ReThinking

Ambition vs. aspiration with philosopher Agnes Callard

Jun 13, 2023

Agnes Callard, a philosopher at the University of Chicago, dives into the intriguing distinctions between ambition and aspiration. She explores how ambition is goal-driven, while aspiration seeks deeper understanding of values. The conversation touches on balancing philosophy with parenting, discussing societal pressures and the dynamics of dialogue. Callard emphasizes the importance of evolving thoughts through meaningful conversations, advocating for a more aspirational approach to personal growth.

33:26

Creator website

Episode guests

Agnes Callard

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Impact of Group Size on Self-Sensorship and Evaluation Apprehension

01:11

Mirror Effect and the Purpose of Reasoning in Arguments

01:29

Intro

2min

Navigating Ambition and Aspiration

9min

Contrasting Philosophies of Aspiration and Personal Growth

2min

Philosophy and Parenthood: A Balancing Act

6min

Navigating Social Dynamics: Stress vs. Boredom Avoidance

2min

Rethinking Beliefs: The Power of Dialogue

12min

Before Agnes Callard was a philosophy professor at the University of Chicago, she was on her high school debate team — and she still loves to debate anything and everything. Her work regularly appears in major outlets such as The New York Times, and she was recently profiled in The New Yorker for her radical openness to rethinking her life. Agnes and Adam discuss the difference between ambition and aspiration, the art of thought-provoking conversations, and whether listening or arguing helps you do your best thinking. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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