Timely! I just learned about this concept yesterday listening to Ezra Klein interviewing Jonathan Haidt about how this impacts childhood. Thanks for this breakdown.
We are emotional animals, those emotions help us to build connections with others of our species, but right now our emotion are under assault. People with a deep sense of justice are stunned by the injustices carried out in their names. People with empathy are assaulted by the pain and misery their society flagrantly distributes. Decent people are shamed by the embarrassment of their country's actions abroad. These present a considerable headwind to your vision. Turning emotions into action seems a good start.
Excellent essay Stephanie! Old Happy rears its ugly materialism toxic consumption head every generation! Yuck! I too am am NYU alumni - now a teacher of Art and other stuff. Anyway, I feel the new genuine Happiness movement, while well intentioned can also come off as a superficial la la land vibe in a cra-cra world. I am of the more eastern non-attachment philosophy where a neutral Contentment is the sweet spot to be as far as a homeostasis of the mind. Here is some of my latest thoughts if you are interested.
This is great, Stephanie. I agree 100%. Please consider checking out my work at Words over Swords, where I'm attempting to build the community of Caring to which you refer. I recommend starting with my inaugural essay, The World Needs a Love Revolution. I think you'll like what I have to say.
People happen to have found comfort in their own comfortable spaces and most of it involves home Stephanie. Regarding rudeness and feeling lonely, it's a part of the us to constantly seek medical and psychological relief while in truth we are all doing the exact opposite. Rudeness has become being nice.
I think this is a great post, and with some minor changes it could be excellent.
This is a message that everyone needs to hear, but with the first example being Trump selling Teslas (which I agree was wrong) you immediately lose any Trump supporters from your audience. I don't think you have to. I think if you stick with examples that we all agree are problems (increasing cost of living is one that comes to mind), and filter out some of the more divisive ones (while Israel's behavior in Gaza is disgraceful, it's not a necessary example to add if it loses a big potential audience).
I'm also not saying that all of your examples don't deserve to be called out. They do, and I certainly turn people off by calling those issues out regularly, I just think that _this_ post has the potential to be something that unifies both sides a little more.
The best example I think you have on your list is the pandemic. I expected that to be your big example of a turning point. It's also something that everyone can agree was a turning point for society no matter what side of the debate over it they're on.
Still, great article, thanks for writing it, and I'll be sharing it.
This is amazing Stephanie! EVERYONE needs to read this... and then immediately go and buy a copy of New Happy!!
You’re the best
Timely! I just learned about this concept yesterday listening to Ezra Klein interviewing Jonathan Haidt about how this impacts childhood. Thanks for this breakdown.
Oh wow! What a great coincidence. Thank you for reading!!
I enjoyed your insight.
We are emotional animals, those emotions help us to build connections with others of our species, but right now our emotion are under assault. People with a deep sense of justice are stunned by the injustices carried out in their names. People with empathy are assaulted by the pain and misery their society flagrantly distributes. Decent people are shamed by the embarrassment of their country's actions abroad. These present a considerable headwind to your vision. Turning emotions into action seems a good start.
Thanks for writing, great tips!
Funny how we label things differently. I call it ‘ambient dystopia’.
https://mutantfutures.substack.com/p/006
A rewind to an analog type of life with the knowledge we have now. I love this.
Absolutely. Durkheim's second coming is upon us. It is such a useful concept.
Here is another essay about the nature of truth to balance out my other one
https://open.substack.com/pub/christophermeestoerato/p/the-nature-of-truth-intentions?r=12utpl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Excellent essay Stephanie! Old Happy rears its ugly materialism toxic consumption head every generation! Yuck! I too am am NYU alumni - now a teacher of Art and other stuff. Anyway, I feel the new genuine Happiness movement, while well intentioned can also come off as a superficial la la land vibe in a cra-cra world. I am of the more eastern non-attachment philosophy where a neutral Contentment is the sweet spot to be as far as a homeostasis of the mind. Here is some of my latest thoughts if you are interested.
https://christophermeestoerato.substack.com/p/seeking-happiness-is-futile?r=12utpl
This is great, Stephanie. I agree 100%. Please consider checking out my work at Words over Swords, where I'm attempting to build the community of Caring to which you refer. I recommend starting with my inaugural essay, The World Needs a Love Revolution. I think you'll like what I have to say.
People happen to have found comfort in their own comfortable spaces and most of it involves home Stephanie. Regarding rudeness and feeling lonely, it's a part of the us to constantly seek medical and psychological relief while in truth we are all doing the exact opposite. Rudeness has become being nice.
I think this is a great post, and with some minor changes it could be excellent.
This is a message that everyone needs to hear, but with the first example being Trump selling Teslas (which I agree was wrong) you immediately lose any Trump supporters from your audience. I don't think you have to. I think if you stick with examples that we all agree are problems (increasing cost of living is one that comes to mind), and filter out some of the more divisive ones (while Israel's behavior in Gaza is disgraceful, it's not a necessary example to add if it loses a big potential audience).
I'm also not saying that all of your examples don't deserve to be called out. They do, and I certainly turn people off by calling those issues out regularly, I just think that _this_ post has the potential to be something that unifies both sides a little more.
The best example I think you have on your list is the pandemic. I expected that to be your big example of a turning point. It's also something that everyone can agree was a turning point for society no matter what side of the debate over it they're on.
Still, great article, thanks for writing it, and I'll be sharing it.
Love the 3 Cs !
Yes, anomie is so impactful that an imagined “genocide in Gaza” is listed as one of the main causes of anomie.
Really wonderful focus, thanks!
Also, I'm using some of your ideas on moral courage for a group conversation at our church this Sunday (along with your book). Thanks for your work
I’m so honored, Hans! Would love to hear how it goes!!
I’ll let you know.