How the Way You Respond to Anxiety Changes Your Life - Søren Kierkegaard on Angst

Summary

This video by Pursuit of Wonder delves into Søren Kierkegaard's philosophical exploration of anxiety, or 'angst,' as a fundamental aspect of human existence. Kierkegaard saw anxiety not as a disorder but as an intrinsic part of the human condition that challenges us to navigate the uncertainties of life with a sense of freedom and responsibility. The video explains how Kierkegaard believed that acknowledging and responding positively to this anxiety can lead to a more fulfilled life, as opposed to succumbing to despair and inaction. It emphasizes the importance of finding personal passions and subjective truths to live a meaningful life despite the inherent uncertainties that accompany it.

Highlights

• Kierkegaard introduces the concept of 'angst,' a form of existential anxiety distinct from anxiety disorders. 🤯
• Anxiety arises from the freedom and responsibility inherent in our choices amidst life's uncertainties. 🚦
• Acknowledging anxiety is essential for living a full life rather than one of emptiness and despair. 🌱
• Kierkegaard encourages pursuing passions and subjective truths that personally resonate, despite the inherent risks of uncertainty. ❤️
• Modern interpretations often mislabel anxiety as purely negative, missing its potential as a catalyst for personal discovery and meaning. 🔍

Key Takeaways

• Anxiety, or 'angst,' is a natural and essential part of the human condition, prompting us to confront life's uncertainties with responsibility. 😟
• Kierkegaard viewed anxiety as the 'dizziness of freedom,' highlighting the sense of responsibility and freedom we hold in choosing our life's path. 🌪️
• Confronting and embracing anxiety can lead to personal growth and fulfillment, while avoiding it can result in despair and inaction. 🚶‍♀️
• To navigate anxiety, Kierkegaard advised finding personal passions or 'subjective truths' to give life meaning and direction. 💡
• In the modern world, anxiety is often misunderstood as negative, but it's an intrinsic part of consciousness and our path to meaningful living. 🌍

Overview

In this intriguing exploration, we dive into Søren Kierkegaard's revolutionary ideas on anxiety, or 'angst,' which he considered a central element of human existence. Unlike clinical anxiety, Kierkegaard's 'angst' reflects the freedom and responsibility we experience as we navigate life's countless possibilities and uncertainties. He believed that how we respond to this sensation greatly impacts our quality of life.

Kierkegaard proposed that anxiety is not a condition to be feared but an essential part of living fully. According to him, this existential anxiety acts as a catalyst that pushes us to make choices about our life paths. Rather than succumbing to paralyzing fear, he suggested embracing this anxiety to discover our personal passions and what he called 'subjective truths'—the beliefs and pursuits that define our individual meanings of life.

