Kierkegaard on the Present (Passionless) Age

Kierkegaard on the Present (Passionless) Age

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 PodcastConnect With Jacob Howland

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episoder(1158)

You’ve Been Pooping Wrong — Here’s How to Do It Better

You’ve Been Pooping Wrong — Here’s How to Do It Better

Pooping. Everybody does it, but a lot of people are embarrassed to talk about it. That's a shame, my guest says, not only because your digestive health is incredibly linked to your overall health, but...

7 Apr 49min

The Mystery of Courage

The Mystery of Courage

Courage is one of our most prized and celebrated virtues. But once you really start exploring it, the nature of courage is surprisingly hard to pin down.Here to help us explore the fascinating complic...

31 Mar 56min

The Mental Skills for Becoming an Everyday Genius

The Mental Skills for Becoming an Everyday Genius

We tend to think of genius as something you’re born with — a rare trait possessed by the Einsteins and Teslas of the world. But what if many of the abilities we associate with genius — a great memory,...

24 Mar 49min

The Hidden Power of Heat — How a Good Sweat Heals Your Body and Mind

The Hidden Power of Heat — How a Good Sweat Heals Your Body and Mind

Cold exposure has gotten a lot of attention the past few years, with people dunking themselves in ice baths for the sake of their health and well-being. But, good news here, exposing yourself to heat ...

17 Mar 47min

The Invisible Limits Holding You Back (And How to Change Them)

The Invisible Limits Holding You Back (And How to Change Them)

When we fail to make desired progress in life, most of us put the blame on physical and environmental limits. But my guest says that what's really holding people back is what's in their heads.Nir Eyal...

10 Mar 51min

The Power of a Purpose-Driven Life

The Power of a Purpose-Driven Life

When it comes to building a happy and meaningful life, most of us rely on a grab bag of strategies — habits and goals around work, relationships, and health. But my guest today would argue that in the...

3 Mar 53min

Born to Carry — How to Build Strength, Stamina, and Sanity Through Rucking

Born to Carry — How to Build Strength, Stamina, and Sanity Through Rucking

If you're looking for a way to improve your fitness, boost your mental health, and reconnect with a deeply human activity — all without going to the gym or pounding your knees on a daily run — then ru...

24 Feb 51min

How to Have the Conversations You’ve Been Avoiding

How to Have the Conversations You’ve Been Avoiding

The awkward silence at work when everyone knows a project is going off the rails.The simmering resentment in a marriage over an issue neither spouse will confront.The dysfunction in a church where cer...

17 Feb 48min

Populært innen Fakta

mikkels-paskenotter
fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
foreldreradet
treningspodden
jakt-og-fiskepodden
sinnsyn
rss-kull
rss-bisarr-historie
rss-kunsten-a-leve
fryktlos
gravid-uke-for-uke
hverdagspsyken
level-up-med-anniken-binz
hagespiren-podcast
rss-var-forste-kaffe
uroskolen
takk-og-lov-med-anine-kierulf