How Kierkegaard's Philosophy Embraces Anxiety

Summary

This video script explores the multifaceted nature of anxiety, discussing its prevalence and potential positive aspects. It challenges the common view of anxiety solely as a debilitating condition, suggesting that it can also be a catalyst for personal growth and societal change. Philosophers like Kierkegaard and Heidegger are cited to argue that embracing anxiety can lead to a deeper understanding of freedom and authenticity, while contemporary thinkers like Žižek and Badiou link it to the possibility of transformative social action. The script encourages viewers to reconsider their relationship with anxiety, positioning it not as an enemy to be defeated but as a force that can empower and enlighten.

Takeaways

• 😔 Anxiety is pervasive and can manifest as a clinical disorder, affecting daily life significantly.
• 🤔 People cope with anxiety in various ways, including therapy, medication, meditation, and even hugging cows.
• 🧐 Some philosophers and psychoanalysts view anxiety not just negatively, but as a necessary step towards self-realization and societal change.
• 📚 Kierkegaard's 'The Concept of Anxiety' argues that anxiety is a fundamental human experience that can facilitate action and understanding of our freedom.
• 🌐 The script discusses societal anxiety, suggesting it's a response to real-world issues like financial insecurity and safety concerns.
• 🎬 Media and popular culture often reflect and explore themes of anxiety, as seen in movies and TV shows.
• 🔍 The script suggests that anxiety can be a response to the realization that our understanding of reality may be incomplete or incorrect.
• 💭 Kierkegaard describes anxiety as the 'dizziness of freedom,' arising when one becomes aware of the vast possibilities of existence.
• 🌱 Embracing anxiety can lead to a more authentic and free life, as it confronts us with the reality of our own subjectivity and freedom.
• 🌟 Heidegger and other philosophers see anxiety as a mood that precedes the emergence of an authentic self and the experience of true freedom.
• 🔄 Contemporary philosophers like Žižek and Badiou connect anxiety with the potential for social and political change, viewing it as a catalyst for new possibilities.

Q & A

What is the main theme discussed in the video script?

The main theme of the video script is the concept of anxiety, its prevalence in society, and how various philosophers view it as a necessary step towards personal growth and societal change.

What are some of the coping mechanisms mentioned for dealing with anxiety?

The script mentions several coping mechanisms for dealing with anxiety, including therapy, pharmaceuticals, meditation apps, religion, and even hugging cows.

How does the script describe the increase in anxiety among young people?

The script refers to social scientist Jonathan Height's argument that young people are facing a significant increase in anxiety, with a 139% rise since 2010 for those aged 18 to 25 and a 103% rise for those aged 26 to 34.

What is the role of anxiety according to Søren Kierkegaard's perspective presented in the script?

According to Søren Kierkegaard, as presented in the script, anxiety is a foundational human experience that helps us understand our relationship to the world and our own freedom. It can facilitate action and is a necessary step in becoming an authentic self.

What is the concept of 'objective anxiety' as discussed in the script?

Objective anxiety, as discussed in the script, is a reflection of the sinfulness of the generation in the whole world, referring to how individual human activity can leave its trace on the world and lead to collective self-deception or a desire for control.

How does the script relate anxiety to political and social action?

The script suggests that anxiety can be a precondition for political and social action, as it creates a space for new possibilities and the potential for change. It is a necessary experience that can lead to the affirmation of new ideas and societal structures.

What is the script's stance on the portrayal of anxiety in the media?

The script notes that the media often portrays anxiety as an entirely negative mental state that should be avoided or cured. However, it argues that this perspective overlooks the potential positive aspects of anxiety as discussed by philosophers and psychoanalysts.

What is the connection between anxiety and existential freedom as per the script?

The script suggests that anxiety can reveal the existential freedom at the heart of our existence. It is the dizziness of freedom that emerges when we become aware of the absolute abyss of freedom, which can either paralyze us or lead to a more authentic and free existence.

