Passion and Leidenschaft

Posted: November 25th, 2009 | Author: Alex | Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

In No Pain, No Gain: Pleasure and Suffering in Technologies of Leidenschaft [PDF], Bernd Ploderer, Peter Wright, Steve Howard and Peter Thomas discuss how technology can support people’s passions.

Except instead of passion, the authors deliberately use the German word leidenschaft. Leidenschaft combines the words leiden (to suffer, experience pain) and schaffen (to make, create, achieve).

People passionate about their pursuit are willing to suffer in the process.

I believe that the connotations of the word leidenschaft have changed a bit and modern day usage is much closer to the positive aspects of a passion: To pursue an activity or subject with great interest, dedication or enthusiasm. Still, I think it is instructive to keep that implied duality in mind, not just as an introspective exercise to more fully understand oneself, but also to find concrete opportunities for growth.

It is worth examining software/technology and evaluating how different products strengthen the positive aspects of a passion and how they help deal with potential negatives. Then, do something about it.

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