This week, this Philosopher-in-Residence wants to take you away from whatever it is that may be boggling your brain ce moment, to verdant Elysian Fields where pandemics are paranormal, horizons stretch far beyond social distancing safe parameters and cortisol courses in correlation to demand rather than constantly.

Elysium has its origins in Greek mythology and here at the good ship Plankind we don’t see any harm in indulging in a spot of classical legend.

Whether you consider Elysium to be End Of, escapism or something that sounds like a jolly good escapade, I trust you will find entertainment in my postmodern posit on the concept…

OtherWorldly Oeuvres

One of the traditional concepts of Elysium is the afterlife and with the current climate of COVID-19 and concern, the chambers of our minds are finding themselves dwelling on the meaning of life and self-actualisation much more than usual.

Our old lives seem oddly otherworldly now, like the metaphysical representation of the loved ones we can no longer touch, the joy in activities that aren’t accessible now or we don’t-know-when (remember browsing?)

FEAR NOT this Philosopher-In-Residence is not about to give credence to the bile-inducing “new normal” phrase.

Rather, a marker in the sand that if you find yourself fed up, frustrated, feeling low as the months of pandemic life continue accruing, to remind you that it’s OK to feel like that. There will be an Elysian afterlife and we have agency over how we impact that now. The only thing we don’t know for sure is the timescale for that journey. Keep faith, fans of plans.

Elysian Fieldview

I used to describe myself as having a Hobbesian-Kantian worldview, since on risk assessment I’d suspect we were all doomed but always hoped that things might not end up quite that bad.

As 2020, to say the least, is not going to plan (and even Make Me A Plan’s masterplanners can’t help with that), I’ve decided to update that theory and rebrand it as an Elysian Fieldview.

Whilst the handling of COVID-19 in the UK leaves a lot to be desired, one thing Britain remains resolutely talented at is always looking on the bright side of life. So whistle while you work from home, survive the school holidays, consider your options and keep remembering, and envisaging, a brighter day.

Next fortnight, I’ll be musing On Alarm. Please get in touch with any particular aspects of this topic you’d like me to write about.

In the meantime,

Happy Planning