The question in the podcast title was prompted by an article in the Guardian that addresses that very question. Here I briefly touch upon it by offering a couple of points of agreement before suggesting a particular practice that might be helpful to us without running afoul of the criticism the piece lays out. EPISODE MATERIALThe Guardian ArticleCONNECT WITH ME✩ Website✩ Facebook✩ Twitter✩ "In Media Res" Podcast (co-hosted with Oliver Glanz)* * * * * NEW TO THE PODCAST? Hi, I am An...

In this episode, I continue discussing some key insights from Günter Figal's lecture series "Heidegger in Modernity" given at the University of Freiburg. Again, the themes of reduction, the simple, and the essential are stressed, including Heidegger's conception of philosophy as a type of wakefulness.* * * * * NEW TO THE CHANNEL? Hi, I am Ante Jeroncic, and on this channel, I explore the overlapping spaces where philosophy, wisdom traditions, spirituality, and self-development literature...

A couple of years, I came across Günter Figal's lectures "Heidegger in Modernity" given at the University of Freiburg. In this episode, I begin some of the insights I have gleaned from them, in particular, focusing on the essentializing motif in Heidegger, i.e., the stress on the simple and the essential. As in other instances, my take on Figal's take on Heidegger is refracted through the theme of the craft of living.UPDATES00:32 The Craft of Living review04:47 Rich Roll's Intervi...

In this episode, I briefly engage some key insights from Erich From on the art of loving. On a more technical note, I want to apologize for the relatively bad audio quality. I am working on rectifying the issue and hope that things will be better in the future as far as that is concerned.UPDATES00:58 - Update and Insight #1: Cold immersion - benefits and lessons learned04:20 - Update and Insight #2: Morning ritual and identity values- how they are integrated10:59 - Main theme: The Art of Lovi...

It's good to be back after a year! As I explain in the episode, a lot of things happened on my end that led me to set aside recordings for a while. In any case, I am picking here where I left off, posting presentations that consist of two parts: Craft of Living bites with various updates, insights, and experiences, often with a personal take. Following that, I focus on a particular theme, here the dialectic of radical integrity and radical compassion, a hallmark of perfection.EPISODE06:56 - T...

In my previous episode, I broached the topic of mental fortitude, stressing its importance and manifoldness. Mental fortitude, in other words, is not just one thing but is something that is comprised of different elements. Here I advance the discussion by offering some important qualifications.EPISODE REFERENCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIALLane, "Backpacking with the Saints": https://amzn.to/2MxD7XeClimacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent": https://amzn.to/3a9VDxKDiviney, "The Attributes": https://a...

Mental toughness, mental fortitude, self-discipline, resilience,... you name it. We all have a basic idea of what it means. This essential ingredient to the craft of living that helps us stay the course, face setbacks with dignity and equanimity, persist when things don't feel right, hope in the face of repeated failure, control impulses to take the easy route - if we could only have more of that. In the life updates, I share insights about reading and context, time tracking, and how to ...

In this episode, I discuss some additional aspects of Stoicism and its practical significance via Ross Edgley's "The Art of Resilience." I begin by sharing a couple of updates about things happening on my end (insights, readings, lessons learned, etc.).LIFE UPDATES SECTION00:18 - McRaven, Make Your Bed02:08 - Wilson, How to Become an Epicurean05:31 - Personal Take: Cold Water ImmersionTHEMATIC SECTION09:24 - Setting the Table: Stoicism Today11:06 - Stoicism and the Secular Age (via Charles Ta...

[YouTube Channel Episode]One of the more interesting cultural developments in recent years, and least fear, has been an increased interest in Stoicism. Here are I share a few ideas on the issue, including things that I find congenial in the Stoic approach to life.EPISODE SECTIONS00:05 - Updates03:53 - Episode Start08:24 - Lesson 1: Commitment to Reality10:17 - Lesson 2: Understanding what Is in Our Control 13:03 - Lesson 3: The Trichotomy of Desire16:24 - Lesson 4: Life According to Virtue18:...

