The point of desire, like Capitalism, is not to understand it but to change it.
And it is only recently, and only in developed countries, usually the West, that we have been free to follow our desires.
In fact it is commonplace to say, we are free to do as we desire as long as we harm no one else.
But there are desires and desires, and some desires are more desirable than others.
Many of our desires are shaped by our childhood; and many are the result of ignorance; and many the desires of the herd we just pick up.
So we need an education of desire. We need, for instance, to know the hierarchy of desire.
But most of all, we need to know what is best to desire. What is the best civilization has to desire?
But first it is important to know oneself - to know what one presently desires. So that we know in which direction we desire to go. So we are not limited by our present desires, most of which we have accumulated by accident. And we are able to desire the very best there is.
But changing desire is one of the most difficult things to do, and the most rewarding.
I think it was Margaret Mead who said, "It is easier to change your religion than to change your diet".
And we desire breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. So we have the perfect opportunity to change our appetite, our desire for food.
But we are all fundamentalists and conservatives when it comes to our appetite.
So our desire rules us. We do not command our desires.
Is this desirable?
