John Vervaeke, Frank Furedi, and Isabel Millar discuss whether self-reflection is essential to finding meaning in one’s life.
Can we find our purpose by looking outward, rather than inward?
Watch the full debate at
Self-reflection is the most important leadership tool’ claimed the World Economic Forum. And the contemporary focus on self-help makes clear that attempts to ‘know thyself’ are very much the fashion. Yet critics argue self-reflection carries with it serious risks. A 2018 Harvard study concluded that there is no link between introspection and insight, in some cases the opposite is true. While the biggest worldwide survey into stress identified that self-reflection was one of the greatest factors leading to anxiety, depression, and in some cases suicide.
Should we see self-knowledge as an aim not only misguided, but actively dangerous? Is self-knowledge in fact impossible for as Nietzsche argued we have to use the self to uncover the self? Or is self-reflection a vital and rewarding activity that uncovers meaning and improves our ability to act well in the world?
#philosophy #psychology #meaning
This debate explores how our contemporary culture is influenced, shaped and potentially misinformed by our most recent self-help culture. The speakers are are Frank Furedi, an emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, John Vervaeke, an award-winning professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, and Isabel Millar, an associate resercher at Newcastle University.
00:00 Introduction
00:54 John Vervaeke
05:08 Frank Furedi
09:03 Isabel Millar
The Institute of Art and Ideas features videos and articles from cutting edge thinkers discussing the ideas that are shaping the world, from metaphysics to string theory, technology to democracy, aesthetics to genetics. Subscribe today!
For debates and talks:
For articles:
For courses:
The Institute of Art and Ideas
source