The video underscores Kierkegaard’s notion that inaction and avoidance of anxiety lead to despair and a half-lived life. Instead, he championed the courage to seek out what truly matters to us, even without complete certainty. It’s about taking leaps of faith towards what we love and believe in, and understanding that anxiety is a natural companion on this journey of self-discovery and fulfillment.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Sponsor Mention This chapter serves as an introduction and includes a sponsor mention for the book summary app Blinkist, offering a free week and 25% off a premium membership. It delves into the philosophical inquiries of 19th-century theologian and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. Known as the father of existentialism, Kierkegaard's work challenged conventional thinking in areas such as philosophy, religion, and psychology, exploring themes central to existentialist thought.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Kierkegaard's Background and Philosophical Orientation This chapter delves into the background and philosophical orientation of Søren Kierkegaard, highlighting his critical approach towards traditional beliefs and societal conventions. It explores the tension between an individual's true self and their external actions, as well as the pervasive despair and anxiety in life, themes central to Kierkegaard's thought. His early life in a prosperous family in Copenhagen, Denmark, played a significant role in shaping his philosophical inclinations, with his father nurturing his interests through discussions and readings on philosophy.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Kierkegaard's Studies and Early Influences In early adulthood, Kierkegaard attended the University of Copenhagen to study philosophy and theology. However, he quickly became disenchanted with the historical and philosophical teachings there, finding them too intellectualized and disconnected from real life experiences. Kierkegaard emphasized the importance of understanding what one is to do, rather than merely what to know, which became a guiding principle in his philosophical work.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Impact of Family Tragedy on Kierkegaard The chapter 'Impact of Family Tragedy on Kierkegaard' explores the profound effect that personal loss had on Kierkegaard's life and work. By the age of 22, Kierkegaard had lost five of his six siblings, which deeply colored his outlook on life with themes of tragedy and the impermanence of existence. This period of personal grief and reflection coincided with a marked increase in his literary output. In his mid-twenties, amidst the shadow of loss, Kierkegaard began a prolific phase of writing, producing numerous works under various pseudonyms. The chapter likely delves into how these experiences of loss might have catalyzed his philosophical and theological explorations, influencing his themes of uncertainty and life's unpredictable nature.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Introduction to the Concept of Anxiety The chapter discusses Soren Kierkegaard's contribution to philosophy, focusing on his concept of 'angst.' Kierkegaard describes this feeling as a specific type of anxiety and dread, differentiating it from clinical anxiety disorders.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Existential Anxiety and Freedom This chapter delves into the concept of existential anxiety, which is a fundamental aspect of the human condition. Existential anxiety is described as an intense emotional reaction to perceived threats or challenges, particularly those that are unknown or uncertain. It represents the fear of the unknown and the uncertainty of existence itself, highlighting the profound impact that such anxiety can have on an individual's life.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Dilemmas of Human Decisions and Anxiety The chapter explores the intricate relationship between human decisions, anxiety, freedom, and responsibility. It highlights Kierkegaard's notion of anxiety as 'the dizziness of freedom,' suggesting that in every moment, individuals are aware of their freedom to choose and the accountability that comes with it. The chapter underscores the challenge of making decisions amidst nearly infinite unknowns and possibilities with limited insights or information, making the act of choosing a profound existential dilemma.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Inevitability of Anxiety in Human Life The chapter explores the concept that anxiety is an inevitable aspect of human life. It suggests that while we strive to make decisions that may alleviate our anxiety, we ultimately remain bound to experience it throughout our lives. Using the metaphor of being at a crossroads with a steering wheel and dashboard, the text implies that while we have some control and options, we are not given the complete ability to eliminate anxiety from our existence.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Living with Anxiety and Finding Meaning The chapter discusses the metaphor of navigating life as driving a vehicle through a fog-filled world, emphasizing the continual challenges and uncertainties faced. It suggests that everyone carries some level of inner turmoil or disharmony.
• 04:30 - 05:00: Subjective Truths and Passion The chapter titled 'Subjective Truths and Passion' delves into the philosophical insights of Kierkegaard regarding anxiety and its role in human existence. It reflects on the concept of 'anxiety about an unknown something,' suggesting a general unease that can manifest in individuals' lives, either about existence or oneself. Kierkegaard acknowledges the presence of anxiety and dread but argues that these feelings are not purely negative. Instead, he sees them as inevitable yet vital components of life, highlighting that recognizing and understanding them can lead to a deeper insight into one's existence.
• 05:00 - 05:30: Escapism and Conformity The chapter titled 'Escapism and Conformity' tackles the themes of anxiety and its paralyzing effects on decision-making and living a fulfilling life. It highlights how the overwhelming feeling of having freedom and endless choices can lead to inaction and avoidance, akin to having a daunting task on a to-do list that one never addresses. The key message is that our response to such feelings determines whether we live a full life or one filled with emptiness and despair.
• 05:30 - 06:00: Self-Development Through Anxiety This chapter explores the concept of self-development through the lens of managing anxiety. It discusses the overwhelming feeling of paralysis that anxiety can cause, particularly when faced with life's endless to-do list with unknown deadlines and existential consequences. Despite understanding these feelings, the chapter emphasizes the importance of not succumbing to inaction. To achieve a fulfilled life and realize one's true potential, it is crucial to continue moving forward and acting, even in the face of anxiety. This proactive approach is presented as essential for retaining a sense of power and meaning in one's life.
• 06:00 - 06:30: The Role of Faith and Modern Anxiety This chapter explores the connection between faith, modern anxiety, and self-development. It discusses how anxiety is not merely a negative force but also a crucial component for the development of a meaningful self. The text refers to a perspective suggesting that while the absence of possibility would eliminate anxiety, the absence of anxiety would also eliminate possibility. Furthermore, it argues that to live well with anxiety, one should pursue what is referred to as 'passion,' which might manifest in various forms such as love.
• 06:30 - 07:00: Conclusion on Understanding Anxiety This chapter emphasizes the importance of subjective truth in understanding anxiety, as discussed through the philosophy of Kierkegaard. It highlights the idea that individuals should align their passions with truths that they personally deem to be true, rather than solely relying on objective truths or intellectual reasoning. The chapter focuses on the emotional and subjective experience of truth, encouraging readers to find a truth that resonates deeply with them.
• 07:00 - 08:00: Blinkist Sponsor Segment and Personal Story The chapter discusses the concept that every individual must find their own subjective truth, a principle proposed by philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. It emphasizes the importance of committing fully to this personal truth, even if it lacks logical reasoning or certainty, and delves into how people often use conformity, distractions, and addictions as ways to escape facing their own personal responsibilities and the anxiety that comes with it.

