The word "solitude" carries a wide array of meanings and nuances. It is not merely a physical or psychological state of being alone; it encompasses an "ideological (philosophical) solitude," and can even be described as "cosmic solitude." For those who admire Shuntaro Tanikawa’s poem Two Billion Light-Years of Solitude, this expression likely resonates with a deep sense of familiarity rather than discomfort.
Bertrand Russell also spoke eloquently of this "cosmic solitude" in his famous 1903 essay, A Free Man's Worship. Today, however, I would like to introduce a passage from the conclusion of his 1919 essay, "Dreams and Facts."
In this context, "Dreams" do not refer to positive hopes for the future. Instead, Russell uses the term to describe the "subjective desires" and "delusions" through which humans attempt to interpret the world to suit their own convenience?the longing to believe we are special in the eyes of the universe. Russell urges us to discard these sweet dreams and face the cold "Facts" of reality.
"No man is liberated from fear who dare not see his place in the world as it is; no man can achieve the greatness of which he is capable until he has allowed himself to see his own littleness."
I find myself wishing to share these words with figures like Donald Trump and Sanae Takaichi, who lean toward "America First" or self-absorbed nationalist politics. Yet, expecting them to have an "ear to hear" would likely be in vain. Their arrogance?clinging to a "dream" of omnipotence and an inability to acknowledge their own littleness?is, in truth, nothing more than a reflection of a fundamental fear of the world.
Only by possessing the "solitary intellect" to confront one’s own insignificance can a person truly be liberated from the confines of the self and attain genuine greatness. The sight of these leaders continuing to bluff and bluster, refusing this realization, is as pathetic as it is farcical.
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