Embrace Healthy Egoism

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A person’s ego plays a crucial role in self-identity and personal growth. While some philosophies emphasize the need to diminish the ego, a balanced approach acknowledges that a healthy degree of narcissism can be beneficial. Individuals often face the challenge of rebuilding their self-perception after it has been undermined, highlighting the importance of nurturing one’s sense of self. True desires are unique and specific, suggesting that genuine fulfillment is rare and can only be achieved through meaningful connections with a select few who resonate deeply with our personal lacks.

Neuroscience has given us great insights into how our brains work. But there is still room for purely humanistic disciplines to help us think through our thoughts and emotions, not to mention the meaning of our lives. Mari Ruti is a professor of English literature, with expertise in critical theory, gender studies, and psychoanalysis, especially the work of French theorist Jacques Lacan. We talk about the psychological drive that is motivated by what Lacan calls “lack,” which is related to “desire.” We use this as a way to think about such essential human experiences as mourning, creativity, and love. (We don’t talk about love enough here on the podcast.)

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Mari Ruti received her Ph.D. in comparative literature from Harvard University. She is currently a Distinguished Professor of critical theory and gender and sexuality studies at the University of Toronto. She is the co-editor of the Psychoanalytic Horizons book series for Bloomsbury.

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