How does the script describe the experience of anxiety in relation to the concept of 'das Sein'?

The script, referencing Martin Heidegger, describes anxiety as a fundamental mood of 'das Sein' (human existence or subjectivity). It is a subtle mood that relates to our existence in the world and can lead to a deeper understanding of our freedom and authenticity.

What is the script's view on the potential positive outcomes of experiencing anxiety?

The script posits that experiencing anxiety can lead to personal growth and societal change. It can help individuals become more authentic, embrace their freedom, and potentially lead to the creation of new social and political structures.

How does the script suggest we should approach anxiety to make it more manageable?

The script suggests that reframing our understanding of anxiety, acknowledging it as a necessary step towards personal growth and societal change, can make it more manageable. It encourages embracing the freedom that anxiety reveals rather than trying to avoid or suppress it.

Outlines

00:00

😟 Anxiety in the Modern World

The script opens with a discussion on the prevalence of anxiety among individuals, questioning the authenticity of friendships and the possibility of exclusion from group conversations. It touches on the various causes of stress and anxiety, from global issues like the presidential election and environmental concerns to personal struggles like providing for one's family. The speaker introduces the idea that anxiety can be a positive force, as suggested by philosophers and psychoanalysts, and mentions the rise in anxiety levels among young people, as documented by social scientist Jonathan Heights. The script also humorously suggests hugging cows as an unconventional remedy for anxiety, reflecting the desperate measures people take to cope with their fears.

05:01

📚 Philosophical Perspectives on Anxiety

This paragraph delves into the philosophical and psychoanalytic views on anxiety, focusing on the works of Kierkegaard and his book 'The Concept of Anxiety.' It discusses how anxiety is a fundamental human experience that can lead to a better understanding of our relationship with the world and ourselves. Kierkegaard's personal experiences with anxiety are highlighted, as well as his critique of idealist philosophers who attempt to use logic to fully comprehend the self and the world. The paragraph suggests that anxiety can be a catalyst for action and self-realization, rather than a paralyzing force.

10:03

🚀 Embracing Freedom Through Anxiety

The script continues by exploring the concept of existential freedom and how anxiety can be a gateway to embracing this freedom. It uses the metaphor of dizziness to describe the feeling of anxiety when faced with the realization of one's own freedom. The discussion includes the idea that anxiety can lead to a more authentic existence by accepting the uncertainty and freedom inherent in life. It also touches on the works of Martin Heidegger, who viewed anxiety as a mood that allows the self to emerge and engage with the world in a more profound way.

15:03

🌐 Anxiety and Social Change

The final paragraph connects the personal experience of anxiety with the potential for social and political change. It discusses how anxiety can lead to the creation of new possibilities and the rejection of oppressive systems, as well as the importance of acknowledging the fundamental freedom that underlies all aspects of life and society. The script cites contemporary philosophers like Slavoj Žižek and Alain Badiou, who see anxiety as a necessary precondition for envisioning and working towards a better world. The summary concludes with a reflection on the value of anxiety in prompting us to consider alternative ways of living and the potential for a more liberated future.

Keywords

💡Anxiety

Anxiety, in the context of the video, is portrayed as a complex emotional state that is often perceived negatively but is also suggested to have positive aspects. It is integral to the theme as the video explores the idea that anxiety can be a catalyst for self-discovery and change. For example, the script mentions 'anxiety crisis' and how it is being coped with in various ways, indicating its prevalence and impact on individuals.

💡Friendship

The concept of friendship is brought up in the script to illustrate a common source of anxiety, where one might feel that friends maintain the relationship out of habit rather than genuine affection. This relates to the video's theme by showing how anxiety can stem from social relationships and the fear of being excluded or misunderstood, as exemplified by the hypothetical group text scenario.

