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Wasn't watts an alcoholic 😂

When he died in his 50s, Alan Watts was downing at least a whole bottle of vodka a day. He had been an alcoholic (& heavy smoker) for many years. According to his daughter he ended up in the hospital a few times with delirium tremens. While he never attempted a full philosophical justification of his alcoholism (he actually hid it from the public), he *did* covertly attempt a partial justification of it via a defense of hedonism in the context of eastern thought. This would provide just enough justification to protect his sense of self from the low status afforded to alcoholics and thus protect the rest of his valuable output - his intelligent exposition, interpretation and modern application of at least some aspects of eastern philosophy to a western public. Aided of course by his mesmerizing voice and articulation. It wasn’t that Alan Watts’ hedonistic (mis)interpretations of eastern thought were the main motivator behind his alcoholism (+heavy smoking). It was the other way around It was his alcoholism (+heavy smoking) that were the main motivator behind his specious interpretations of (certain aspects of) ascetic philosophies like Buddhism & Taoism; of rationalizations amounting to “oh well you can’t improve yourself anyways (so let me drink up)”. The issue is further complicated by the fact that drug addiction generally, including alcoholism, do have some arguably Taoistic elements (or potential), in the sense that they can indeed diminish worldly ambition and material pursuits, which are reductions in very problematic areas of desire. After all, the Taoist way: **Empties people’s hearts Fills their bellies Weakens their ambitions.** (Tao Te Ching ch. 3) We could imagine a world where everyone was a junkie just growing food, opium and fermenting alcohol- focused mostly on their next fix or their next drink-with all other ambitions and projects discarded or greatly subdued. Such a world might sound dystopian, but it would lead to far smaller environmental footprint, greatly diminishing the colossal suffering associated with countless species extinctions. Thus it would be far more in “harmony with nature”, and by virtue of its focus on “visceral hedonism” more embracing of “simplicity” - rejecting many categories of desire. And while this “narcotized” world would come at the cost of a great decrease in human lifespan (& population), it is perhaps even arguable that such a world would amount to no greater human suffering than the one we currently have. Whatever the ostensibly Taoist aspects of this unlikely and imaginary world of viscerally hedonic individuals, the Taoist potential of “viscerally hedonic” tendencies in the real world is far more partial and ambiguous- whether at the individual or collective level. And more to the point, it is by and large incompatible with the actual content of Taoist and Buddhist texts, all of which have an ascetic emphasis. What Watts does is downplay or reframe the ascetic aspects of these philosophies, which then lends related aspects (like Wu Wei) to a hedonistic re-interpretation. He might, for instance, reframe the notion of reducing desire as an attempt to *completely* get rid of desire- then adding the facile “aha” observation that it’s a contradiction to “desire getting rid of desire”. From this he will imply that reducing desire is self-defeating (even though ch. 64 of the Tao Te Ching says “sages desire not to desire”). The flaw of this “argument” is obvious once we translate it into real world situations: e.g. the desire to drink less than the whole bottle of vodka Watts used to drink daily was self-defeating because it’s as much of a “desire” as the “desire” to drink the whole bottle. Watts even implied that his binge drinking + chain smoking were actually a “triumph of humanity“ and “full humanness”, the honest realization of “irreducible rascality”, of “being both angel and devil, both reasonable and passionate, both mystic and sensuous”-dropping false and harmful “pretenses [to] sainthood”. In other words, he better not abstain from drinking that whole bottle of vodka or he would be pretending to be some fictitious enlightened saint and missing out on this “triumph of humanity” and “full humanness”. This hedonic “full humanness” can now be made compatible with parts of ch. 19 of the Tao Te Ching: **Throw away holiness and wisdom, and people will be a hundred times happier. Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right thing.** Watts’ apparent translation: “If I throw away sobriety, binge drink & chain smoke I’ll do the right thing & be 100 times happier.” Even if we optimistically assumed a reduction in harmful wordly ambitions brought about by a focus on visceral hedonism, there are familiar pitfalls such as hedonic treadmills & collateral damage from the resulting heedlessness. Certainly in areas like alcoholism + smoking we have pretty solid medical evidence of the reduction in calming brain chemicals like GABA overtime leading to greater anxiety- as well as the negative pain-to-pleasure ratio (hyperalgesia) brought about by the physical damage caused by alcohol (+ tobacco). And of course some individuals become more prone to violence when under the influence of alcohol. Watts dowplayed this violent tendency as well, praising the “civilizing” social lubricant role that wine drinking had in Mediterranean regions- indirectly legitimizing his own excessive drinking by framing it in terms of pro-social behavior. This was also self-serving in a different way, because his alcoholism was not representative of that of an average individual. Watts was said to be a social “happy drunk”. Many alcoholics are of course not necessarily social and not necessarily peaceful when they drink. Most do not have the wit and charisma of an Alan Watts, nor the social status that would allow them to avoid social stigma. In any case, on the positive side one can say that even with his bias for visceral (& aesthetic) hedonism -as evident by his comments on a preferable “robust material culture” in this video th-cam.com/video/jgqL9n6kZc8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=wVAIjliyYNRghTTB Watts’ critique of modern society is largely valid-even while he downplays the fact that our addiction to what he calls the “contemplation of a twittering screen” stems largely from the same escapism as his alcoholism. Furthermore, as Watts knew, it is unrealistic and even unnatural to expect the masses to become ascetic. And given his preference for a more participatory (anarcho-communist Kropotkin-esque) society, he thought the best form of hedonism would be of a more pro-social character, leaning toward things like celebration, music and alcohol. This political consideration was likely also a factor in his downplaying of Taoist & Buddhist asceticism, although it ranked, in my estimation, substantially below his own alcoholism. If we consider the work of Ernest Becker, we can conclude that humans do indeed need to escape into some other reality in order to avoid the insignificance represented by death. In primitive society, the natural asceticism brought about by material scarcity facilitated a strong sense of spirituality or cosmic significance- of course aided by religious myth. Despite our scientific disillusionment with religious myths, the ascetic practices of eastern thought may still be able to facilitate a certain sense of spirituality or cosmic significance which may constitute our best form of escapism in the modern era.

