Michael Schur on the Virtuous Life and Humor in Philosophy | It’s Pointing Right At You

Jan 26, 2022

Michael Schur, renowned for creating hits like The Good Place and co-producing Parks and Recreation, joins to discuss the challenge of making philosophy relatable. He emphasizes the importance of humor and positivity in storytelling and how they can illuminate complex moral questions. Schur delves into the interplay of virtue and selfishness in media, particularly during the pandemic. He also reflects on the significance of self-awareness in society and how comedic narratives can help us grapple with ethical dilemmas, making philosophy more accessible.

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ANECDOTE

Moe's' Run

Michael Schur explains the origin of Moe's' distinctive run in 'The Office'.
It began as an improvised sight gag and became a recurring character trait.

INSIGHT

Ayn Rand's Success

Ayn Rand's novels effectively popularized her philosophy, despite their length and subject matter.
Schur notes her success, highlighting the challenge of making philosophy accessible and entertaining.

INSIGHT

Epigrammatic Philosophy

Ancient Greek philosophers communicated complex ideas with epigrammatic precision, like Nietzsche.
Their concise style aided comprehension, contrasting with dense contemporary works, Schur argues.

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Ryan reads today’s daily meditation and talks to television producer and writer Michael Schur about the importance of making philosophy accessible, the difficulty of living virtuously without becoming cynical, the power of expressing humor and positivity in entertainment, and more.

Michael Schur created the critically acclaimed NBC comedy The Good Place and co-created Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and the Peacock series Rutherford Falls. He is also an executive producer on HBO Max’s Hacks and Netflix’s Master of None. He spent four years as a writer-producer on the Emmy Award-winning NBC hit The Office. His new book How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question is out now.

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