Psychoanalyst Adam Phillips delves into the complexities of giving up, exploring its intersection with desire, control, and the concept of the true self. He challenges societal assumptions, discussing the importance of knowing when to persevere and when to let go. The conversation also touches on relationships, dependencies, and the quest for meaning in a world of endless choices.
Giving up can be a transformative act aligned with personal growth.
Understanding the complexities of giving up challenges societal stigmas and promotes self-awareness.
Deep dives
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Exploring Motivation in Writing the Book
The decision to write the book arose from a curiosity about why people give things up and the belief that change is intertwined with giving up. The author highlights the evolving interest in understanding change mechanisms and the correlation between giving up and self-destructive behaviors.
Challenging Cultural Assumptions on Giving Up
The conversation delves into cultural stigmas surrounding giving up, emphasizing that the act of giving up is not inherently negative. It questions societal norms that discourage giving up and advocates for discerning when giving up can be beneficial for personal development.
Exploring Complexity of True Self and Relationships
The podcast discusses the complexities of the true self concept, emphasizing that individuals' sense of self is influenced by relationships. It challenges the notion of a singular true self and explores how connections with others shape personal identities, highlighting the intricacies of human wants and desires.
To give up or not to give up? The question can feel inescapable but the answer is never simple.
Giving up our supposed vices is one thing; giving up on life itself is quite another. One form of self-sacrifice feels positive, something to admire and aspire to, while the other is profoundly unsettling, if not actively undesirable.
There are always, it turns out, both good and bad sacrifices, but it is not always clear beforehand which is which. We give something up because we believe we can no longer go on as we are. In this sense, giving up is a critical moment--an attempt to make a different future.
In On Giving Up(FSG, 2024), the acclaimed psychoanalyst Adam Phillips illuminates both the gaps and the connections between the many ways of giving up and helps us to address the central question: What must we give up in order to feel more alive?