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“Daily Philosophy,” website and blog

The byline for the Daily Philosophy website and blog is “Philosophy for life. Every day.” The site covers philosophical topics applied to non-philosophers, that is, intelligent readers seeking intelligent discussion of issues and angles to everyday questions, with series of themes a frequent and useful feature.

Of special interest to Hermitary readers is a series of articles under the category of hermits. Some articles and essays (so far) include:

By David E. Cooper: “Huts, Homelessness and Heimat: Chomei and Heidegger” and “The Rhetoric of Refuge: on the wish to retreat from the world”;

By Andreas Mattias, Daily Philosophy editor: “The Hermit of Suwarrow: the adventures of Tom Neale;” One Hundred Days in a Hermit’s Hut: Jane Dobisz on living alone in the woods”
“Hermits and Happiness: the long tradition of leaving it all behind.”

We are happy to welcome Professor Matthius as a friend of Hermitary and look forward to featuring his website in the future!


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Serbian cave hermit gets the jab

Many media sources are reporting on the Serbian cave hermit Panta Petrovic, who on a routine trip to the nearby town learned of the Covid pandemic. He promptly took the vaccine when it became available, urging others to do so as well. A bit about his life is included in the Star (UK) story.

URL: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/people/2021/08/23/serbian-cave-hermit-gets-the-covid-19-vaccine-and-urges-everyone-to-do-the-same

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“The Downside of Solitude”

Psychology Today offers a useful article titled “The Downside of Solitude.” The premise is not to disparage solitude but to provide a helpful caution to those who are attracted to solitude and who spend much time alone to not neglect social relations, however few, in order to cultivate a balance that is mutually rewarding – to oneself and to others. The distinction between solitude and loenliness sets the parameters: “We feel lonely when we don’t get the personal interactions we need, and it’s quite painful. In contrast, solitude is experienced as pleasurable—a kind of alone time that we seek out rather than try to avoid.”

URL: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/202108/the-downside-solitude

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David Lidstone, New Hampshire hermit

Multiple media sources report on a New Hampshire hermit living in a cabin in the woods. He has been forced to leave his dwelling and is jailed for violating zoning regulations. He represents a dilemma of the modern hermit: all nature and land is “owned” and not accessible legally for squatting or living, however isolated or undeveloped. On the day he appeared in court, the cabin burned down mysteriously, which supported the authorities’ goal of leaving David Lidstone without any resources. Initially, hermit Dave Lidstone indicated that he would not return to the hermit life. But subsequently, well-wishers have donated money, clothes, vacant properties, and food to him while he contemplates his future. The owner of the property holds over 800 acres in properties and has been seeking to evic t Lidstone for some years.

Coverage oof this story will continue.

URLs: Associated Press: https://bangordailynews.com/2021/08/04/news/new-england/after-decades-in-woods-new-hampshire-hermit-forced-from-his-cabin/ ; update: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2021/aug/11/river-dave-81-says-he-wont-return-to-hermit-lifestyle-after-cabin-burns-down-video; Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9871885/Hermit-River-Dave-says-hes-happier-billionaires-release-jail.html; https://www.vnews.com/River-Dave-amid-remains-of-cabin-41971151

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“Wooden People” – short film

Presented in 2012 by filmessay, an Italian organization distributing short films, Wooden People is a documentary film about a solitary man living in a Belarus village. He is its last resident, but has created a simulated world. From the film website:

“Mikalaj is an old man and the only inhabitant of a village in the biggest forest of Europe, Belavezhskaya Pushcha. This place was teeming with life once, but since then all the other people have either left for the city or died. What depresses Mikalaj is not merely solitude. It is very hard for him to deal with the utter lifestyle and mentality. So he resurrected his country folk. He made hundreds of wooden figures representing all possible kinds of farm work and all the stages of human life. His small characters work, love, marry, give birth, divorce, drink and die. The tiny society has even a nuclear bomb that threatens the very existence of a miniature mankind. That is how Mikalaj lives: working in the field like his ancestors did and talking to his little men.”

URLs: (article) https://boingboing.net/2021/07/31/watch-this-documentary-about-a-villages-sole-inhabitant.html; video: https://vimeo.com/50674051.