Why TRUE DETECTIVE Is A Philosophical Masterpiece

This video was sponsored by "Brilliant"

Music and animation by Izaak Thomas:

Janning, F. (2014). True Detective: Buddhism, Pessimism or Philosophy?

Berlant L. G. (2011). Cruel optimism. Duke University Press.

[PakBallandSami]

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
― Oscar Wilde,

[φαρμακεία-πρωταρχικός]

“The antidote to Doomerism’ is Philosophy.”

I have recently started to accept my depression as a way to inspire me to be productive, but use my time wisely. To engage with others but to not digress. To be present but not naïve.

[jeremiahfava]

Probably the first true detective analysis I’ve seen on YouTube that said something more than restating facts about the characters and show

[andeve]

Some of Rust's dialogue is incredibly similar to The Last Messiah by the pessimist philosopher Peter Wessel Zapffe. "I think human consciousness is a tragic misstep in human evolution. We became too self aware; nature created an aspect of nature separate from itself. We are creatures that should not exist by natural law." is almost like a condensed version of that essay.

[ツッ]

I feel like their are an absurd amount of people like "Marty" among us that we just don't know, this was a really interesting video

[bryandraughn]

"We're not born into this world, we are born out of it." Alan Watts

[bustatron]

I've felt such affinity for rust that I keep watching the series over and over. We never see characters like him - isolated, depressed, introspective, and wholey at peace with what they are.

Most normal characters would have rust chasing or being chased by women, persuing wealth or riches, fame, anything... but rust just keeps to himself in his plain apartment thinking.

[purplehaze]

I never thought I'd see this channel drop a video essay specifically _about_ a work of fiction rather than sporadically using works of fiction to illustrate a given philosophy, but I'm not complaining.

[gofannon]

I loved the end of this season because of Marty’s comment about the stars. We should endeavor to improve ourselves and humanity, not despair because of its many faults.

[rio]

the atmosphere of this show is perfect, the southern gothic vibe really fit organically well to the story being told. i would be absolutely delighted if nic pizzalatto writes a season on rusts narcos days.

[johndoe-oxns]

You had me at “true detective season 1 video essay.”

[jerebaez]

Awesome essay, ! Also, that was such a beautiful closing line

[maddymoose]

i love listening to this while trying to draw. i've been in such a pessimistic art block and listening to this really helped me get out of that state of mind.

[CaffeineAndMylanta]

My favorite show and my favorite philosophical YouTuber! ❤️
There’s a consistent undercurrent of identity to season one I didn’t pick up on until rewatching.
Marty’s flaw (according to his ex wife Maggie) was that he didn’t know who he really was or what he wanted. He later tells Rust “I used to play baseball and ride bulls….you end up becoming something you never intended.”
Rust on the other hand: “after all this time I know myself. And there’s a victory in that.”

[astro]

There is no way... I just finished watching it for the second time. You making a video on true Detective is such a pleasant surprise. It's like Christmas all over again

[doc.rankin]

Sisyphus 55: the antidote to doomerism is philosophy.

Me: must be why I'm so content as of late. I've been focusing more of my attention on inward thought and having a consistent philosophical outlook. Thanks Sisyphus, you're part of my contentment.

[isabelleliu]

Thank you for this insightful video. I've seen so many videos talking about Rust's philosophy and character arc, but this is the only time where I've seen someone analyze with so much depth about Marty, as I personally thought his character deserved a good introspection too.

Your dissection into the "cruel optimism" that Marty has clarified some things for me. Especially the possible reasons as to why he never was honest to his family/wife, why he kept having an affair, and etc. He says in the show that he doesn't want to bring "all this shit" home, which means that his attachment to the image of a good life probably prevented him from risking the unknown consequences for that by sharing his thoughts about the case to his wife, confronting Audrey about her weird drawings, leading him to find an outlet through his affairs.

I also found it very interesting how you said Rust's attachment to pessimism, or "detachment, " was part of the reason why he and Marty didn't realize they didn't catch the right killer. Since technically in the show, they weren't able to know because Marty shot Reggie. And Rust did come back to Louisiana because he figured out that they didn't catch the real killer. I also just finished the show, so my memory isn't the best lol

[ProbablyOnLSD]

You can definitely tell that some of Thomas Ligotti’s writings (particularly “Conspiracy Against The Human Race”) influenced Rust’s character quite a bit. In my opinion anyway.

[dylaann]

having watched this video a few times, I gotta say I think changing the thumbnail and title was the right move. The first watch through I definitely was focused on the True Detective part of the video and less on the actual message you were trying to get across about doomerism. either way I think everything you make is great but I figured I'd throw it out there :P

[dylaann]

Congrats on 1 million subscribers!! Not only do you deserve it, you're one of the most intellectually enriching channels on the platform. Keep up the amazing work, and tell Izaak I said hI!!