How to Live a Meaningful Life

Summary

In this insightful discussion, a Catholic bishop, along with Jordan Peterson, Jonathan Pageau, and John Verveiki, delves into the crisis of meaning among young people. They explore the impact of scientism and the culture of self-invention, which has led to a loss of objective values. The bishop emphasizes the need for great Catholic scholars, artists, and saints to guide the youth back to a meaningful life by embodying and teaching the wisdom tradition and objective values.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and pursuing objective values in life for a meaningful existence.
• 🎨 The conversation involves influential figures like Jordan Peterson, Jonathan Pageau, and John Vervaeke, discussing the crisis of meaning, especially among young people.
• 🌟 The speaker defines a meaningful life as one that is in a purposive relationship with values, and a religiously meaningful life as one oriented towards the highest value or supreme good.
• 📚 The script references Dietrich von Hildebrand's philosophy, which speaks to the intuition of objective values that transcend subjective satisfaction.
• 🔍 The speaker discusses the concept of 'scientism' as a reductionist view that limits knowledge to the scientific form, potentially obscuring the realm of objective values.
• 🤔 The crisis of meaning is attributed to scientism and the culture of self-invention, which views claims to objective value as disguised power plays.
• 🏛 The speaker calls for great Catholic scholars, artists, and saints to embody and teach the wisdom tradition and objective values.
• 🛡️ The speaker argues against the post-modern framework that reduces truth, goodness, and beauty to subjective constructs or power dynamics.
• 🕊️ The solution to the crisis of meaning involves cultivating a sense of objective value and a purposive orientation towards these values.
• 📖 The importance of the wisdom tradition, from figures like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas to contemporary thinkers, is highlighted for its role in guiding a meaningful life.
• 🌱 The script suggests that mentors and wisdom figures who live by and teach the objective values can help young people find a sense of meaning.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the conversation among the three gentlemen mentioned in the transcript?

The main topic of the conversation is the crisis of meaning, particularly among young people, and how it relates to the understanding of values and purpose in life.

Who are the three gentlemen involved in the conversation, and what are their respective fields of expertise?

The three gentlemen are Jordan Peterson, a cultural figure and psychologist; Jonathan Pageau, an artist in the Christian Orthodox tradition; and John Verveiki, a professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto.

What does the speaker define as a meaningful life?

A meaningful life, according to the speaker, is one that is in a purposive relationship to values, and a religiously meaningful life is one that is in a purposeful relationship to the highest value or the supreme good.

What is the intuition of objective values as described by Dietrich von Hildebrand?

The intuition of objective values refers to the recognition of values that go beyond merely subjective satisfaction, values that seize and rearrange our subjectivity, demanding attention and guiding our actions.

How does the speaker relate the concept of the 'sumo bonum' or the supreme good to a meaningful life?

The speaker relates the 'sumo bonum' to a meaningful life by suggesting that every act of will is grounded in a desire for something perceived to be the highest good, and being in a purposeful relationship with that value gives life its religious and ultimate meaning.

What role does scientism play in the crisis of meaning as discussed in the transcript?

Scientism, the reduction of all knowledge to the scientific form, is identified as a contributing factor to the crisis of meaning because it leads to the occlusion of the realm of objective values, which are not easily quantified or measured by physical sciences.

What is the 'culture of self-invention' mentioned in the transcript, and how does it relate to the crisis of meaning?

The 'culture of self-invention' refers to the belief that one's identity and values are entirely self-created, often leading to the dismissal of objective values as mere power plays. This perspective contributes to the crisis of meaning by undermining the recognition of objective truths, goodness, and beauty.

What solution does the speaker propose to address the crisis of meaning?

The speaker suggests that the crisis of meaning can be addressed by fostering great Catholic scholars, artists, and saints who can teach, reverence, and embody the wisdom tradition, objective aesthetic values, and moral values, thereby guiding young people back to a sense of meaningful life.

How does the speaker's understanding of a religiously meaningful life differ from a secular understanding of meaning?

The speaker's understanding of a religiously meaningful life is grounded in a purposeful relationship with the highest value or the supreme good, which is often tied to a transcendent reality. This differs from a secular understanding, which might focus more on subjective satisfaction and personal achievement without necessarily referencing a transcendent good.

What is the significance of the conversation's reference to historical figures like Plato, Aristotle, and Thomas Aquinas?

