i would make a contrast between, as an economist, we don't do this. I think part of what's going on here is that teli an atelic activities. It's about which one's your values ow, where your evaluative focus is. And you know, me, wa ma, is to make this personal for me,. As i think you're thinking about philosophy, thinking about philosophical questions, talking about them, those are atelic Activities. Engaging in philosophy was thing that i loved and then i cindannelled it into something more professional. That was good professionally. But the structure of academia is sort of becoming more and more focused on these tel
John Stuart Mill's midlife crisis came at 20 when he realized that if he got what he desired he still wouldn't be happy. Art and poetry (and maybe love) saved the day for him. In this week's episode, philosopher Kieran Setiya of MIT talks about his book Midlife with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Setiya argues we can learn from Mill to help deal with the ennui to which so many midlifers succumb--along with regrets for roads not taken and wistfulness for what could have been. Setiya argues that a well-lived life needs fewer projects and more pursuits that don't have goals or endpoints. He explains why past mistakes can turn out to be good things and how lost chances can help us appreciate the richness of life.