Odysseus and Sirens

Post date: Jun 18, 2015 8:43:42 PM

The story of Odysseus and Sirens is one of my all-time favorites.

Later I also learned about Ulyssus pact (based on the story of Odysseus and Sirens) in behavioral economics.

Wikipedia summarizes how Ulysses with his men crossed the irresistible temptation of Sirens' songs -

"Ulysses wanted to hear the Sirens' song although he knew that doing so would render him incapable of rational thought. He put wax in his men's ears so that they could not hear, and had them tie him to the mast so that he could not jump into the sea. He ordered them not to change course under any circumstances, and to keep their swords upon him and to attack him if he should break free of his bonds.

Upon hearing the Sirens' song, Ulysses was driven temporarily insane and struggled with all of his might to break free so that he might join the Sirens, which would have meant his death."

It can be interpreted in a couple of different ways.

Sometimes, When things go uncontrolled or when you have to force something upon you or when you want to overcome an addiction, knowing it is right for you - you have to do things in Odysseus way!

I learned how to keep myself away from the phone, fb and... a few other things. I guess all of us do something like that without knowing what we are doing is called Ulyssus pact.

Sometimes, when you know that emotions or <whatever> is not letting you think rationally as Odysseus knew that passing through that zone, his logic will temporarily stop working. Or you are trapped into an endless spiral of unwanted things. You have to tie yourself until you pass that zone. Just stop thinking because you are trapped in an irrational zone; your logic is not logical in the first place - let it pass. You can even opt to put wax in your ears... but if you choose to listen to it - know how to pull yourself away. You will return to sanity after passing that phase, and then you can analyze - "What the hell was that !" :)