In Solitude: A philosophical Encounter (Open Court, 1994) Philip Koch claims that although loneliness, isolation, privacy, alienation, and solitude are all states of social disengagement, none of them are the same thing a solitude (p.29). For me, solitude is positive, whereas loneliness, isolation, privacy, and alienation have some negative connotations.
Lately I’ve noticed that all (yes all) of my memories (most of them happy, but even the sad ones) include, and often highlight me in solitude. There may be people involved, but I am alone and content to be so. For example, I loved the twenty-five years I spent teaching kindergarten and first grade; clearly not a solitary job. They consisted of the joyful times with the children, but also times alone in the classroom before and after school hours. Never did I feel lonely, isolated, in need of privacy, or alienated, which to me are negative and suggest a lack inner peace. I could always step out into the hallway to chat with colleagues, which I often did, all the while keeping the sense of solitude that grounded me in peace necessary for that very social activity of teaching.
Lately I’ve noticed that all (yes all) of my memories (most of them happy, but even the sad ones) include, and often highlight me in solitude. There may be people involved, but I am alone and content to be so. For example, I loved the twenty-five years I spent teaching kindergarten and first grade; clearly not a solitary job. They consisted of the joyful times with the children, but also times alone in the classroom before and after school hours. Never did I feel lonely, isolated, in need of privacy, or alienated, which to me are negative and suggest a lack inner peace. I could always step out into the hallway to chat with colleagues, which I often did, all the while keeping the sense of solitude that grounded me in peace necessary for that very social activity of teaching.