Podcast Summary
Three ways of living in a world without grand narratives: Slavoj Zizek proposes three ways of living in a postmodern world: escaping reality, immersing in careers and consumer culture, or engaging deeper. The fourth option, not widely discussed, is to find meaning beyond the superficial.
According to Slavoj Zizek, as postmodern subjects, we are left with three main ways of living our lives in a world without grand narratives: burning out and escaping reality through various means, immersing ourselves in our careers and consumer culture, or artificially resuscitating traditions. However, Zizek implies that there might be a fourth option, which is not widely discussed but seems more desirable. This option, which I'll refer to as door number 4, is not explicitly defined by Zizek but can be inferred from his works. It may involve engaging with the world at a deeper level and finding meaning beyond the superficial. Unfortunately, this option is only accessible to those who have invested sufficient time and effort into understanding the complexities of modernity.
The pleasure of the process: People can find enjoyment in the process of pursuing a goal, not just the attainment, according to psychoanalytic theories.
Our motivations and sources of enjoyment are not always directly linked to the attainment of our goals. According to psychoanalytic theories explored by thinkers like Freud, Lacan, and Zizek, humans can experience a sense of surplus enjoyment from the process of pursuing something, even if they don't ultimately obtain it. This concept can be understood through the example of a baby's oral drive, where the pleasure of sucking on a pacifier goes beyond the initial need for milk. Similarly, adults may find enjoyment in the act of searching for something, such as desirable shoes, rather than just the end result of acquiring it. This idea challenges the simplistic view of human behavior as a straightforward process of wanting, working, and enjoying, and invites us to consider the complexities of our motivations and sources of satisfaction.
The Surplus Enjoyment of Desire's Pursuit: People derive more pleasure from desiring and repeating actions than from achieving their goals, often unknowingly maintaining the status quo
People experience a surplus enjoyment in the pursuit and repetition of desires, rather than in the attainment of them. This surplus enjoyment is not just an individual human phenomenon, but also a way that larger social processes capture and leverage our fantasies to keep the dominant system going. For example, someone who is passionately committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion but never brings about real change may find surplus enjoyment in the pursuit of these ideals, unknowingly contributing to the perpetuation of the status quo. This concept, according to Zizek, can keep individuals trapped in a neurotic repetition, much like a baby with a pacifier, unable to break free from the dominant order.
The Discomfort of Privilege and Derailing the Revolution: Some individuals, despite having privilege, may feel discomfort and seek pseudo-revolutionary movements, but continue to enjoy their privileged position, derailing the revolution and maintaining the status quo, not driven by malice but a form of subjectivity produced by the world around them.
Some individuals, despite having significant privilege, may feel uncomfortable with it and seek solace in pseudo-revolutionary movements to maintain their morally superior stance. They may appear to want change but continue to enjoy their privileged position through repetitive actions, effectively derailing the revolution and keeping the status quo. This behavior, according to Zizek, is not driven by malice but rather a form of subjectivity produced by the world around them. They're living someone else's dream and not fully in control of their desires. A less politically charged example is someone who works tirelessly for years to achieve a retirement goal but may feel that actually reaching it would disrupt their current meaningful routine. Zizek would argue that global capitalism cleverly exploits people's desires and turns them into willing participants, providing surplus enjoyment that becomes part of their daily lives. Ultimately, these individuals may never fully liberate themselves from this cycle.
Living in a Competitive Society: Be aware of societal competition, engage with what matters, and resist the surface level thinking encouraged by consumerism.
We live in a highly competitive society where people are constantly striving for money and power. While this can lead to innovation and progress, it also means that we are always in a state of competition with others who may be smarter or more privileged than us. This can result in feeling overwhelmed or even taken advantage of. It's important to be aware of this competitive environment and not let ourselves become numb to it through consumerism or distractions. Instead, we should engage with the things that matter to us and resist the surface level, static way of thinking encouraged by capitalist society. In essence, we should strive to live in a way that resists the symbolic order and truly engages with the world around us.
Taking Initiative Leads to Growth and Connection: Reflecting on past experiences shows that taking the first step can lead to significant benefits, whether it's through online therapy or a simple gift. Engaging in experiences that resist static symbolic ordering can help us break free from limiting ideological structures and remind us of life's complexity and constant evolution.