How the Way You Respond to Anxiety Changes Your Life - Søren Kierkegaard on Angst Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 this video is sponsored by the book summary app blinkist use the link in the description and you'll receive one free week and 25 off a premium membership deeply perplexed by the absurdities and troubles of existence 19th century theologian and philosopher soren kierkegaard explored and wrote of profound new ideas that would ultimately challenge the way humanity thinks about philosophy religion and psychology considered by most to be the father of existentialism his work examines themes common to the school of thought prodding
• 00:30 - 01:00 mocking and attempting to resolve falsities of tradition and convention the inconsistency between people's true selves and how they act in the world and the despair and anxiety so entrenched in it all kierkegaard was born in 1813 in copenhagen denmark as the youngest of seven children to a very well-off family early on in his life he was exposed to philosophical thinking as his father was very interested in philosophy himself often reading and having conversations related to it around young kirkergaard
• 01:00 - 01:30 in early adulthood he would go on to study philosophy and theology at the university of copenhagen here however he would soon find himself disliking and turning away from the historical and philosophical works he was being exposed to finding them often overly intellectualized and incongruent with how life is actually lived what i really need to do he wrote is to get clear about what am i to do not what i must know this assessment would ultimately define the orientation in which kierkegaard would direct his philosophical efforts
• 01:30 - 02:00 also arguably significant to this orientation by age 22 five of his six siblings had already passed away engulfing his child and early adult life with the unsettling shadow of tragedy and transience reminding him five times over that life is synonymous with uncertainty and that the worst case might be just around the corner around and following this time of his mid-twenties kicker guard began writing at an immensely productive rate producing many books during his lifetime under various pseudonyms as well as his
• 02:00 - 02:30 own name before dying in 1855 at the age of 42 likely from a horrible case of spinal tuberculosis in terms of his philosophical work one of kierkegaard's most notable and profound contributions the one that we will be mostly focusing on here was what he would term angst in his book the concept of anxiety he would describe this term as a particular feeling of anxiety and dread not any sort of anxiety disorder but rather the
• 02:30 - 03:00 underpinning existential anxiety that pervades the entire human condition in general generally anxiety is the heightened emotional response to a perceived threat or challenge especially one that is unknown or uncertain and so anxiety of this existential sort which moving forward will just be referred to as anxiety is the response to the threat challenge or fear of the unknown and uncertainty of existence as a whole more specifically it is the feeling of
• 03:00 - 03:30 freedom and responsibility that one has within this uncertainty in the words of kierkegaard anxiety is the dizziness of freedom in every moment we are possessed by an awareness of our freedom or at least the sense of freedom to choose and be accountable for how the nearly infinite unknowns and possibilities of life become known and real through our choices and actions but yet we are given very little if not none of the insights and information needed to do so properly
• 03:30 - 04:00 worse yet there is perhaps no way of ever truly making decisions correctly in the way we hope even when we do make them so called correctly in large part we are driven by our anxiety to make choices that will eliminate our anxiety but arguably if we have lived and thought long enough about this we realize we have and will remain condemned to a life inescapably pervaded by at least some form of it it is as if we are always at an intersection of the past and future given a steering wheel a dashboard of dials and a kill switch but not given a
• 04:00 - 04:30 break an accelerator a reverse gear a map or a navigation system we are continually forced to drive through the world in this vehicle but the world is covered in an immense thick fog naturally we hope that in some directions the ones we choose the fog will clear but it never does not completely at least anyone who really knows mankind might say that there is not one single living human being who does not despair a little who does not secretly harbor an unrest an inner strife a disharmony an
• 04:30 - 05:00 anxiety about an unknown something or something he dare not even try to know an anxiety about some possibility in existence or an anxiety about himself kierkegaard wrote recognizing the inevitability of anxiety and dread kierkegaard sought to make sense and use of it despite how bleak everything might sound up until this point he didn't believe anxiety was totally a bad thing rather he believed anxiety was a necessary part of life and
