the end of solitude

solitude, historically, has been seen as a societal value. it was respected as a time of introspection and sustained reading. Lionel Trilling understood “sincerity” to be the self validated by the congruity of public appearance and private essence. Marilynne Robinson described times of reading as an encounter with a second self in the silence of mental solitude.

enter twenty-first century technology. the web fosters a culture of connectivity through social networks and instant communication. digital photography creates a paparazzi for the masses, a mini-celebrity culture. through Facebook, Twitter, and the blogosphere we are in constant contact. the power of social networks is defining the contemporary self, wrote David Brooks.

as individuals become perpetually social, they develop an aversion to being alone. their efforts to stave off the possibility of solitude increase. the web engenders this aptitude for loneliness. loneliness meaning the grief over an absence of company, not the absence itself. and we sit alone at our computers, striving to maintain the imaginative presence of others.

William Deresiewicz The Chronicle Review “The End of Solitude.” Vol. 55 Iss. 21 Pg. B6
The Economist “Homo mobilis.” April 12, 2008.