💡Coping Mechanisms

Coping mechanisms refer to the various strategies people use to deal with stress or anxiety. The video mentions several such as therapy, medication, meditation apps, and even the humorous example of hugging cows. These mechanisms are relevant as they represent the diverse ways individuals manage their anxiety, which is a central topic of the video.

💡Clinical Disorder

A clinical disorder, in this context, refers to anxiety as a medical condition that can severely impact a person's ability to function in daily life. The video acknowledges the seriousness of clinical anxiety and the importance of seeking help for it, which adds a layer of depth to the discussion by recognizing the spectrum of experiences with anxiety.

💡Philosophical Perspective

The philosophical perspective presented in the video suggests that anxiety can be a positive and necessary part of human experience. It is used to challenge the common view of anxiety as purely negative, by proposing that it can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of one's existence. Key philosophers like Kierkegaard and Heidegger are mentioned to support this perspective.

💡Authenticity

Authenticity is the concept of being true to one's own personality, spirit, or character. In the video, it is linked to the idea that embracing anxiety can lead to a more authentic existence. The script discusses how acknowledging and accepting anxiety can help individuals become more self-aware and genuine, which is a key message of the video.

💡Freedom

Freedom, as discussed in the video, is the realization of the limitless possibilities inherent in existence and is closely tied to the experience of anxiety. It is used to illustrate the idea that anxiety can be a gateway to recognizing one's own power to make choices and change the world, as opposed to a paralyzing force.

💡Existential

Existential refers to the concerns about the nature of human existence and the meaning of life. The video uses existential themes to explore the roots of anxiety and how it can lead to profound insights about one's place in the world, as seen in the discussion of the 'abyss of freedom' and the 'dizziness of freedom'.

💡Political and Social Action

The video suggests a connection between anxiety and the potential for political and social change. It posits that the experience of anxiety can lead to a recognition of the need for change and the courage to pursue it, which is exemplified by the references to contemporary philosophers and the idea that anxiety can pave the way for new possibilities.

💡Paralysis

Paralysis, in the context of the video, refers to the state of being unable to act or make decisions due to anxiety. It is used to describe a common reaction to overwhelming anxiety but also contrasts with the video's argument that embracing anxiety can lead to action and change, rather than inaction.

💡Uncertainty

Uncertainty is the state of being unsure or lacking knowledge or conviction. The video discusses how anxiety is often tied to uncertainty, particularly in relation to the future and the potential outcomes of one's actions. It is a key element in understanding the video's exploration of how anxiety can be a precursor to personal and societal evolution.

Highlights

Anxiety is a common concern, with people fearing that friends may not genuinely like them and could be talking behind their backs.

Anxiety levels are rising, especially among young people, with a 139% increase for those aged 18 to 25 since 2010.

Coping mechanisms for anxiety are diverse, ranging from therapy and medication to meditation apps and even hugging cows.

Some philosophers and psychoanalysts argue that anxiety can be positive and necessary for personal growth and societal change.

Anxiety can manifest as a clinical disorder, making daily life difficult for those affected.

Media reflects the national mood of anxiety, with characters like Larry David's from 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and the character 'Anxiety' in 'Inside Out'.

Anxiety can be rooted in realistic concerns, such as the inability to retire due to lack of savings, or in less tangible fears like keeping family safe.

Anxiety can lead to positive action, such as living a greener life or political involvement, or to apathy and inaction.

Philosophers like Kierkegaard view anxiety as a foundational human experience necessary for understanding our relationship with the world and our freedom.

Kierkegaard's 'The Concept of Anxiety' critiques the idealist philosophers' approach to understanding the self and the world through logic and reason alone.

Anxiety can create a sense of incongruity and instability when our understanding of reality is contradicted by events.

Kierkegaard describes anxiety as the 'dizziness of freedom,' emerging when one becomes aware of the freedom at the heart of existence.

Heidegger expands on Kierkegaard's ideas, describing anxiety as a fundamental mood of Dasein, or human existence.

