How can Practical Everyday Existentialism help you live better | Stephen Robert Morse | TEDxOxBridge

TEDx Talks
24 Jun 201609:01
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this thought-provoking speech, the speaker recounts a transformative high school experience with existentialism, which challenged his worldview and led to sleepless nights. He discusses the core tenets of existentialism, including the absurdity and meaninglessness of the world, and how it contrasts with the idea of self-love. The speaker emphasizes the importance of self-love as a crucial component to make existentialism work, urging the audience to redefine themselves and not let others define them. He concludes with the message that self-love is irreplaceable and essential for personal growth and existential understanding.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The speaker was introduced to existentialism in high school by an English teacher who had other aspirations.
  • 🧠 The core tenants of existentialism presented were the absurdity of the world, its lack of inherent meaning, and the individual's insignificance.
  • 🤯 The concept of existentialism deeply affected the speaker, causing sleepless nights and an existential crisis due to its radical difference from previous teachings.
  • 🏆 The speaker's personal journey with existentialism led to a realization of the freedom to redefine oneself, such as becoming an athlete despite early beliefs to the contrary.
  • 🔄 Existential crises can be triggered by being pigeonholed or put into a box by others, causing a need for self-definition and authenticity.
  • 🚴‍♂️ The act of riding a bike on stage symbolizes the speaker's personal method of confronting existential questions and the absurdity of life.
  • 🤔 The process of self-reflection, such as looking into a mirror while riding a bike, is suggested as a way to challenge oneself and seek personal growth.
  • 💡 The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating one's own values and being a 'Freer Spirit' each day, overcoming herd mentalities and societal expectations.
  • 🚶‍♂️ The concept of freedom in existentialism is described as dizzying, with the speaker advocating for making choices without letting them induce anxiety.
  • ❤️ The speaker argues that self-love is a crucial component often overlooked in existentialist philosophy, suggesting it as a necessary balance to the existential crisis.
  • 🔄 The final message is a call to action for continuous self-inquiry and self-love, encapsulated in the phrase 'Ice cream is no substitute for self-love'.
Q & A

  • What was the speaker's high school English teacher's attitude towards teaching?

    -The speaker's high school English teacher did not want to be there. She had higher aspirations such as being a fiction editor, a playwright, or a university professor and did not enjoy teaching at Oceanside High School, especially not to 15-year-olds.

  • How did the teacher rank the students in her class?

    -The teacher ranked the students according to her perceived intelligence, with the speaker being ranked as number 24 out of 26 people in the class.

  • What philosophy was introduced to the speaker by the teacher that had a profound impact on him?

    -The teacher introduced the speaker to existentialism, a philosophy that deeply shook him and made him question his existence and the meaning of life.

  • What are some core tenets of existentialism as mentioned in the script?

    -The core tenets of existentialism mentioned include the idea that the world is absurd and meaningless, filled with despair and nihilism, where individuals are no different than a speck of dust.

  • How did the speaker initially react to the existentialist philosophy?

    -The speaker was freaked out by the existentialist philosophy, as it was radically different from what he had been taught before and it challenged his understanding of the world and his place in it.

  • What personal realization did the speaker have about being pigeonholed?

    -The speaker realized that being pigeonholed, or put into a box by others, can cause an existential crisis, making one question their identity and the authenticity of their existence.

  • How did the speaker use existentialism to redefine his self-perception as an athlete?

    -The speaker used existentialism to challenge his self-perception of not being an athlete, realizing that he had the freedom and choice to remake himself and become good at sports.

  • What action did the speaker take to confront his existential crisis?

    -The speaker confronted his existential crisis by going on a bike, looking into the mirror, and asking himself questions about his existence, his choices, and what he could do to improve his life.

  • What is the role of self-love in the speaker's understanding of existentialism?

    -The speaker believes that self-love is a crucial part of existentialism that was overlooked by the philosophers. It serves as a fabric that makes existentialism work, helping individuals to define themselves and not be defined by others.

  • What advice does the speaker give to the audience regarding existentialism and self-love?

    -The speaker advises the audience to keep inquiring and questioning, but also to keep loving themselves. He emphasizes that self-love is essential in making sense of the absurdity of life and in creating one's own values and identity.

  • What was the speaker's closing statement about the relationship between self-love and existentialism?

    -The speaker's closing statement was a reminder that 'ice cream is no substitute for self-love,' suggesting that while existentialism can be challenging, self-love is the key to making it a positive and empowering philosophy.

Outlines
00:00
📚 The Impact of Existentialism on Personal Identity

The speaker recounts a transformative experience in high school where they were introduced to existentialism by an English teacher who ranked students by perceived intelligence. This philosophy, with its core tenets of life's absurdity and lack of inherent meaning, deeply affected the speaker, causing sleepless nights and an existential crisis. The narrative emphasizes the importance of self-love as a counterbalance to existential despair, suggesting that embracing one's freedom to define oneself is key to thriving in a seemingly meaningless world.

