The Philosopher’s Zone – Philosophy for tough times

Intro

In this episode of “The Philosopher’s Zone,” the host explores how philosophy can help us find meaning and reward in the face of hardships and losses. The discussion is based on Keiran Setiap’s book, “Life Is Hard,” which combines personal experience with a wide-ranging sweep of philosophy to explore the question of living well in tough times.

Main Takeaways

Embracing a Good Enough Life

• Living well is about living a good enough life, not an ideal or utopian one.
• American culture’s emphasis on positive thinking and achievement, as well as social media’s constant self-curation, may contribute to the current trend of embracing modest ambitions for the good life.
• The pursuit of one’s best life may be counterproductive to living well, and it can be demoralizing to strive for an impossible ideal.

Finding Meaning in Difficulties

• Chronic pain led the author to reflect on living a good life under unavoidable hardship.
• Everyone deals with some kind of difficulty that makes it hard to live a satisfying life.
• The goal is not just happiness, but living well despite challenges.

The Role of Philosophy

• Philosophy can help us grapple with the difficulties of life and find meaning and satisfaction.
• Living a good life involves meaningful engagement with the world and other people.
• Happiness is a byproduct of living a good enough life.

The Ancient Stoics’ Approach

• The ancient stoics had a different approach to philosophy than modern stoics.
• Stoicism has a kind of optimism about how we can cope with adversity.
• Real engagement sometimes puts us in the position where there are things we must care about that we can’t control.

Rethinking Failure and Narrative

• Our perception of failure is limited by our tendency to think of our lives as a linear narrative.
• The book “Meander Spiral Explode” by Jane Allison explores the varieties of narrative beyond the linear hero’s journey.
• The narratives we’re encouraged to tell are often imposed by cultural ideals of achievement, which can be destructive.

Dealing with Regret and Midlife Crisis

• Regret is unavoidable and a side effect of having a wide range of interests.
• The hollowness of a project-driven life can lead to midlife crisis and the inability to appreciate the ongoing process of what one is doing as a center of value.
• Midlife crisis is not exclusive to midlife and can be characterized by problems of regret and the way in which life is consumed by what needs to be done.

Philosophers’ Perspectives on Life

• Diogenes the cynic and Aristotle offer useful strategies for dealing with the hardships of life.
• Diogenes believed in finding balance and moderation in life and had a unique attitude towards power.
• Aristotle believed in finding balance and moderation in life and emphasized the importance of cultivating virtues and friendships.

Iris Murdoch’s Vision of Philosophy

• Iris Murdoch’s work reflects on the centrality of love to ethics, attention, and the relationship between art and morality.
• Her book “The Sovereignty of Good” can offer genuine solace and emotional uplift.

Recommendations

• Keiran Setiap’s “Life is Hard” explores how philosophy can help us find our way and is highly recommended.
• The book “Meander Spiral Explode” by Jane Allison offers a fresh perspective on narrative and is worth reading.

Summary

Embracing a Good Enough Life

Living well is not about striving for an unattainable ideal, but rather embracing a good enough life. American culture’s emphasis on positive thinking and achievement, along with social media’s constant self-curation, may contribute to the current trend of modest ambitions for the good life. The pursuit of one’s best life can be demoralizing and counterproductive. Instead, finding contentment and meaning in a good enough life is key.

Finding Meaning in Difficulties

Difficulties are an inevitable part of life, and everyone faces challenges that make it hard to live a satisfying life. However, the goal is not just happiness, but the ability to live well despite these challenges. Chronic pain, for example, can lead to reflections on how to find meaning and satisfaction in life even under unavoidable hardship.

The Role of Philosophy

Philosophy can be a valuable tool for grappling with the difficulties of life and finding meaning and satisfaction. It emphasizes the importance of meaningful engagement with the world and other people. Rather than solely pursuing happiness, philosophy encourages living a good enough life, which ultimately leads to happiness as a byproduct.

The Ancient Stoics’ Approach

The ancient stoics had a different approach to philosophy compared to modern stoics. Stoicism offers optimism about how we can cope with adversity, emphasizing real engagement with the world. This means caring about things that we can’t control, which can be challenging but ultimately leads to a more fulfilling life.

Rethinking Failure and Narrative

Our perception of failure is often limited by our tendency to think of our lives as a linear narrative. The book “Meander Spiral Explode” explores alternative narrative structures beyond the linear hero’s journey, challenging the cultural ideals of achievement that impose destructive narratives. By valuing the process and atylic activities, such as talking about philosophy or going for a walk, we can live in the present and appreciate the ongoing value of our actions.

Dealing with Regret and Midlife Crisis

Regret is an unavoidable side effect of having a wide range of interests and recognizing the multitude of possibilities in the world. The hollowness of a project-driven life can lead to midlife crisis, which is not exclusive to midlife and can be characterized by regret and the overwhelming focus on what needs to be done. Finding value in the ongoing process of our actions and embracing atylic activities can help combat these challenges.

Philosophers’ Perspectives on Life

Diogenes the cynic and Aristotle offer valuable strategies for dealing with the hardships of life. Diogenes believed in finding balance and moderation in life, living a simple life, and rejecting societal norms. Aristotle emphasized the importance of cultivating virtues and friendships, finding balance and moderation, and living a meaningful life. Their philosophies provide different perspectives on how to navigate life’s challenges.

Iris Murdoch’s Vision of Philosophy

Iris Murdoch’s work, particularly her book “The Sovereignty of Good,” explores the centrality of love to ethics, attention, and the relationship between art and morality. Her vision of philosophy offers genuine solace and emotional uplift, making her work a recommended read for those seeking philosophical guidance.

Recommendations

For further exploration of how philosophy can help us find our way in tough times, Keiran Setiap’s “Life is Hard” is highly recommended. Additionally, Jane Allison’s “Meander Spiral Explode” offers a fresh perspective on narrative beyond the linear hero’s journey and is worth reading for those interested in rethinking failure and storytelling.

Conclusion

Life is hard, and we all face challenges that make it difficult to live a satisfying life. However, philosophy can provide valuable insights and strategies to help us navigate these hardships and find meaning and satisfaction. By embracing a good enough life, rethinking failure and narrative, and drawing inspiration from ancient and contemporary philosophers, we can cultivate resilience and live well despite the challenges we encounter.