Philosophy Now Forum

I have been called an anarchist before by a psychiatrist. Most of you who know me here would probably don't think me as one as I frequently argue in ways that appear pro-government or pro-authority, and I don't think of myself as one either.

But parts of me are definitely anarchist, and seems to stem from a direct fear of duty. It's not a fear of commitment per se, because I can easily commit and stay committed even, but I'm very fearful of being trapped inside a boundary of duty where I cannot escape obligations to both myself and others.

How should I go about persuading myself that some duties are definitely good, while others are more okay to break with?

It's anxiety and a desire for freedom that makes me resist the act of performing the duty, this is particularly towards myself. When there's a duty towards another person (a duty that I recognize, not just something others claim) I have a real incentive, but when there's a duty towards myself I seem often not to be able to care too much, at least not in the way I want to. I want to just be able to pursue my goal without either repressing myself nor running from the duty. A duty that doesn't "feel" like a duty, but something I can just aim towards because my want my desire are aligned... any ideas?

The Voice of Time wrote:I have been called an anarchist before by a psychiatrist. Most of you who know me here would probably don't think me as one as I frequently argue in ways that appear pro-government or pro-authority, and I don't think of myself as one either.

But parts of me are definitely anarchist, and seems to stem from a direct fear of duty. It's not a fear of commitment per se, because I can easily commit and stay committed even, but I'm very fearful of being trapped inside a boundary of duty where I cannot escape obligations to both myself and others.

How should I go about persuading myself that some duties are definitely good, while others are more okay to break with?

It's anxiety and a desire for freedom that makes me resist the act of performing the duty, this is particularly towards myself. When there's a duty towards another person (a duty that I recognize, not just something others claim) I have a real incentive, but when there's a duty towards myself I seem often not to be able to care too much, at least not in the way I want to. I want to just be able to pursue my goal without either repressing myself nor running from the duty. A duty that doesn't "feel" like a duty, but something I can just aim towards because my want my desire are aligned... any ideas?

Hi VofT,

Perhaps Kant could help here. I am sure Kant would want to say that the problem can be divided into sub-sections.

(a) Inclination can be distinguished from obligation. An obligation is something one ought to do despite the inclination to do otherwise. If no obligation exists then one is free to follow their inclinations.

(b) Acts done in 'accordance with duty'. These are usually acts that are forced upon us by outside agencies such as governments. I might have an inclination to drive my car as fast as it will go, but I run the risk of getting a speeding ticket.

(c) Acts done 'from a sense of duty' are the restraints we put upon ourselves. I don't speed because I have a duty to ensure the safety of my passengers and other road uses. Such acts are not done because of any fear factor. Fear of being fined.

Is this the type of thing you are getting at?

Don't think it's correct to think of duty as "constraint", although doing something does prohibit you from doing another thing.

I guess inclination is representative of desire here, sense of duty representative of "want", and accordance to duty I'm not so sure about if really matters in this context.

So in that sense I guess you can try and bring in Kant.