05:00
🚴‍♂️ Overcoming Existential Crisis Through Self-Love and Personal Choice

The speaker discusses the personal journey of overcoming an existential crisis by embracing existentialism's concepts of freedom and choice. They share their personal story of challenging the label of being 'unathletic' and choosing to redefine themselves as an athlete. The narrative includes a metaphorical bike ride on stage, symbolizing the act of self-reflection and the continuous process of defining oneself against societal expectations. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of self-love as a fundamental aspect of existentialism, often overlooked by philosophers, and encourages the audience to love themselves as a means to make sense of life's absurdity.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Selflove
Selflove is the act of valuing and appreciating oneself, which is central to the video's theme. It is portrayed as a crucial element in overcoming existential crises and the feeling of being pigeonholed by others. The speaker emphasizes the importance of self-love in the context of existentialism, suggesting that it provides a necessary counterbalance to the despair and meaninglessness that existentialist philosophy can evoke.
💡Existentialism
Existentialism is a philosophical theory that emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and the search for meaning in a seemingly absurd and meaningless world. In the video, existentialism is introduced as a philosophy that deeply affected the speaker, causing him to question his identity and place in the world. The speaker uses existentialism to challenge the audience to redefine themselves and not be limited by societal expectations.
💡Authenticity
Authenticity refers to the state of being true to one's own personality, spirit, or character, without being influenced by external factors. In the script, the speaker encourages the audience to be authentic, suggesting that this is a way to thrive in a world that existentialism describes as absurd. Authenticity is linked to the idea of self-love, as it involves recognizing and embracing one's true self.
💡Absurd
The term 'absurd' in the context of the video is derived from existentialist philosophy, particularly associated with Albert Camus, and refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek meaning and the universe's apparent indifference to such a quest. The speaker uses the word to describe the world as seen through existentialist eyes, challenging the audience to find their own meaning despite this perceived absurdity.
💡Nihilism
Nihilism is the belief that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. In the video, the speaker mentions nihilism as part of the existentialist view of the world, suggesting that it is filled with despair and hopelessness. However, the speaker also implies that by embracing self-love and authenticity, one can counteract the despair of nihilism.
💡Existential Crisis
An existential crisis is a moment of intense doubt and anxiety about one's purpose, identity, and place in the world. The speaker describes experiencing such a crisis after being introduced to existentialist philosophy, which led him to question his self-worth and societal role. The video suggests that self-love and the freedom to redefine oneself can help navigate through an existential crisis.
💡Freedom
Freedom, in the context of the video, is the existentialist concept of having the liberty to make choices and define one's own life. The speaker uses his own transformation from a non-athlete to an athlete as an example of exercising freedom, challenging the audience to make choices that redefine their identity and break free from societal pigeonholing.
💡Pigeonholing
Pigeonholing refers to the act of categorizing or stereotyping a person into a specific role or identity, often limiting their perceived capabilities. The speaker recounts being pigeonholed as not being an athlete due to his physical appearance, but through existentialist principles, he challenges this label and redefines himself.
💡Choice
Choice is a central concept in existentialism, emphasizing that individuals have the power to make decisions that shape their lives. The video uses the concept of choice to empower the audience, suggesting that they can overcome societal expectations and existential despair by making conscious, authentic choices about their identity and actions.
💡Self-Reflection
Self-reflection is the process of introspection and examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. In the video, the speaker uses the metaphor of looking into a mirror while riding a bike to illustrate the act of self-reflection, which is essential for understanding oneself and making authentic choices in the face of existential challenges.
💡Herd Mentality
Herd mentality refers to the tendency to conform to the opinions and behaviors of a majority, often at the expense of individuality. The speaker encourages the audience to overcome herd mentality by embracing existentialist principles of freedom and self-determination, thus allowing them to create their own values and identity.
Highlights

Introduction of the concept of self-love as a significant idea.

Personal experience of a philosophy that radically changed the speaker's perspective, causing sleepless nights.

The speaker's high school English teacher's unconventional teaching methods and her impact on the speaker.

The teacher's ranking of students based on perceived intelligence and its lasting effect on the speaker.

Introduction to existentialism and its core tenants as presented by the teacher.

Existentialism's view of the world as absurd, meaningless, and nihilistic.

The speaker's existential crisis and the struggle with the concept of being 'nothing'.

The idea of authenticity and the ability to define oneself in an absurd world.

The speaker's personal journey of breaking free from being pigeonholed and the role of existentialism.

The transformative power of existentialism in the speaker's life, especially regarding self-perception as an athlete.

The existential crisis as a catalyst for making choices and defining one's own path.

The use of a bike as a metaphor for self-reflection and overcoming existential challenges.

The importance of self-love in conjunction with existentialism to create a balanced approach to life.

The concept of self-love as the missing piece in existentialist philosophy.

The call to action for the audience to look into the mirror and love themselves as a part of existentialism.

The final message emphasizing the combination of existential inquiry and self-love for a fulfilling life.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
ExistentialismSelf-LovePersonal GrowthPhilosophyAuthenticityFreedom of ChoiceSelf-DiscoveryEmotional CrisisBike MetaphorInspirationalSelf-Reflection