Anxiety can be a precursor to authenticity and freedom, as it reveals the contingency and uncertainty inherent in life.

Contemporary philosophers like Žižek and Badiou see anxiety as a necessary precondition for envisioning and creating new possibilities in society.

Anxiety can lead to the rejection of certainties and the embrace of freedom, allowing for the potential of new social and political systems.

The video concludes by suggesting that embracing anxiety can lead to a more authentic and free existence, despite the challenges it presents.

Transcripts

[Music]

guys I'm anxious and I'm not alone for

example do you guys ever think that some

of your friends are only still friends

with you because they've been friends

with you and they actually don't like

you and they probably have a group text

behind your back where they talk about

why they don't like you and then every

time you're with them you're just

thinking

like am I not in on it and they're in on

it and I don't actually have friends but

a lot of folks seem stressed whether

it's about the upcoming presidential

election the collapsing ecosystem or

simply just being able to provide for

their family's most basic needs we're

coping with this anxiety with everything

from therapy to Pharmaceuticals from

substances to meditation apps from

religion to hugging cows it's a real

thing uh it's not a metaphor or a

euphemism people are hugging cows to

cure anxiety now to be clear for some

people anxiety manifests as a clinical

disorder that can be so intense that

coping with the demands of daily life

can be difficult if not impossible and

for those of you who are dealing with

that goes without saying I've been there

I hope you're getting the help that you

need and we're all rooting for you but

we think that there's something being

missed in all of this while the

headlines paint all anxiety as an

objectively bad mental state that should

either be avoided entirely or swiftly

cured many philosophers and

psychoanalysts disagree some even argue

that not only can anxiety be positive

but that it's actually a necessary step

in the process of fully becoming

ourselves and a precondition for

changing the world so even if you're not

less anxious at the end of this video

you might still feel better about your

anxiety which which is something you

know it's it's it's not nothing now

while anxiety isn't new it feels like we

are legitimately living through an

anxiety crisis social scientist Jonathan

Heights recent bestseller the anxious

generation argues that young people are

facing a full-on collapse in mental

health with anxiety up 139% since 2010

for those aged 18 to 25 and 103% for

those aged AG 26 to 34 so basically if

you're watching this channel you

probably need to go hug a cow

immediately this National mood is

reflected in the media we consume from

my eighth dad Larry David's panicking

about everyday etiquette are you leaving

right now cuz I don't think we should

run into each other again yeah that

would be so awkward that would be

awkward so I'm not leaving just yet it

would be great if you can get out of

here to the Bear's episode long anxiety

attack shut the [ __ ] up shut the up let

me think for a second one of the best

films of 2022 featured a family

wrestling with existential anxiety why

why what wh what's all this for and

anxiety is actually going to debut as a

character and inside out too I'm anxiety

where can I put my stuff a new

emotion sorry we wanted to make such a

good first impression now some root

causes of this society-wide condition

can be born out by objective facts for

example the majority of Americans over

50 are anxious that they'll never be

able to retire and this makes sense cuz

about half of American households have

literally no retirement savings that

Bleak daydream about trying to do your

job at 83 isn't Fantastical it's

reasonable if I'm still doing this at

83 I don't know I hope I'd die on camera

that'd be sick other causes of anxiety

feel less rooted in reality like the 70%

of Americans who are anxious or

extremely anxious about keeping their

family safe even though FBI data

indicates America is about as safe as it

has ever Ben FBI data also indicated

some things about Martin Luther King Jr

that maybe weren't the best but who am I

to talk about objective history and to

be clear that's not to dismiss more

specific anxieties like students worried

about the astonishing rise in school

shootings but regardless of the

statistical validity of your anxiety

it's worth asking once that anxiety

exists what does it do for you well it's

complicated for example one study found

that climate anxiety can have one of two

effects depending on the person's coping

strategies it can cause some people to

take positive action whether that's

living Greener lives or getting involved

politically or it can cause e paralysis

essentially apathy and between you and

me if I'm being totally honest it feels

like lately a lot of us are veering

dangerously close to the second option

it seems like our current wave of social

and political anxiety is rendering us

increasingly apathetic unable to

conceive of the potential of really

doing something to make the world better

or at least different but some of the

most important names in philosophy have

actually argued the opposite namely that

anxiety far from rendering us prisoners

to our own minds can be the very thing

that facilitates our freedom and I'm

going to tell you all about that in just

a second but first I wanted to say thank

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you there okay so we're not saying that