Alan died a drunk tho eh.

Oh Alan I do love you where ever you are

Damn 👀

‘Cause who do you think the devil is !! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

Many years ago I was an aid in an alcohol rehab. I saw firsthand that people often quit suddenly. They just woke up one day and something had clicked in their psyche that said they were done drinking. Most of them, that I had the privilege of following, never drank again. I have known friends and relatives who experienced the same phenomenon. I have experienced it myself. Having had many conversations about this with others who shared the experience, none of us could ever come up with a reason that this occurred. I firmly believe that there is no outside force or inside force that can make someone turn around. There is some unknown force that we do not yet understand. Yet another one of life's many mysteries.😀

How ironic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chogayam Trungpa should have watched this video too...

The stupid emotive music is not a help but a hindrance

He died alcooholic ? ... as many geniuses ...

It took a life threatening issue that i could only find the courage to give up drinking 5yrs clean today ❤

Got myself addicted to cocaine. That and going through a breakup makes this whole scenario so stop altogether

Thanks Alan, will leave my addiction from now on.

Not quite

25 days clean off of alcohol, marijuana, and vaping. Feeling good my brothers and sisters.

Why are you drowning out his voice with this fucking stupid ass corny music you idiot

Hate the music!!!!!! Lovely Alan, tho.

This is spot on. You just realise one day that you can't do it - your will, your ego, cannot do it. You surrender to this powerlessness. You open yourself to the help of a power greater than yourself, whatever that may mean. Suddenly power is available to you. You had to give in to win.

Wine kills slowly

Losers

Supremely Ironic considering how Alan Watts died. Thats why i love him. He was human❤

All the music haters here again 🤣😂🤣 It's both reason and heart you clods. If you want all mind and no heart then you really do need Alan Watts, but without feeling and just wanting information then you'll never get out of the thinking mind. If you're here to hear words or music, then you're missing the point.

❤

This video came in the right moment

Yet Watts surrendered himself to alcohol. The way I see it is we're all addicted to something. Most philosophers/ introspective people tend to use substances to cope with life since life in its essence is empty and pointless. Alan Watts didn't follow his own advice and there's a reason for that.

YEAHHHHHHHHHHH. I love you devil, come <3 but be willing to go when it is time <3 and if u could help me never hurt myself in the process ( the REAL ME SZ)

The hirony of this, is that i'm drinking a wiskey wile i'm listening to this.......😢

To those who say he was an alcoholic himself, there is a very old saying that says : do as he says not as he does ..

Alan wats❤

Real.🎉😮

It's because your decision and your will are what created the problem of drinking too much... that's why I have a power greater than myself, which allows me to overcome drinking by surrendering to his will. God I offer myself to thee -- to build with me and to do with me as thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy power, Thy love, and Thy way of life. May I do Thy will always!

Thanks uploader for the loud music i allmoast heard something :)

I believe that there is really no answer there just is and we are masters of our own life only if we choose to be or not to be at the end of the day it's our choice and we will own whatever that choice is goddamn it. Stay blessed and truthful

Great insight and video. The music is a little overwhelming

I feel like I'm squinting with my ears to hear the man speak. Music is way too loud. I believe a re-upload is in order.

Man I needed to hear this..

In AW defense he accurately described himself as a 'spiritual entertainer', not as a guru to be followed. I did find that I stopped drinking tonight for 90 seconds - just like that - without even trying.

Yes... i'v been looking videos to overcome my adicction to pornography, and this is the only one advice that give me a solution, after struggling with this for about 3 years

i dont fucking get it tbh

Alan Watts died from alcoholism. He never shook the monkey. I have no reason to follow any advice given by Alan Watts on this subject. The man drank himself to death and died at 58 years old. PS. I've been sober for 14 years. If you want to know about this subject ask me.

Alcoholism is a socially constructed label. Whether we think he was an "alcoholic" or not, or whether he tried to quit or not is irrelevant. It's not about alcoholism, it's about letting go and this was his message. We cannot be graced into nirvana by quitting "bad" habits and being "good" but rather by abandoning all efforts to be "good" and allowing ourselves to know and become who we really are. Enlightened people still eat, drink, sleep, laugh and smile.

The meditation workbook called 30 Days to Sobriety by Harper Daniels has some cool mindfulness lessons.

I think it’s important to note that Watts was a spiritual entertainer by his own description. If you’re addicted, depending on the specifics of your context, there’s probably a good chance you can change your behaviour. Watts’ sole intention was to entertain. The editor of a lot of these hyper theatrical videos, their intention is to entertain. The actual process of modulating one’s own behaviour can be simple or complex and can’t be figured out in four minutes with an excerpt of a monologue and cinematic music.

Music is horrible

My oldest brother was what I'd call a functioning alcoholic. However, he absolutely enjoyed his drink and to my knowledge he never had the desire to give up alcohol.

God that guy speaks so much shit. Just say it in one sentence ffs instead of babbling blah blah . Jordan Peterson mk2

I did this, exactly as Alan said, if you're mind's true unadulterated power could only be realized, thank you Alan.

Terrific stuff!!! 🔥🔥🔥

The best defence for an addict is an ex addict. Everyone can give advice Alan but you died an addict. Thanks to the person who leftva commemt with real recovery talk. "Ego"

Music is way too loud, message is great though.