Grad school can feel like a never-ending cycle, but there's something thrilling about being immersed in learning and intellectual pursuits. However, it's easy to question the purpose of these activities without a bigger story to anchor them. As a grad student, finding meaning can be challenging, and it's tempting to get lost in recreational pursuits. The key is to strike a balance between tellic activities (with a clear goal) and a tellic activities (without a goal). Even though life is on track, engaging in a tellic activity, like reading a beloved book or listening to music, can still bring immense joy. This is similar to Aristotle's distinction between enirgea (activities with an end goal) and kinasis (movements that arrive at an end). Some things may seem pointless, but they can still hold value and enjoyment along the way.
Suppose all of humanity was infected by a virus that left us all infertile--no one will come along after us. How would you react to such a world? Agnes Callard of the University of Chicago says she would be filled with despair. But why does this seem worse than our own inevitable deaths? Callard speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the meaning of life, and what exactly about the end of humanity is so demoralizing. The conversation concludes with a discussion of whether humanity is making progress.