In this conversation, Marc and Zak discuss the nature of value and its relationship to desire. They explore the idea that value is clarified desire and that it is self-validating. They also discuss the connection between value and the name of God, as well as the role of story and pleasure in understanding value. They critique the distortion of value in contemporary culture and emphasize the importance of clarifying and reanimating our desires. They conclude by highlighting the intimate relationship between value and pleasure.

Takeaways

Desire and need are interconnected but can be distinguished. Desire generates responsibility, while need generates rights.
The right to attention is crucial in the technological age, as it allows individuals to exercise their other rights.
The expansion of rights is necessary to protect human dignity and ensure equal access to fundamental aspects of human nature.
Desire is a powerful force that should be clarified and protected, as it is essential for personal fulfillment and the well-being of society.
The relationship between desire, rights, and responsibilities is complex and requires ongoing reflection and dialogue.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage

01:05 The Right to Sex and Gender Conversations

04:08 First Principles and First Values0

5:07 Desire as a Fundamental Structure of Reality

06:04 The Split Between Desire and Need

07:29 The Relationship Between Desire and Value

08:58 Rights and Responsibilities

10:06 Rights and Human Nature

11:28 Expanding the List of Rights

12:56 The Right to Attention

15:13 The Relationship Between Rights and Responsibilities

15:48 The System of Rights

24:28 Protecting Attention in the Technological Age

26:05 The Need to Name New Rights

27:28 The Relationship Between Desire and Power

29:01 The Relationship Between Desire and Need

33:09 The Right to Desire and the Right to Attention

35:21 Generating Desire and Responsibility

37:00 The Poignancy of Desire

40:12 The Evolution of Desire and Need

42:52 The Needs of God

5 Useful Things I’ve Learned from the Existentialists