philosophically speaking anxiety is just

good in and of itself you know Thomas

aquinus wouldn't call you virtuous for

staying up all night tracking glacial

melt in Greenland but for many

philosophers including kard anxiety is a

foundational Human Experience one that's

necessary to properly understand our

relationship to the world and our own

freedom and rather than keeping us

paralyzed it can actually facilitate

Action Now ker guard's most focused

discussion on the topic is in a book

called the concept of anxiety and even

know a thing or two about the subject is

he was a notoriously anxious guy calling

off an engagement to a woman who was

reportedly way out of his League because

of his anxiety about not being a good

husband he spent the rest of his life

alone the book is a response to some of

the philosophical trends of his time

specifically the tendency of idealist

philosophers to use logic and objective

reason to fully comprehend both the self

and the world in other words they argued

that the same structures and Concepts

could understand the relation between

our minds and reality without any in

congruity or gaps or uncertainty kard

thought that this ultr logical approach

failed to help us understand actuality

I.E our actual experience of existence

because the messiness of life doesn't

often match up with the Philosopher's

ideal Vision he writes about this brand

of thought arguing that actuality is not

served thereby for a contingency which

is an essential part of the actual

cannot be admitted within the realm of

logic he's saying that when logic

doesn't have room for contingency I.E

the possibility of uncertainty it's not

able to help us understand our actual

lived experience it's like only being

told how to dress for LA weather that's

75° and sunny when in reality the

weather varies wildly throughout the

year no matter how well one logically

understands an ideal reality there's

always the possibility that things might

be otherwise but kker guard thought that

the logic magc Bros of 19th century

Copenhagen failed to understand this and

were thus in the ironic position of

thinking they could understand reality

in certain terms treating existence the

way we might treat a mathematical

equation or a logical proof he notes

that all of this certainty goes out the

window in an instant when something

happens that exceeds or contradicts our

supposedly totalized understanding of

reality these sorts of experiences can

just shake up our understanding in the

blink of an eye leaving us with a sense

of instability and anxiety now we see

this in films like The Truman Show where

our protagonist realizes that the world

he's lived in for his entire life and

taken as reality is actually a

construction on the radio on the way to

work starts like following me along

talking about everything that I'm doing

at this moment there is a seemingly

irreconcilable gap between his

understanding of reality and reality

itself why don't you let me fix you some

of this newo cocoa drink all natural

cocoa beans from the upper slopes of

Mount Nicaragua no artificial sweeteners

what the hell are you talking

about who you talking to which leads to

a feeling of in congruity and a whole

lot of anxiety on a smaller scale we

might feel this uh when we get fired

from a job that we thought we'd have for

life and I guess without benefits I'll

be able to hold my daughter as she you

know suffers from her asthma that I

won't be able to afford the medication

for or when a relationship that we let

Define our entire existence suddenly

ends in both cases we might feel like

we'll never never work or love again and

kard thinks that all of these

experiences can lead to anxiety he

writes that in the individual life

anxiety is the instant meaning that

these things happen in an instant right

creating a moment where everything seems

to change when this happens we break

with an innocent relation to the world

and find ourselves ungrounded and a

terrifying feeling of freedom and

possibility I mean think about it this

way right freedom is a thing that like

sounds cool and good but imagine and

you're a little kid and you wake up and

you look for your parents in the house M

mommy daddy and they're just not there

they're just not there you're totally

alone you're free you can do anything

does that feel good so what I'm saying

is if you have kids and you want to

teach them about existential Freedom get

up now leave the house go driving 3

hours 4 hours you know go out go out for

a nice dinner get dessert afterwards do

the thing where you get dinner at one

place and like you know let's get

dessert someplace else that'd be fun and

then come back and they'll be good

they'll be good to go because when we

realize the way things are is not

necessary we're suddenly aware of the

absolute abyss of Freedom at the heart

of our existence it's the existential

equivalent of looking down and realizing

that there's no ground beneath your feet

or looking up and realizing you live in

a giant Studio set now we experienced

this in our own lives in a variety of

ways you know it could be uh that we're

driving down the highway and we realize

that that we have the freedom to drive

into oncoming traffic at any moment as

does every other car you know we're all

just sort of trusting in the radical

freedom of everyone else you know all

those people we're trusting them for all

of our Lives it could be breaking with a

religious belief system that wants to

find our understanding of the world it

could be the experience of social and

political events that leave us

rethinking everything we once took for

granted now here's how kirkgard

describes it he writes that anxiety may

be compared with dizziness he whose eye

happens to look down into the yawning

Abyss becomes dizzy but what is the

reason for this it is just as much in

his own eye as in the abyss for suppose

he had not looked down hence anxiety is

the dizziness of Freedom which emerges

when the spirit wants to posit the

synthesis and freedom looks down into

its own possibility laying hold a

finiteness to support itself we feel

dizzy because we're suddenly aware of a

freedom at the heart of existence and we

can either Embrace this Freedom or grasp

onto the nearest object and tell

ourselves that we're still in control

now at this point you might be thinking

how is this good you know do do I want

to be staring into an infinite Abyss

wondering what real while being

confronted with the terrifying Freedom

you know wouldn't it be better to step

back order some pizza and fire up X-Men

[Music]

