I think the real reason we have so much neuroticism in our culture is that we don't believe there is an accessible realm of objective, real value. We think that everything we find pleasure and meaning in is merely physical, thus doomed to elimination. However, we yearn for unchanging meaning, and can never find satisfaction in these transient distractions.
Seems that instead of focusing on things like therapy and medication, we should try to find an absolute source of meaning that actually satisfies us. Something like a more reason based approach to dealing with neuroticism, identifying the actual root and trying to find its solution, would be much more effective. But, I've never heard of such a thing. Instead, it's all about regulating ourselves and trying to become normal, though since no one is normal there doesn't seem to be such a thing.
Yes, free will and purposeful intelligence. Essentially, if all intelligence boils down to algorithms of one sort or another, then per the no free lunch theorem, all we can expect is randomness. All appearances of order and meaning are merely illusory.
However, I think I've empirically established we (or at least I) have free will and purposeful intelligence. Thus, at least I can access meaning.
Seems that instead of focusing on things like therapy and medication, we should try to find an absolute source of meaning that actually satisfies us. Something like a more reason based approach to dealing with neuroticism, identifying the actual root and trying to find its solution, would be much more effective. But, I've never heard of such a thing. Instead, it's all about regulating ourselves and trying to become normal, though since no one is normal there doesn't seem to be such a thing.