In this conversation, Kieran Setiya, an MIT professor and author, shares insights from his book 'Life is Hard.' He discusses how philosophy can provide practical tools for navigating life’s toughest moments, including midlife crises and feelings of regret. Setiya contrasts philosophical inquiry with modern self-help trends, urging a deeper understanding of happiness and fulfillment. He addresses the importance of embracing life's complexities and fostering genuine connections, all while encouraging listeners to accept both the joyful and painful aspects of existence.
Philosophy offers practical guidance in navigating life's challenges by providing concepts to understand reality authentically.
Midlife crises prompt reflection and reassessment, emphasizing the importance of evaluating life satisfaction and finding meaning.
Deep dives
The Purpose of Philosophy and Living Well
Philosophy aims to address the fundamental questions of how we should live our lives, exploring ethics and human nature. It involves engaging with the world and responding to it appropriately. Philosophy provides concepts that help us understand reality and guide our responses, highlighting the importance of describing and engaging with reality authentically.
The Meaning of Midlife Crisis
A midlife crisis is characterized by feelings of uncertainty and reflection, often manifesting as regret or a sense of unfulfillment. In midlife, individuals may reassess past decisions and face challenges in finding meaning and direction. The experience can be more of a midlife malaise rather than a crisis, with a focus on evaluating life satisfaction during this period.
Challenges of Self-Help Movements
Self-help movements that emphasize positivity and individual happiness may overlook the complexities of life and the importance of acknowledging difficulties. Dwelling on the negative aspects of life can foster solidarity, compassion, and genuine connections with others. Balancing positive thinking with a realistic view of the world and its challenges is crucial for personal growth.
Reframing Happiness and Life Goals
The pursuit of individual happiness is not the sole goal of life. Living well involves responding to reality appropriately, which includes recognizing suffering, injustice, and engaging with the world authentically. Happiness should not be pursued at the expense of compassion, moral values, or genuine connections with others. Viewing life as a journey of meaningful experiences and responses to reality is essential for a fulfilling existence.
Philosophy may seem like a theoretical or abstract discipline in which unanswerable questions are debated to the point of tedium. But MIT professor Kieran Setiya believes that philosophical inquiry has a very practical and applicable purpose outside of the classroom — to help guide us through life’s most challenging circumstances. He joins Sean to talk about self-help, FOMO, and midlife crises.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area
Guest: Kieran Setiya. His book is called Life is Hard.
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