in an environment where we have no roots; rootlessness and lack of identity in a foreign environment are also factors of loneliness.

6- The expansion of communication technologies is another factor in the spread of loneliness. These communication devices create the illusion of connection, because there is no tangible, emotional relationship between two humans. Our existence in these networks is not crystalline; our relationship is not with body language, flesh, skin, bones, and our emotions.

7- The dominance of totalitarian governments and the spread of atomized individuals also intensifies loneliness. The atomized individual is the person favored by totalitarian governments. In these types of governments, efforts are made to close the doors and windows of people's personalities to one another and for a kind of isolation to prevail, because the togetherness of humans causes the ruling power to wither.

B: 5 Internal Factors of the Loneliness Affliction:

1- The lack of an authentic life and the adoption of a borrowed life are other causes and factors in the spread of loneliness. Based on existentialist literature, an authentic life means the kind of life that is undertaken based on one's own rational and moral discernment, but in a borrowed life, we live based on the minds and consciousness of others and to please them.

2- Attention to the value-judgments of others is also among the factors that play a role in reinforcing human loneliness. Our lives as humans should be indifferent to the judgment of others and solely according to moral standards. If we only behave ethically, we should not worry about the negative perceptions of others.

3- Pride is another factor in loneliness; the proud and arrogant person condemns himself to loneliness. The narcissistic individual does not have an attractive demeanor, and this is another factor for loneliness. Pride prevents us from drawing others to us. Arrogance manifests in behavior, actions, and body language, and alienates people from us.

4- Occupation and profession are another factor in the crisis of loneliness. Our job must be compatible with our being in order for us to escape loneliness. Love, talent, and our inner calling must be compatible with our job. Income is important, but our job must be compatible with our inner essence and existence. If our job is compatible with our being, we will engage in it with love, and the feeling of loneliness diminishes.

5- We must live according to our moral conscience so that we are not distant from ourselves. We must feel a sense of companionship with ourselves, and this requires having an integrated existence. If we are at one with ourselves, we do not feel lonely. A person must reach an inner peace with themselves so that tranquility is created for them.

In conclusion, according to Malekian, the internal factors of the affliction of loneliness have nothing to do with the modern era, and these factors, whether in the old world or the new, have always been grounds for the spread of loneliness. In contrast, the seven external factors have been strengthened and intensified in the modern era, and this has led to the reinforcement and spread of the affliction of loneliness in contemporary human life. It is worth mentioning that readers and those interested in such topics can, for a better understanding of the crisis of loneliness, study the two books "A Philosophy of Loneliness" by Lars Svendsen, and "The Labyrinth of Solitude" by Octavio Paz. These works help us gain the necessary insight and vision to understand the affliction of loneliness.

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Loneliness, a Pervasive Affliction in the Modern World

A Conversation between Arash Naraghi and Mostafa Malekian

Written report by Mokhtar Nouri (Graduate of Political Thought)

Watch the video on YouTube | Aparat

Listen on Anchor | Castbox

Download the audio of this session

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