Do you ever feel like the time we live in feels flat, complacent, timid, conformist, populated by people who are focused on playing it safe and are inwardly empty?
A century and a half ago, the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard felt the same way about the period in which he lived, and posited that there are two kinds of ages: the revolutionary, decisive, and passionate, and the sensible, rational, and reflective.
Here to unpack Kierkegaard’s ideas on these two kinds of ages is Jacob Howland, retired professor of philosophy and author of Kierkegaard and Socrates. Today on the show, Jacob and I first discuss some background on Kierkegaard and his existential philosophy. We then get into the differences between an age of passion and an age of reflection. We discuss how in a passionate age, an individual stands as an individual, possesses an energy which focuses on truth and ideals, and has the courage to take bold leaps of faith, while in a reflective age, the individual is subsumed by the crowd, is afraid of public opinion, and gets so lost in analysis and abstraction that he never makes a decisive move. All along the way, we delve into how Kierkegaard’s description of his age parallels our own, and Kierkegaard’s evergreen call to be an individual, embrace risk, and own your opinions and actions.
Resources Related to the PodcastThe Secrets to Booking Cheap Flights
How to Turn a Boy Into a Man
Why We Like Puzzles, and What We Get From Them
The Surprising Science Behind Building Stronger Relationships
What Nietzsche Can Teach Us About Joyful Living in a Tech-Saturated World
The Humble Heroics of Four of WWII's Most Decorated Soldiers
How to Get Your Anger Under Control
Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile
How Your Expectations Can Change Your Life
An Old-School Boxing Trainer on What It Means to Be a Man
Stress-Free Small Talk
The Cold Water Swim Cure
The 5 Allies Every Man Needs
Getting Along Is Overrated
The Harrowing Life of a World War II B-17 Pilot
Overcome the Decision Traps Around Diet and Exercise
The Life We’re Looking For
The U-Shaped Curve of Happiness
The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Johnny Cash
The New Science of Metabolism and Weight Loss
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Hidden Brain