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The full talk is in the Feifan series on Fanshu, a Chinese audiobook app; this page is only a summary.
What We’re Talking About
What kind of life counts as being in the “optimal state”? Is it having endless wealth, unlimited knowledge, or never-ending pleasure?
Psychologists and philosophers have given a surprising answer—one that really makes you do a double take: the optimal state of life is a mix of suffering and pleasure. That’s because the happiness and meaning in life emerge only as we move beyond pain. This book will also help us understand that a life worth pursuing is definitely not one that dodges every problem and worry in reality. It’s one in which, as we grow, we gradually become people capable of overcoming them.
You’ll Hear
- Understand how pain affects us, and minimize the negative experience of suffering
- Find the balance point between pain and pleasure, and maximize the positive experience of happiness
- Understand the profound connection between meaning and suffering, and find the courage to face life’s hardships
Quote of the Episode
The ideal life is like trekking through a range of rolling mountains: the pain of one climb earns you a stretch of blissful scenery at the summit; then you brush the dust off your clothes, get back up, and start climbing the next, higher peak.
Something often makes us feel happy not because it is inherently pleasurable, but because it contrasts with what we experienced before.
The meaning of life is often not something we deliberately search for. It emerges on its own as we go through pain and challenges—a medal we earn by moving beyond all kinds of suffering on life’s adventure.
About the Author
Paul Bloom Yale University’s most popular open-course instructor, renowned cognitive psychologist, and TED speaker. He is the author of How Pleasure Works and Against Empathy, among other books.
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