Best of the Spectator
The Book Club: Adam Phillips
Jan 24, 2024
Psychoanalyst Adam Phillips discusses his new book 'On Giving Up', exploring topics such as the relation between literature and psychoanalysis, the ambiguity of 'giving up', addiction as a flight from pleasure, the influence of psychoanalysis on writing, narrow attention vs. wide attention, and the concept of the fascist state of mind.
36:33
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Quick takeaways
- Giving up can be both a resolution and a cultural pressure, prompting a reassessment of our perspectives on sacrifice and the worth of life.
- Removing certain habits or addictions from our lives can lead to more pleasure and satisfaction, with sacrifices offering the potential for deferred but greater pleasures.
Deep dives
The Ambiguity of Giving Up
The podcast discusses the concept of giving up, exploring the ambiguity of the phrase and its implications. It delves into the internal resolutions and external pressures to give up certain things in order to attain the lives we desire. The speaker also contemplates the fear and desire to give up, questioning the cultural assumption that life is always worth living. The episode suggests the need to reassess our perspectives on giving up and our understanding of sacrifice.
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