Nevertheless, I want to discuss further the possible insatiability of our individual desires. I have no doubt that some people have insatiable individual desires that we refer to as addictions. For example, certain people are addicted to alcohol. Their addiction to alcohol can be so insatiable that even when they manage to stop drinking, they refer to themselves as recovering alcoholics, not as recovered alcoholics.
Out of respect for this humble way of thinking and speaking, I would say that there is a limit to the rational part of the human psyche and to the self-conscious cultivation of the virtues of moderation and courage -- and of liberal education as Gutting understands.
We do not fully understand alcoholism or other forms of addictions. But addictions involve insatiable individual desires. So does it follow from the example of alcoholics who have stopped drinking referring to themselves as recovering alcoholics, instead of recovered alcoholics, that we cannot overcome our addictions with any finality?
Insatiable individual desires are cravings. Over the centuries, different traditions have worked out different forms of meditation. In general, I see meditation as the key antidote to our insatiable individual desires.
Because Gutting says nothing about any kind of practice of meditation, I think that his faith in the efficacy of liberal education by itself is not a viable solution to our insatiable individual desires.
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