In this engaging conversation, Kieran Setiya, an MIT professor and author, delves into how philosophy can ease the struggles of midlife crises. He explores the intersection of self-help and ethical living, arguing that reflection can navigate life's complexities. The discussion touches on the malaise of midlife, the weight of regret, and the quest for meaning. Setiya also critiques the focus on happiness, advocating for embracing life's challenges and shared experiences over mere self-love. His insights offer a philosophical roadmap for a fulfilling life.
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insights INSIGHT
Philosophy's Evolving Purpose
Philosophy began as a broad inquiry into how to live and understand the world.
It evolved by shedding disciplines but retained tough questions without agreed answers.
insights INSIGHT
Philosophy Guides How To Live
Philosophy's core is answering how life should be lived, integrating ethics and metaphysics.
Early philosophers believed understanding reality was essential to living well.
insights INSIGHT
Why Midlife Feels Difficult
Midlife crisis involves regret, limited life options, and confronting mortality.
Life's shrinking freedom generates anxiety unique to the midlife phase.
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In *Midlife: A Philosophical Guide*, Kieran Setiya offers a unique perspective on coping with the challenges of middle age. Drawing on philosophical insights from Aristotle to Simone de Beauvoir, Setiya explores how to live in the present, find meaning in life, and reconcile oneself with past choices and future uncertainties. The book provides practical advice and philosophical consolations for dealing with mortality and the sense of futility that often accompanies midlife.
The Sovereignty of Good
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Iris Murdoch
Life Is Hard
Malak Mohamad
Self-help
Samuel Smiles
Published in 1859, 'Self-Help' by Samuel Smiles is a landmark in the self-help genre. The book advocates for personal responsibility and the virtues of hard work, industry, and character. It uses numerous biographical examples, including those of George Stephenson and Josiah Wedgwood, to illustrate how individuals can achieve success through their own efforts. The book was highly influential in Victorian Britain and beyond, selling over a quarter of a million copies by the time of Smiles' death in 1904. It has been translated into many languages and remains a significant text in the history of self-help literature.
Philosophy often feels like a disconnected discipline, obsessed with tedious and abstract problems. But MIT professor Kieran Setiya believes philosophical inquiry has a practical purpose outside the classroom — to help guide us through life’s most challenging circumstances. He joins Sean to talk about self-help, FOMO, and midlife crises.
The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
