The fourth of the 10 Questions of Human Existence is “What Matters"?
Everything we do says something about what we value. Everything is a choice to do one thing instead of another. But if that’s the case, then why is it that we seem to spend so much time on bullshit? In this chapter, we discuss the difference between instrumental and intrinsic value, distinguishing the signal from the noise, scratching that sholezard itch, how to recognise bullshit, and explore the question - what makes certain things great?
Our lives may not be nasty and brutish, but they are short. We owe it to ourselves to devote as little as possible of our precious time to meaningless bullshit, and focus our attention on experiences that bring us real and lasting value.
References:
Harry Frankfurt, “On Bullshit”
Viktor Frankl, “Man’s Search For Meaning”
Aristotle, “Nicomachean Ethics”
Plato, “Gorgias”
Aesop, “Collected Fables”
David French, “The Signal and the Noise”
Music:
- Luella Gren, Mechanical Pipes and Bells
- Giuseppe Verdi, La Donna E’ Mobile
- W.A. Mozart, Minuet in F maj K2
- Spectacles Wallet and Watch, Secret Surprise
- Bonn Fields, Cordierite
- Ch@ntarelle, 52nd Street
Additional music provided by Anchor
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