Slavoj Žižek: "I'm generally opposed to wisdom"

Det Kgl. Bibliotek

19 May 201402:49

Summary

TLDRThe speaker in the transcript expresses a strong aversion to the concept of 'wisdom,' viewing it as conformist and justifying any action, whether successful or not. They illustrate this with proverbs and examples, highlighting the irony in society's pursuit of wisdom. The speaker also contrasts the pursuit of earthly pleasures with the contemplation of eternity, suggesting that true wisdom lies in finding eternity within the fleeting moments of life. The transcript challenges the listener to question conventional wisdom and the role of wisdom in society, with a nod to Kierkegaard and Jesus Christ as non-conformist figures.

Takeaways

🤔 The speaker expresses a strong opposition to the concept of 'wisdom', viewing it as conformist and justifying actions regardless of their nature.
📚 Wisdom is criticized for being able to rationalize both success and failure, using proverbs and sayings to support its justifications.
🧐 The speaker challenges the audience with a mental experiment, suggesting that wisdom can be used to justify any perspective, making it seem both profound and trivial.
🌐 The transcript discusses the pursuit of earthly pleasures versus the consideration of eternity, questioning the depth of such philosophical musings.
💭 The speaker presents three variations on the theme of wisdom and existence, emphasizing the contrast between seeking eternal satisfaction and grasping temporary pleasures.
🔄 The concept of 'intermediate temporary existence' is introduced, suggesting that true wisdom lies in finding eternity within fleeting moments.
🤷‍♂️ The speaker implies that whatever stance one takes can be labeled as 'wisdom', highlighting the subjective and potentially empty nature of such labels.
📖 Reference is made to Kierkegaard and Jesus Christ, with the latter being described as not fitting the mold of a 'wise man' in the traditional sense.
🤝 The transcript suggests that true wisdom might be found in the rejection of conventional wisdom, aligning with the philosophies of certain thinkers and religious figures.
🔍 The speaker encourages the audience to question the value and authenticity of wisdom, urging them to look beyond surface-level justifications and societal norms.

Q & A

What is the speaker's general stance on wisdom?
-The speaker is generally opposed to wisdom, finding it conformist and disgusting.
Why does the speaker consider wisdom to be conformist?
-The speaker believes wisdom justifies any action, whether it succeeds or fails, making it a tool for conformism.
What example does the speaker give to illustrate the conformist nature of wisdom?
-The speaker provides examples where a wise man justifies success by saying 'only those who risk profit' and justifies failure by saying 'you cannot urinate against the wind.'
How does the speaker view the relationship between philosophers and wisdom?
-The speaker suggests that philosophers, like Kierkegaard, can be against wisdom, viewing it as superficial.
What mental experiment does the speaker describe?
-The speaker describes a mental experiment where different statements about eternity and earthly pleasures can all sound wise, regardless of their content.
What does the speaker imply about statements that sound wise?
-The speaker implies that statements can be made to sound wise regardless of their content, suggesting the superficial nature of what is often considered wisdom.
What is the speaker's opinion on chasing earthly pleasures versus eternity?
-The speaker mocks both the pursuit of earthly pleasures and the pursuit of eternity, showing how both can be framed as wise.
How does the speaker use irony in their discussion of wisdom?
-The speaker uses irony to highlight the emptiness of wisdom, demonstrating how opposing statements can all be framed as wise.
What lesson does the speaker believe can be learned from Kierkegaard?
-The speaker believes Kierkegaard teaches that Jesus Christ was not a wise man, challenging traditional views of wisdom.
What does the speaker mean by 'we are forever between the two wise men'?
-The speaker means that people are always caught between conflicting pieces of wisdom, suggesting the relativity and futility of such advice.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Problem with Wisdom

In this paragraph, the speaker expresses a strong opposition to the concept of wisdom. They argue that wisdom is inherently conformist and can be used to justify any action, regardless of its outcome. The speaker uses examples to illustrate how wise sayings can be applied to both successful and failed risky actions, showing that wisdom often serves to rationalize rather than challenge. They reference Slovene proverbs to emphasize their point and critique the superficiality of wisdom.

🔄 The Irony of Wisdom

Here, the speaker continues to critique wisdom by demonstrating how seemingly opposite statements can both be perceived as wise. They present various philosophical statements about eternity and temporary pleasures, showing that regardless of the position taken, each can be framed as a wise insight. This reinforces the idea that wisdom is flexible and can be manipulated to suit different narratives. The speaker mentions Kierkegaard as an example of someone who understood that true wisdom often lies in rejecting conventional wisdom.