97 well the upside is that in this

moment of absolute anxiety we're made

aware of the reality of freedom and we

can accept that this freedom is a part

of existence and our own subjectivity

like Truman what first might feel

terrifying and disorienting can end up

creating a more real and free existence

life becomes scarier and more uncertain

but it also becomes more real and more

free describing the one who sinks into

this sort of Abyssal anxiety kir guard

writes he sank absolutely but then in

turn he emerged from the depth of the

Abyss lighter than all the Troublesome

and terrible things in life and this

isn't a one-time thing uh we have to

embrace the conditions of this anxiety

as a constant state which reminds us of

this unconstrained Abyss that serves as

the condition of our freedom to put it

in ker guard's language it's an

absolutely necessary step in becoming a

self and the first step in living a free

and authentic existence now this line of

thought continues with 20th century

German philosopher and as we got a note

a member of the Nazi party Martin haiger

he picked up on kir guard's work

describing anxiety as a fundamental mood

of dasign which is his word for human

existence or subjectivity now as

philosopher Simon kitley explains heiger

says that anxiety is is a rare and

subtle mood and in one place even

compares it with a feeling of calm or

peace it is an anxiety that the free

authentic self first comes into

existence and haiger is notoriously

difficult to read you should still try

it but for the sake of this video I'm

going to rely on some of these crit

quotes now for heiger anxiety isn't fear

which is often about a particular object

for example I'm afraid of spiders or I'm

afraid of the dark or I'm afraid of

dying at the exact same age as my dad

did rather anxiety describes a mood that

relates to our existence as kitley

writes anxiety is anxious about being in

the world as such anxiety is experienced

in the face of something completely

indefinite for example if we say we're

anxious about a first date we're more

just scared that it might not go well as

we know most of the possible outcomes

anxiety is more like the abyss that

kagar describes for heiger kitley

explains in anxiety the everyday World

slips away and my home becomes uncanny

and strange to me from being a player in

the game of life that I loved I become

an observer of a game that I no longer

see the point in playing now the sounds

a little Bleak but in the absence of

this deeper observation we're all just

like Truman in the first third of the

movie naively thinking that we are fully

consistent with the world around us and

that we understand both what is and

what's possible in the future anxiety

helps us see through this and through

that separation we're able to more

firmly become ourselves to quote crley

One Last Time anxiety is the first

experience of our freedom as a freedom

from things and other people it is a

freedom to begin to become myself

anxiety is perhaps the philosophical

mood par excellance is the experience of

Detachment from things and from others

where I can begin to think freely for

myself so for Karden heiger we can't

become an authentic self we can't

experience Freedom we can't be

philosophical if we don't first

experience anxiety but how does this

help us deal with the paralyzed feeling

we get when we're overwhelmed with

anxiety about all the very unchill

things currently happening in the world

I'm going to tell you in a second it's

going to fix everything but first of all

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back to the other thing now ker guard

writes about something called objective