• 05:00 - 05:30 our response to it was what made the difference between a life lived fully and a life of emptiness and despair understandably the dizziness felt by anxiety can often be paralyzing walking forward while your head is spinning is hardly ideal and so this feeling of the freedom to choose and do anything in life can sometimes keep us from choosing or doing anything at all if we imagine how the anxiety of a large intimidating item on our to-do list might keep us from ever getting to it the
• 05:30 - 06:00 anxiety-induced paralysis felt by the to-do list that is our entire life one with a deadline not yet revealed and the consequence literally being our existence is certainly understandable but our head will never really stop spinning and if we wish to achieve a potentially more fulfilled life and actualize who we really are and could be we must not succumb to the inaction of this anxiety in order to retain any sense of power over our life and derive any meaning of self we must retain an ability to move forward and act in the face of this
• 06:00 - 06:30 anxiety moreover it is arguably this anxiety or perhaps the source of this anxiety that allows for any possibility of developing and deriving a unique meaningful self at all without any possibility there would be no anxiety but without anxiety there would be no possibility gigger suggested that in order to best make use of anxiety and live well with it the individual must pursue what he would refer to as passion this could take the form of things like a love a
• 06:30 - 07:00 creative endeavor a family personal growth a career an ideology a belief and so on what's important for kierkegaard however is that one orients their passions based on subjective truth in other words truths that are deemed to be true by the individual not truths with which there is necessarily objective merit or ultimate reason to ground them in it is not purely a matter of intellectualization but also a matter of emotional subjective experience the crucial thing is to find a truth
• 07:00 - 07:30 which is truth for me to find the idea for which i am willing to live and die kierkegaard wrote the individual must discover their subjective truth and then throw the full weight of their being in its direction committing to it fully regardless of reason or intellectual certainty to do something for the sake of itself to take a leap of faith often through conformity distractions addictions and any other forms of escapism individuals attempt to avoid the anxiety and responsibility of their
• 07:30 - 08:00 existence by universally conforming to the status quo one attempts to absolve themselves from the responsibility of their choices and by means of things like substance abuse chasing social status superficial action materialism and so on one attempts to distract themselves away from the fact that there is no way to truly absolve themselves for kierkegaard the development of self is dependent on the ability to face up to the anxiety of existence and move with and through it for him in an otherwise meaningless
• 08:00 - 08:30 existence this is where the meaning can potentially be found the consequences rather of succumbing to anxiety and inaction for kicker guard is much much worse it results in despair a depressed apathetic state a failed lost and unrealized self a frictional experience of existence in the words of modern psychoanalyst james hollis anxiety is the price of the ticket to life intrapsychic depression is the byproduct of the refusal to climb aboard
• 08:30 - 09:00 one must realize that life will never become more sturdy or less scary there will never be a perfect optimal time to climb aboard if life is a sequence of impossible decisions veiled by uncertainty we might as well attempt to justify it by at least making decisions that pursue the greatest and most interesting heights and depths of the unknown we are capable of traveling gigergard's framework and solution to this problem was faith in the christian god but his philosophy and some part can arguably provide a premise that is applicable to any subjective view of
• 09:00 - 09:30 meaning and purpose especially nowadays anxiety is often seen as something wrong and negative a weakness or an illness but anxiety is arguably a fundamental ingredient entrenched in the experience of human consciousness to feel and to think is to be anxious perhaps added to the list of terms we ought to be called is homo anxietatum anxious man how could we not be anxious it is a natural response to an intensely
• 09:30 - 10:00 disquieting confusing and uncertain existence that we are given an unrequested role in and the more choices we garner access to in the modern world we are only left with even more reasons to fret and turn in anxiety over more ways we hope we can quiet it as well as more ways to feel responsible when we inevitably don't but we must like kicker guard suggested try our best to learn how to live with and through it to keep moving forward into the unknown and take our leaps of faith into what we truly and personally believe makes it all worth living
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