I don’t know. The muse as the only inspiration for a man’s purpose is a little too reductionist idk. At least, it’s positive for the majority of guys but it can be perverse easily by other men.
The concept of muse isn't intended to be a definition of a man's whole life. It is symbolic. It describes the function, not reliance. Brushing it off as reductionist is a misconception. Men continue to make decisions, continue to build, continue to struggle. Agency isn’t taken away, it’s sharpened. If some reinterpret it into something twisted, more can be said for them than for the concept!
Indeed, bringing the muse down to the internal, should you speak of the divine or the soul, places it in something that is more transcendent and less bound externally for approval. Selfishness is the danger of ego-oriented ends, but more aspirational, less egocentric goals focus the agency and aligns with the concept’s true symbolic power.
This is spot on. A quick, substantial read, absolutely necessary for men of all ages to read and re-read. Thank you!
Thank you JTS! Really appreciate that—means a lot to hear. Glad it resonated!
This was an absolutely beautiful essay on manhood! Thank you for sharing your insights with us! I needed words like yours today!
Thank you so much - really glad it spoke to you. That means a lot!
I don’t know. The muse as the only inspiration for a man’s purpose is a little too reductionist idk. At least, it’s positive for the majority of guys but it can be perverse easily by other men.
The concept of muse isn't intended to be a definition of a man's whole life. It is symbolic. It describes the function, not reliance. Brushing it off as reductionist is a misconception. Men continue to make decisions, continue to build, continue to struggle. Agency isn’t taken away, it’s sharpened. If some reinterpret it into something twisted, more can be said for them than for the concept!
How about the muse not being tied to the external? But the internal. Seems less weak and dependent on others (ness)
Indeed, bringing the muse down to the internal, should you speak of the divine or the soul, places it in something that is more transcendent and less bound externally for approval. Selfishness is the danger of ego-oriented ends, but more aspirational, less egocentric goals focus the agency and aligns with the concept’s true symbolic power.