🔍 Examining Philosophical Contradictions

In this concluding section, the speaker underscores their main argument that wisdom is adaptable and can be used to justify any stance. They highlight that Jesus Christ, according to Kierkegaard, was not a conventional wise man, implying that true wisdom might be found in challenging established norms and wisdom itself. The paragraph emphasizes the need to question and critically assess what is commonly accepted as wisdom.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Wisdom

Wisdom, in the context of this transcript, is portrayed as a conformist and justifying force. The speaker expresses a disdain for wisdom, suggesting it is used to rationalize any outcome, whether positive or negative. The term is central to the video's theme, which critiques the conventional understanding of wisdom as a universally positive attribute. For instance, the speaker mentions that a 'wise man' will justify success with proverbs about taking risks, yet will also justify failure with sayings about the futility of certain actions.

💡Conformist

The term 'conformist' refers to someone who adheres to established norms or standards, often without question. In the video, the speaker uses this term to criticize wisdom as a force that does not challenge the status quo but instead reinforces it. The critique implies that wisdom can be a tool for maintaining the existing order rather than a catalyst for change or innovation.

💡Justification

Justification in this script is the act of providing reasons or excuses to make something appear reasonable or acceptable. The speaker argues that wisdom is often used to justify any outcome, which undermines its value as a guiding principle. The transcript illustrates this with examples of how a wise man will find a saying to justify both success and failure, highlighting the perceived emptiness of such justifications.

💡Risk

Risk is the possibility of an unfavorable outcome in the pursuit of an objective. The speaker uses the concept of risk to discuss the nature of wisdom, suggesting that it is often employed to provide post-hoc rationalization for taking risks. The transcript contrasts the positive and negative outcomes of risk-taking, and how wisdom is used to justify both, which is part of the speaker's argument against the value of wisdom.

💡Proverb

A proverb is a short, popular saying that expresses a general truth or a piece of advice. In the script, the speaker references a Slovene proverb to illustrate how wisdom is used to justify success through risk-taking. Proverbs are presented as tools of wisdom that can be used to support any argument, thus undermining their reliability as a source of truth.

💡Eternity

Eternity in the video is discussed as a contrasting concept to earthly pleasures, suggesting a deeper, more meaningful pursuit beyond the temporary. The speaker uses the idea of eternity to challenge the focus on fleeting, temporary pleasures, proposing that true wisdom might involve finding eternal value in the temporary.

💡Earthly Pleasures

Earthly pleasures refer to the material or sensory enjoyments that are temporary and of this world. The speaker contrasts these with the concept of eternity, implying that the pursuit of wisdom should not be limited to the immediate gratifications of life but should also consider more enduring values.

💡Irony

Irony is used by the speaker to highlight the contradictions and inconsistencies in the application of wisdom. The transcript shows the speaker using irony to challenge the conventional views of wisdom, suggesting that it can be manipulated to support any argument, thus losing its meaningfulness.

💡Philosopher

The term 'philosopher' is mentioned in the context of the speaker's critique of wisdom. Philosophers are typically seen as seekers and providers of wisdom, but the speaker points out that some philosophers, like Kierkegaard, challenge conventional wisdom, indicating a diversity of thought even within the philosophical community.

💡Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is brought up in the script as an example of someone who was not a 'wise guy' in the conventional sense. The speaker uses this reference to argue that true wisdom may be counter to the wisdom of the crowd, suggesting that Christ's teachings and actions represented a different kind of wisdom that did not conform to societal norms.

💡Mental Experiment

A mental experiment is a hypothetical scenario used to explore ideas or test hypotheses. The speaker uses a mental experiment to illustrate how wisdom can be used to justify any stance, whether it is pursuing earthly pleasures or seeking eternity. This experiment is part of the speaker's argument that wisdom is malleable and can be used to support any point of view.

Highlights

Opposition to the concept of 'Christian wisdom', suggesting it is conformist and justifies any action.

Definition of wisdom as the ability to justify any action, whether successful or not, with proverbs or sayings.

Proverb from Slovene culture about profiting from risk-taking, illustrating the justification of success.

Contrasting Slovene saying about the futility of going against the wind, used to justify failure.

The idea that wisdom is relative and can be used to justify any outcome.

Philosophical stance against wisdom, aligning with the views of Kierkegaard and the character Yudhisthira.

The assertion that Jesus Christ was not a 'wise man' in the conventional sense.

A mental experiment questioning the pursuit of earthly pleasures versus the contemplation of eternity.

The suggestion that the ultimate satisfaction lies in eternity, not in temporary pleasures.

The irony of advocating for the opposite view, questioning the pursuit of eternity.

The contrast between intermediate temporary existence and the concept of seeing eternity in fleeting pleasures.

The idea that true wisdom may lie in finding eternity within the temporary aspects of life.

The notion that any statement can be framed as wisdom, regardless of its content.

The critique of wisdom as being too malleable and used to justify any perspective.

The philosophical questioning of the value of wisdom in the face of diverse and often contradictory interpretations.

The importance of critically examining the concept of wisdom and its role in justifying actions and beliefs.

The final point that wisdom can be both conformist and a tool for justification, questioning its inherent value.