Philosophy For Our Times The danger of self reflection | John Vervaeke, Isabel Millar, Frank Furedi and Joanna Kavenna
8 snips
Dec 18, 2024 
Join Joanna Kavenna as she hosts a thought-provoking discussion with Frank Furedi, an expert in risk and sociology, John Vervaeke, a renowned psychology professor, and Isabel Millar, a specialist in philosophy and psychoanalysis. They explore the paradoxes of self-knowledge, debating whether self-reflection is inherently beneficial or potentially harmful. The conversation delves into the impacts of modern individualism, the relationship between language and identity, and the balance of free will in a tech-dominated society, challenging viewers to rethink their understanding of the self.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Self-Exploration vs. Commodified Self-Knowledge
- Self-exploration is crucial for exercising human subjectivity and transcending immediate experiences.
- However, commodified self-knowledge and obsession with identity can be disorienting.
Goethe's Werther: A Cautionary Tale
- Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther features a character whose excessive self-reflection leads to suicide.
- This highlights the potential dangers of unchecked introspection.
Three Dimensions of Self
- The self has three dimensions: bodily, relational, and reflective.
- Relational interactions, like feedback from friends, offer valuable self-insights.