Life's challenges can sometimes make us hesitant to seek help or try new things. But reflecting on past experiences, it's clear that taking the initiative can lead to significant benefits. For instance, BetterHelp's online therapy service offers a convenient solution for those who may have avoided seeking help due to the hassle of traditional methods. Similarly, Aura frames can bring joy and family connection to our living spaces. On a deeper level, we're all shaped by the ideological structures around us, which can limit our understanding of ourselves and the world. To break free from these limitations, Gishek recommends engaging in experiences that resist static symbolic ordering, such as falling in love. This pure, transformative experience reminds us that life is complex and constantly evolving. So, whether it's through therapy or a simple gift, remember that taking small steps towards growth and connection can lead to meaningful improvements in our lives.
Rediscovering Ourselves Through Challenging Experiences: True personal growth comes from experiences that challenge our perspectives and force us to question our identity and societal structures, rather than relying solely on consumer culture for change.
Engaging in activities that challenge our perspectives and force us to rediscover ourselves can lead to a deeper sense of subjectivity, similar to the experience of falling in love. However, surface-level consumer activities, while providing a sense of change, do not offer the same level of transformation. Philosophers like Zizek argue that true freedom comes with responsibility and the potential for increased anxiety, and that seeking out experiences that fundamentally shake up our understanding of ourselves and the world is essential for personal growth. In contrast, relying solely on consumer culture for change may provide temporary satisfaction but does not lead to the profound transformation that comes from truly questioning our identity and the underlying structures of our society.
The illusion of freedom in surface-level choices: To find true freedom, recognize and challenge limiting frameworks, and dedicate ourselves to deeply valued, unreachable goals
While we may feel free to make superficial choices in our modern world, such as choosing between Nike and Adidas shoes, according to Slavoj Žižek, this is an illusion of freedom. The real freedom lies in understanding and challenging the framework within which we make these choices. Žižek argues that historically, people knew they weren't free when they lived in fear of speaking out against their rulers. However, in today's society, we may not even realize we're not free because we're too focused on surface-level choices. To truly resist the symbolic order and find deeper freedom, Žižek suggests finding something we deeply value and continuously failing at achieving it. This process of striving for an unreachable goal can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and a more meaningful way of living. So, in essence, the key takeaway is that true freedom comes from recognizing and challenging the frameworks that limit us and dedicating ourselves to something we deeply care about, even if we never fully achieve it.
Resisting consumer culture's call for surface level engagement: Deeply engaging with things we care about, despite setbacks, leads to authentic mastery and inspires others.
Deeply engaging with and participating in something you care about, despite repeated failures, is an effective way to resist the surface level, commodifiable existence promoted by consumer culture. This can be applied to various aspects of life, such as writing, parenting, or personal growth. Consumer society often encourages surface level interactions, providing an abundance of tools and resources that prevent individuals from truly mastering their hobbies or passions. Instead, consumer society thrives on keeping people engaged in easy-to-consume, low-effort activities. By resisting this trend and pushing past the barriers of failure, individuals can set themselves up for authentic mastery and inspire others to do the same.
Be true to your own passions and unique identity: Embrace your authentic self, not societal expectations or someone else's dreams. Consider the limitations of anarchism for addressing global issues.
It's essential to be self-aware when pursuing our passions and ensuring they're truly our own desires, not just a manifestation of someone else's dream or larger societal processes. We should also consider embracing our unique quirks or symptoms instead of trying to suppress them, as they may contribute to our identity. Furthermore, while anarchism might work for organizing small groups, it doesn't provide a solution to the larger, global issues we face, such as environmental disasters or technological advancements with potentially catastrophic consequences. These challenges require collective leadership and planning on a significant scale, beyond the profit motive of global capitalism.
Preparing for major transformations in the western world: Philosopher Slavoj Žižek believes significant changes are coming to the western world, encouraging us to be prepared and consider the larger context
According to Slavoj Žižek, the current state of the western world is unable to solve the imminent problems we are facing and a significant change is necessary. Žižek, a philosopher, believes that major transformations are on the horizon, but the exact timing is uncertain. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared for these changes and their potential impact on the future of the world. This perspective encourages us to consider the larger context and be open to new ideas. Stay tuned for more in-depth discussions on this topic in future episodes. As always, thank you for listening to the podcast.
