Boredom: philosophical reflections

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Dr. Ellie Anderson and Dr. David Peña-Guzmán, Philosophy professors and co-hosts of Overthink podcast, share some thoughts on Lars Svendsen's book The Philosophy of Boredom, the movement from ancient to medieval acedia to modern boredom, and Dostoevsky's view that boredom is a bestial and indefinable affliction.

Graphics and editing by Aaron Morgan

[rogermaioli]

How cool to see the two of you together! Do give us more videos like this.

[bajolunapod]

SHOULD we escape boredom though? THIS is the question I want to see addressed. Especially in modern times where everybody is consuming media addictively in order to distract ourselves from being with ourselves and comfortable in our skin in the way things without addictive distractions could be.

Edit: typo

[garymoo]

I used to have the book. It's superb and worth reread X 100 times. Such an inspiration book which opens me to Kierkegaard and Heidegger

[relojes_plumas_libros]

"The Book of Disquiet" by Pessoa and "Short History of Decay" by Cioran are great books about boredom too, but from a literary perspective. Then we have "Oceanografía del tedio", by Eugenio D'Ors, a masterpiece that hasn't been translated into English.

[marthacoomber]

Boredom is a luxury born from having enough. Surely if you work for others, you never have enough?

[anema.]

Dr. David's Blue Nail Polish is really cool! And thank you both for this nice and interesting topic.

[Julio-eklw]

Arthur Schopenhauer's concept of boredom is missed on the conversation. His take is one of the most interesting and worth of mentioning

[yclept]

Levinas "Existence and Existents" is a phenomenology of fatigue and weariness and its implications as a relationship to the world.

[majorlycunningham]

I wonder how the western concept of boredom overlaps with eastern concept of “Wu-Wei” or non-doing. Is there a difference between “rest”, “recovery”, “indolence”, etc? Can inaction somehow be virtuous depending on context?? Gosh darn it! I need answers!!


I should also add that as a person who has ADHD… I’m never bored!

[Summer-kbdm]

This is a pretty good article: Attunement, Deprivation, and Drive: Heidegger and Animality by Gerard Kuperus

[DinoRamzi]

Oh my gosh, thinking of sin as culpability reflects the worst abuses of Catholicism. In the Eastern mystical tradition, you will find that sin’s origin is external, but it’s acceptance is the only thing you are culpable for. When ακηδία becomes melancholy, it represents the transition from sin to passion, from battle to resignation. Much of this episode reflects a poor understanding of sin.

[sbenkimmie]

being bored is kinda like being hungry intellectually. so you gotta hunt your meal if you have to even if it's the previous god, especially if you are a fat cat. (metaphorically speaking).

[JamesHunterRoss]

I have to wonder if various non-western (I'm thinking about native americans, actually) have a word for "boredom", and if so, what are their thoughts or ideas about it. When living very close to survival level, does boredom (as we know it) even exist?

[cervenypes]

Roll me over when one of you climbs that library ladder

[Rebellions]

Excellent! Also I'd recommend you about this topic the recent book by Josefa Ros Velasco " La enfermedad del aburrimiento"

[pixotee]

Eurocentric perspectives. Interesting.

[NoPrivateProperty]

I recommend spending time in prison to develop a true appreciation of the subject.