The reference to historical figures like Plato, Aristotle, and Thomas Aquinas is significant because it situates the discussion within a long-standing philosophical and theological tradition that has grappled with the nature of objective values and the supreme good, providing a historical context for the current crisis of meaning.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 The Crisis of Meaning and the Role of Values

The first paragraph discusses the crisis of meaning in contemporary society, particularly among young people. It attributes this to the influence of power games and the occlusion of the realm of value. The speaker recounts a Zoom conversation with influential figures like Jordan Peterson, Jonathan Pageau, and John Verveiki, focusing on the topic of meaning. The speaker's definition of a meaningful life is one that is in a purposive relationship with values, with a religiously meaningful life being in a purposeful relationship with the highest value or supreme good. The concept of objective values beyond subjective satisfaction is explored, drawing on the philosophy of Dietrich von Hildebrand. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and integrating these values into one's life, striving for the supreme good, which is likened to Plato's 'form of the good' and the unconditioned good that is the ultimate goal of human striving.

05:01

🔬 The Impact of Scientism and Self-Invention on Meaning

The second paragraph delves into the factors contributing to the crisis of meaning, highlighting scientism and the culture of self-invention. The speaker criticizes scientism as the reduction of all knowledge to scientific knowledge, which fails to account for objective values such as moral and aesthetic truths. This reduction leads to a loss of meaning as the realm of value becomes obscured. The culture of self-invention is also identified as problematic, as it suggests that claims to objective value are merely power plays rather than genuine truths. The speaker argues that this mindset has been internalized by many young people, leading to a loss of objective value and a sense of purpose. The solution proposed involves fostering great Catholic scholars, artists, and saints who can embody and teach the wisdom tradition, thereby guiding young people back to a meaningful life. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need for mentors and wisdom figures to address the crisis of meaning effectively.

Keywords

💡Objective Values

Objective values are the universal truths or principles that exist independently of personal preferences or feelings. In the video, these values are described as seizing and rearranging our subjectivity, demanding attention, and guiding a meaningful life. The speaker contrasts these with subjective values, emphasizing the importance of aligning oneself with objective values to find true meaning.

💡Summa Bonum

The Summa Bonum refers to the 'highest good' or the ultimate value that is the final aim of all human striving. In the video, it is discussed in relation to religious meaning, where a meaningful life is one that seeks this supreme value. The concept is rooted in classical philosophy, particularly in the works of Plato, Aristotle, and Aquinas, and is presented as the foundation for a purpose-driven existence.

💡Scientism

Scientism is the belief that the scientific method is the only valid way to gain knowledge, reducing all other forms of understanding to lesser status. The video criticizes scientism for narrowing the scope of human knowledge and leading to a crisis of meaning, especially among young people. It argues that this reductionism dismisses moral, aesthetic, and spiritual values, contributing to a loss of purpose.

💡Wisdom Tradition

The wisdom tradition refers to the body of knowledge and insights passed down through generations, often through religious or philosophical teachings. In the video, the speaker highlights the importance of this tradition in cultivating objective values and providing a sense of meaning. The decline of this tradition, replaced by scientism and self-invention, is seen as a major factor in the contemporary crisis of meaning.

💡Crisis of Meaning

The crisis of meaning describes the widespread sense of purposelessness and disconnection from higher values that many people, particularly young people, experience today. The video attributes this crisis to the rise of scientism and the culture of self-invention, which have obscured the importance of objective values and religious meaning, leaving individuals without a clear sense of purpose.

💡Culture of Self-Invention

The culture of self-invention refers to the modern emphasis on individualism, where people create their own identities and values independent of traditional or objective standards. The video argues that this culture has led to a dismissal of objective values as mere power plays, further deepening the crisis of meaning. This perspective is linked to postmodern thinkers like Michel Foucault.

💡Religious Meaning

Religious meaning involves a purposeful relationship with the highest value or supreme good. In the video, it is explained as aligning one's life with the unconditioned form of the good, which transcends all particular goods and values. This concept is central to the speaker's argument that a meaningful life is rooted in a connection to this ultimate, divine source of meaning.

💡Michel Foucault

Michel Foucault was a French philosopher known for his critical studies of power, knowledge, and social institutions. In the video, his ideas are referenced to explain the view that claims to objective value are seen as disguised power plays in the modern world. Foucault's influence is noted as contributing to the culture of self-invention and the skepticism toward objective values.

