Episode #079 Kierkegaard on Anxiety

Episode Overview

• The episode delves into the philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard, expanding on the concept that "anxiety is the dizziness of freedom."
• It explores the idea that the greatest danger in life is losing one's 'self' by avoiding the responsibility that comes with absolute freedom.
• The discussion breaks down Kierkegaard's concepts of dread, despair, and the different ways people try to escape the anxiety of existence.
• The host explains why these ideas position Kierkegaard as the "father of existentialism," emphasizing the importance of subjective truth and individual choice.

Key Concepts

• Losing the Self: Kierkegaard argues that the greatest tragedy is to lose one's self, a loss that can happen so quietly that the person doesn't even notice.
• Anxiety as the Dizziness of Freedom: The feeling of anxiety arises from the realization of our absolute freedom and the infinite possibilities we can choose from, coupled with the necessity of making a choice.
• Lost in the Finite vs. Lost in the Infinite: Humans often escape anxiety by either becoming completely defined by worldly roles and conventions (lost in the finite) or by being paralyzed by endless possibilities and never making a choice (lost in the infinite).
• Dread: The uncomfortable emotional state that comes from balancing the infinite possibilities of freedom with the finite necessity of making a specific choice.
• Despair as a Sickness of the Spirit: Despair is the state of trying to escape from one's true self to avoid dread. Kierkegaard describes it as a latent, often undiagnosed "disease" that affects a person's emotional well-being.
• Subjective Truth: The goal is not to find objective, universal truths about the world, but to find "a truth that is true for me"—a purpose for which one is willing to live and die.

Quotes

• At 00:52 - "Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday and most of all, I hope you love the show today." - The host expresses his core mission for the podcast and appreciation for the listeners' curiosity.
• At 01:30 - "Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom." - The host revisits this central Kierkegaard quote to frame the episode's deeper exploration of freedom, choice, and their psychological consequences.
• At 18:34 - "...to find a truth that is true for me, to find the idea for which I am willing to live and die. That is what my soul thirsts for as the African desert thirsts for water." - The host quotes Kierkegaard's journal to highlight the existentialist focus on finding a personal, subjective purpose.

Takeaways

• Reflect on whether you are "outsourcing" your identity to external roles (like your job or relationship) as a way to avoid the difficult task of defining your own authentic self.
• Reframe feelings of anxiety not as something to be eliminated, but as a necessary byproduct of freedom. This "dizziness" can be a positive sign that you are engaging with life's possibilities and are on the path to becoming an individual.
• Acknowledge that running from the discomfort of freedom can lead to a state of "despair," which Kierkegaard sees as a spiritual sickness. The cure is not to find a distraction but to honestly confront your choices and create a self you are willing to be.