James' theory of habit says that activities that you do form patterns in your body or in your way that you carry yourself. But there is a downside to habit, namly, that it can make us less aware of the surroundings in which we find ourselves. So james was very worried about auto pilot, ok, and life. He wanted to say that habit had its place, but then also it should be guarded against if it got a life of its own.
Dr. John Kaag is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts. He has written extensively on academic philosophy but his work has also appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Paris Review, and Harper’s Magazine.
In this episode, John and Eric discuss his new book, Sick Souls, Healthy Minds: How William James Can Save Your Life.
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In This Interview, Dr. John Kaag and I Discuss How to Find Zest in Life and …
- His book, Sick Souls, Healthy Minds: How William James Can Save Your Life
- William James’s philosophy of sick souls
- James’s important message of not being alone in having a sick soul
- How having a “maybe” means there is possibility
- The theory of emotions and how the body keeps score
- Habits are a tool that allows us to negotiate our world in an easier way
- The downside to habits is that they can make us less aware and go on autopilot
- The danger of midlife
- Being able to expand our consciousness and view of the world
- Confusing the immediate for the important and meaningful
- Realizing that your will can only take you so far
- How you can orient yourself to the circumstances you are faced with
- Having zest for life is what makes it significant
- How we tend to repeat actions when we are in midlife, making it difficult to see the newness
- How his brush with death caused him to seek the zest in life
- Learning to find zest in the commitment is the task of life
- Finding the balance between habit and novelty
Dr. John Kaag Links:
John’s Website
Twitter
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If you enjoyed this conversation with Dr. John Kaag, you might also enjoy these other episodes:
Unsafe Thinking with Jonah Sachs
Making Time for What Matters with John Zeratsky
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