💡Epistemic Order

The epistemic order refers to the hierarchy or structure of knowledge and truth. In the video, objective values are discussed as part of this order, particularly in relation to truth (epistemic values) and how they demand our attention. The speaker contrasts this with the reduced view of knowledge under scientism, which neglects these higher forms of truth and value.

💡Purposeful Relationship

A purposeful relationship in the context of the video is an intentional and directed connection to values, especially those that are objectively true and good. The speaker argues that a meaningful life involves such a relationship, particularly with the highest value or the supreme good. This concept is central to understanding both personal meaning and religious meaning as described in the video.

Highlights

The discussion revolves around the crisis of meaning, especially among young people, and how it relates to power games and the disguise of objective values.

The importance of recognizing and seeking objective values beyond subjective satisfaction, as influenced by Dietrich von Hildebrand's philosophy.

The concept of a meaningful life being one that is in a purposive relationship to values, and a religiously meaningful life being in relation to the highest value or supreme good.

The role of intuition in understanding objective values that go beyond mere subjective satisfaction.

The distinction between the epistemic, moral, and aesthetic orders of values and how they contribute to a meaningful life.

The reference to Plato's 'form of the good' as the ultimate goal of striving for the mind and heart.

Aristotle's view on the supreme good as the contemplation of the unmoved mover, and its significance in understanding reality.

Thomas Aquinas' perspective on the will seeking goods and how it is grounded in a desire for the supreme good.

The idea that every act of will is nested in a higher good, leading to the pursuit of the sumim bonum or highest good.

The crisis of meaning being prompted by scientism, which reduces all knowledge to the scientific form and overlooks objective values.

The critique of scientism for its inability to grasp moral and aesthetic values beyond the physical sciences.

The impact of the culture of self-invention and the dismissal of objective values as disguised plays of power, influenced by post-modern thinkers like Michel Foucault.

The loss of meaning due to the dominance of scientism and the culture of self-invention, leading to a lack of objective value and purposive orientation.

The solution proposed involves nurturing great Catholic scholars, artists, and saints to embody and teach the wisdom tradition and objective values.

The need for mentors and wisdom figures who can guide young people back to a sense of meaningful life by living and embodying moral values.

The importance of great Catholic artists who reverence the objective aesthetic values and the Catholic aesthetic tradition.

The call to action for sharing the insights of the video and subscribing to the YouTube channel for more on the topic of meaning and values.

Transcripts

if i'm claiming hey this is good and you

ought to do it this is true you ought to

know it this is beautiful and you ought

to seek it all i'm doing is playing a

power game

those things can't be true in themselves

they're a disguise play of power well

see with that's been baked into the

minds of so many young people today and

when that happens the realm of value

even s's or it's it's occluded

the result

a loss of meaning

[Music]

[Applause]

