The Gray Area with Sean Illing

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Seeing ourselves through darkness

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Jun 29, 2023

Guest

Mariana Alessandri

In this enlightening discussion, Mariana Alessandri, a philosophy professor and author, delves into the often-overlooked value of dark emotions. She critiques the societal tendency to associate light with positivity, shedding light on how this influences our understanding of pain and grief. Alessandri contrasts Stoic philosophy with contemporary views on emotional intelligence and discusses how anger and sadness are shaped by personal and societal expectations. Ultimately, she advocates for embracing emotional honesty and redefining our relationship with darkness.

56:00

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INSIGHT

The Light Metaphor

The "light metaphor" equates light with goodness and darkness with badness, pervading our culture.
This dichotomy pressures us to reject darkness, leading to self-blame when we inevitably experience dark emotions.

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INSIGHT

Rethinking Plato's Cave

Plato's Allegory of the Cave doesn't condemn darkness itself, but unchecked puppeteers influencing our perceptions.
We should question societal messages, recognizing everyone can be a "puppeteer" shaping our beliefs.

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ANECDOTE

Pandemic Influence

Mariana Alessandri's book, "Night Vision," was influenced by the pandemic's heightened emotional experiences.
Each chapter reflected her real-time emotional state, providing authentic insights into dark moods.

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Embracing Darkness: A Philosophical Insight

03:06 • 6min

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The Evolution of Anger in Society

09:20 • 8min

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The Interplay of Stoicism and Positive Thinking in American Identity

17:21 • 2min

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Navigating Grief: Stoicism vs. Aristotle

18:55 • 11min

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Embracing Emotional Honesty

30:01 • 22min

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The Life of Don Quixote and Sancho

According to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Expounded with Comment

Miguel de Unamuno

This book is a deep exploration of the themes and characters in Don Quixote, reflecting Unamuno's philosophical views on existence, reason, and the human condition. It includes essays that expand on the ideas presented in Cervantes' original work.

Night Vision

Seeing Ourselves Through Dark Moods

Mariana Alessandri

In 'Night Vision,' Mariana Alessandri draws on the works of diverse philosophers and writers such as Audre Lorde, María Lugones, Miguel de Unamuno, C.S. Lewis, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Søren Kierkegaard to argue that our suffering is not a sign of weakness but rather of our humanity. The book proposes that by embracing our dark emotions, we can cultivate 'night vision' and discover new aspects of ourselves, such as wit, humor, closeness, warmth, and clarity. Alessandri critiques the societal pressure to maintain a positive outlook and instead advocates for acknowledging and valuing our darker emotions as essential to a meaningful life.

It's Ok That You're Not Ok

Mark Nepo

Megan Devine

In this book, Megan Devine offers a profound new approach to both the experience of grief and the way we try to help others who have endured tragedy. Having experienced grief from both sides—as both a therapist and as a woman who witnessed the accidental death of her beloved partner—Devine writes with deep insight about the unspoken truths of loss, love, and healing. She debunks the culturally prescribed goal of returning to a normal, 'happy' life, replacing it with a healthier middle path that invites us to build a life alongside grief rather than seeking to overcome it. The book provides practical tips and advice on how to handle the situations that arise from grief and challenges the unhelpful rhetoric often encountered by grieving individuals.

Tusculan disputations

Cicero

Cicero's 'Tusculan Disputations' is a philosophical work exploring various aspects of human life, including death, grief, and the nature of good and evil. The dialogues delve into Stoic principles, examining how to achieve inner peace and resilience in the face of adversity. Cicero's eloquent prose and engaging style make complex philosophical ideas accessible to a wider audience. The work remains a significant contribution to Stoic thought and continues to inspire readers today. It offers practical guidance on navigating life's challenges.

Nicomachean Ethics

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle's most renowned work on ethics, focusing on the science of the good for human life. The text is divided into ten books and discusses the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as 'happiness' or 'flourishing,' which is achieved through living a virtuous life. Aristotle argues that eudaimonia is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue, emphasizing the importance of reason, moral virtues, and the pursuit of excellence. The work also explores the division of the soul, the role of rationality in human life, and the ultimate goal of human activity, which is to achieve happiness through virtuous actions and a complete life.

Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza

Gloria Anzaldua

The Power of Positive Thinking

Norman Vincent Peale

Published in 1952, 'The Power of Positive Thinking' is a classic self-help book that emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mindset to overcome life's challenges. Dr. Peale provides practical techniques such as affirmations, visualization, and faith to help readers build self-confidence, achieve their goals, and improve their personal and professional relationships. The book is rooted in Christian ethos and uses biblical teachings to guide readers towards a more fulfilling and joyful life.

Encheiridion

The Manual for Living

Epictetus

The Enchiridion, compiled by Arrian from Epictetus's teachings, is a concise guide to Stoic ethics. It provides practical wisdom on how to live a virtuous life by distinguishing between what is within one's control and what is not. The book has been influential throughout history, serving as a source of inspiration for many philosophers and leaders.

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

When we find ourselves in a dark place, what if we didn't "lighten things up"? Sean Illing talks with philosopher Mariana Alessandri, whose new book Night Vision offers a new way of understanding our dark moods and experiences like depression, pain, and grief. Alessandri describes the deep influence of what she calls the "light metaphor" — the belief that light is good and darkness is bad — and the destructive emotional cycles it has produced. They discuss the influence of Stoic philosophy, Aristotelian ethics, and contemporary self-help — and explore what new paradigms for emotional intelligence might entail.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area

Guest: Mariana Alessandri (@mariana.alessandri), professor of philosophy, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; author

References:

Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves through Dark Moods by Mariana Alessandri (Princeton; 2023)
Plato's "allegory of the cave" from the Republic, VI (514a–520a)
The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale (1952)
The Encheiridion (or "Handbook") of Epictetus (c. 50 – c. 125 AD)
The Dialogues and letters of Seneca (c. 4 BC – 65 AD)
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (121 – 180 AD)
The Tusculan Disputations of Cicero (106 – 43 BC)
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine (Sounds True; 2017)
Our Lord Don Quixote by Miguel de Unamuno (1914; tr. 1968)
Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa (Aunt Lute; 1987)

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Engineer: Patrick Boyd
Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

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