Productivity, the very term, grates people the wrong way. In this episode, I explore why that often is the case. And to be honest, I get it. I don't like the term either. On the other hand, there is a way to think about productivity, especially personal productivity, as an attempt to get in touch with reality. Or to put it differently, it is an intentional effort to come to terms with our finitude and the limits of time, resources, and energy that brings with it.REFERENCED RESOURCESAnte Jeron...

This is the fifth and final episode in the New Year's Resolutions mini-series. Among other, I offer specific examples of my morning and evening rituals to illustrate important principles such as habit stacking and automaticity. Not in a prescriptive sense, of course, but merely as an attempt to concretize fundamental concepts.The blog post that I reference in the episode can be found here.Referenced Material:Wendy Wood, Good Habits, Bad HabitsCONNECT WITH ME ✩ Email - thecraftofliving@gm...

The title of the podcast references Plato's famous chariots allegory in the Phaedrus, where two horses are jostling for supremacy. One of the horses refers to our rational or cognitive sides, while the other to our passions and habits. The previous episodes kind of set up the discussion for this one in which I pull different thematic strings together and offer some suggestions for listeners to consider.Support the show

Why is it that most of our decisions and goals often come to naught? That is a complex question that takes us straight to fundamental issues of human nature and agency. In this episode, I offer a crack at this conundrum by focusing on two essential realities connected to transformational aspirations: affective forecasting and the plateau of latent potential (James Clear). Personally, I cannot overestimate the role these two aspects play in the pursuit of the art of living.Support the show

Here I follow up on some of my reflections on the nature, purpose, and obstacles of life-transforming resolutions. Without a doubt, the theme of self-knowledge is central in that regard. I offer three specific takes on that issue:07:47 - Cognitive Illusions10: 43 - Self-examination journaling exercise15:30 - Life audit: habits and timeSupport the show

New Year's resolutions, despite being a regular staple of dismissive jokes, are a fascinating feat of human desire. They express, at times, our deepest dreams and intentions, and more importantly, a deep-seated aspiration to become different people. In the coming weeks, I hope to explore this theme, getting right down to practical insights. Support the show

Understanding, dialogue, interpretation, attention, and openness are essential ingredients of meaningful interpersonal relationships. They also happen to be central themes in one of the most important contributions to contemporary thought - H. G. Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics. In this episode, I relate some of the ways in which he has influenced me.EPISODE SECTIONS00:05 - Updates, Insights, and Announcements06:18 - Episode Start09:26 - Interpretation20:29 - Language23:45 - Dialogue28:5...

That Nietzsche should be an influential voice in my life, might come as surprise to some. But then again, perhaps not. After all, isn't he an individual singularly devoted to the craft of living, of turning our lives into a work of art? Here, though, I am focusing more narrowly on his view of truth, or rather, the will to untruth, and the way his perspective on the issues has challenged me personally.EPISODE REFERENCESDeep Questions podcastC. Newport, Deep WorkHidden Brain podcastThe Rich Rol...

For a while now I have reflected on the significance of imagination for human flourishing, both societal and personal. Here I tackle just some aspects of this important topic, including some suggestions as to how one might be more intentional about honing imaginative skills. I should add that the audio quality of this recording is not quite up to standard. My apologies on that front. I faced some difficulties this week, so I had to scramble by going into a plan B mode. Please accept my apolog...

Here I build on my last episode by sharing some additional life-insights, emphasizing, in particular, the nature and significance of habits. I am also introducing a new introductory segment "Miscellanies" during which I hope to share in the future significant things that I stumbled upon in the preceding week: questions, insights, resources, etc.EPISODE SECTIONS00:05 - Updates and Announcements00:49 - Miscellanies: Noreen Khawaja on Existentialism08:36 - Today's ThemeEPISODE REFERENCESNoreen K...

In this episode, I share some of the insights that I would give my younger self if I had a chance. The advice mostly centers on issues of values, productivity, habits, and life lessons. EPISODE SECTIONS 00:05 - Introduction and updates03:43 - Episode start08:40 - Key insights in common packages14:04 - Grace and moments of clarity17:50 - Choices, actions, and identity20:13 - Disciplines equals freedom21:53 - Craftsmanship attitude23:42 - Mini habits30:57 - Keystone habitsEPISODE REFERENCESJame...