anxiety uh and this is what he calls the

reflection of the sinfulness of the

generation in the whole world to be

clear he's not saying that when you

touch yourself uh that's why hurricanes

happen rather than the sinfulness being

about you looking at dirty magazines

he's referring to the way in which

individual human activity can leave its

trace on the world when folks create

beliefs and structures to try to curb

this feeling for example anxiety can

lead some individuals and groups to want

to be their own Foundation Paving over

any Abyssal freedom in other words they

want full control and we see this in

nationalism racism and sexism in which

one group wants to make their existence

in way of life foundational they respond

to anxiety by building a wall around

themselves and deciding who counts and

who does not rather than embracing

Freedom they attempt to control it

rather than accepting anxiety they try

to ignore it to the point of collective

self-deception the opposite of this is a

collective affirmation of anxiety and

the acknowledgement that our social and

political systems are not necessary we

have to acknowledge that abyss of

freedom and rather than trying to

control it we need to accept it as a

precondition for all individual and

Collective life now the connection

between anxiety and political and social

action has been picked up by

contemporary philosophers like slavo xek

and Alon bju xek is written that the

negativity of anxiety and the Death

Drive has to be posited as prior to the

affirmative enthusiasm for the event as

its condition of possibility this means

that the experience of anxiety is

necessary as a precondition positively

affirm that something new is possible

without the space created by anxiety

there isn't room for something new to

emerge for beju anxiety is one of the

aects of Truth meaning one of the

feelings that accompanies the experience

of believing in something new and true

this means that as we're faced with the

potential for new situation we're

anxious at the risk of failure he writes

the human animal fears the choice

between two hypotheses that come with no

guarantee this lack of certainty is

anxiety inducing but it's also what

makes alternative modes of living

possible this all means that anxiety

while not always a pleasant emotional or

psychic state affirms that underneath

all the seeming certainties of life and

Society there is a fundamental freedom

and while this Freedom can complicate

the certainties that we might cling to

it can also show us how systems we think

of as certain are grounded or ungrounded

in that same Freedom so when we're

anxious about the future we can remember

that paradox Ally anxiety reminds us

that the future we're anxious about

isn't our only option I hope that makes

everyone feel better um please let us

know what you think uh is there an

unexpected value in having a thought

spiral about how how you don't really

have any friends uh can reframing the

way that we think about anxiety make it

more manageable maybe even emancipatory

I want to know what you think in the

comments a huge thanks again to all our

patrons thanks for helping us get above

a thousand let's let's do 2,000 why not

thanks to all of you for hanging out

watching the videos liking commenting

subscribing sharing them with your

friends and family it all means a lot to

us truly it really does so thank you so

much for that and in the meantime

remember that freedom is is good and you

know better to have freedom and anxiety

than to have no anxiety and no Freedom

right that's a pretty good deal you

think about that and I'll see you next

time

he

[Music]