i had a great good fortune last week of

sitting down for a zoom conversation

with

three very interesting gentlemen one was

jordan peterson second was jonathan

pajot and the third was john verveiki

i'm sure you all know jordan peterson

one of the most influential figures on

the cultural scene today

jonathan pageau is a very interesting

man uh he's an artist in the

in the christian uh orthodox tradition

and then john vervicky is a professor of

cognitive psychology at the university

of toronto and all three have a very

strong social media presence

and all four of us are very interested

in this question of

meaning

and the crisis of meaning especially

among young people so we had a good

two-hour conversation about it

but peterson began by asking each of us

just to

give our understanding or our definition

of meaning and then more specifically of

religious

meaning

so when my turn came i said well i think

to have a meaningful life

is to be in some kind of purposive

relationship to values

and to have a religiously meaningful

life

is to be in a purpose of relationship to

the highest value or the supreme

good

now what did i mean by this language

well i go back to dietrich von

hildebrand the great catholic

philosopher of the 20th century

he talked about the intuition of

objective values

these values that go beyond the merely

subjectively satisfying so we know what

that means when we we like something

subjectively but the objectively

valuable

isn't just a matter of pleasing one's

subjectivity the objectively valuable

seizes us it invades us it rearranges

our subjectivity it demands

attention so there are values

hildebrandt would say in the epistemic

order that is to say truths

their values in the

moral order so we see the great goods on

display in the lives of the saints there

are values in the aesthetic order so we

notice the beautiful

a meaningful life is one that is

awakened to these values and ordered to

them

that we seek them

we seek to integrate them and in some

cases for example the artistic case to

create them

in the moral case to imitate the great

saints and become ourselves

subjects of moral goodness

okay

by the sumo bonum or the supreme value i

mean

that unconditioned form of the good the

true and the beautiful

that stands behind and shines through

all the

more limited forms of objective value i

made reference in the conversation to uh

to plato

plato knew all about these values but he

also said there's the form of the good

he compared it to the sun by whose light

we see all things

so the form of the good the

unconditioned good the good in itself

that's the goal of the highest striving

of the mind and the heart for aristotle

it would be a contemplation of the

unmoved mover

so this this supremely actual reality

that stands behind all the

potentialities and actualities of the

world

for thomas aquinas and here is very

interesting jordan peterson was very

much echoing aquinas

the will seeks goods i'm i'm seeking it

good right now making this this video

but that particular act of the will

nests in a still higher

value or set of values

i'm doing this video because i want to

evangelize etc and then that desire ness

in a still higher good or purpose i want

to evangelize because that's the uh the

command of the lord

with any act of the will i can do this

kind of nesting analysis and see that

finally

every particular act of the will is

grounded in

a desire for

something perceived to be the sumim

bonum the highest good it's why tayar de

chardin said we wouldn't get out of bed

in the morning unless implicitly we

believed in god he's making the same

point i get out of bed in the morning

seeking some particular good but that

nest in ever higher goods

until i come finally to the supreme good

to be in purpose of relationship to that

value

is to have a religiously meaningful life

okay so we all knock this idea around

from our different perspectives

but then we came the question of okay

what's prompted the crisis of meaning

especially among a lot of young people

today and i think we focus on a couple

of things especially

the first one is scientism

you know i've talked about this before

i haven't a single little thing against

the sciences i love and reverence the

sciences but i've got a lot against

scientism which is the reduction of all

knowledge to the scientific form of

knowledge

the trouble is we're so impressed

by the success and predictive equality

of the physical sciences

that we have reduced human knowing to

that realm well see if you're a

platonist that means you are looking at

the

shadows on the wall of the cave

in a hyper sophisticated way

you're coming to ever deeper knowledge

of the evanescent passing things of this

world

but objective values

moral and aesthetic that goes beyond

what the physical scientists can grasp

when i limit authentic knowledge to the

physical sciences

i see this realm of value as simply oh

subjectivism it's simply a projection of

my needs

it's soft science as opposed to the hard

science

the problem is prior to the to the rise

of the modern sciences most of the most

brilliant people in the western

tradition were cultivators of this

wisdom tradition

articulating objective values orienting

us to the supreme value

but today because of scientism there's a

great sort of occluding of that realm

and then the second thing we put our

fingers on was

what i've called the culture of

self-invention which carries with it the

concomitant

conviction

that claims to objective value whether

that's truth or goodness or aesthetic

value

those aren't real those are disguised

plays of power

right this is michel foucault and so

many others in the post-modern framework

that if i'm claiming hey this is good

and you ought to do it this is true you

ought to know it this is beautiful and

you ought to seek it all i'm doing is

playing a power game

those things can't be true in themselves

they're a disguise play of power well

see with that's been baked into the

minds of so many young people today and

when that happens the realm of value

even s's or it's it's occluded

the result

a loss of meaning

yeah knowledge given by the physical

sciences sure we have a lot of that

affirmation of our subjectivity we got

tons of that

but we're losing a sense of objective

value and a purposive orientation to

that value

okay what's the solution

i said look

speaking as a catholic bishop out of the

catholic tradition

we need great catholic scholars

who reverence this wisdom tradition that

know it

that no of these figures going back to

augustine and thomas aquinas and dante

and coming up through the great figures

today

that know and love that tradition can

teach it effectively we need to be sure

great catholic artists and here you know

jonathan pajot was interesting to talk

to a guy who is a carver and a painter

in the iconic tradition we need great

catholic artists who reverence the

objective aesthetic values

that know the catholic aesthetic

tradition

stretching up from ancient times through

you know michelangelo and everybody else

up to the present day and then finally i

suggested

we need great catholic saints

we need people who embody these great

moral values they don't just talk about

them they embody them they live them

these figures

will be the mentors and the wisdom

figures who can draw young people back

into a sense of a meaningful life

that's the best way to address this

crisis of meaning

thanks so much for watching if you

enjoyed this video i invite you to share

it and to subscribe to my youtube

channel