The Philosophy of Time Management | Brad Aeon | TEDxConcordia

TEDx Talks

19 Dec 201712:08

Summary

TLDRThis script explores the philosophical roots of time management, questioning the modern approach that emphasizes productivity over meaningful living. It challenges the notion of 'time is money,' suggesting that valuing time this way cheapens its true worth. The speaker encourages embracing philosophy to ask deeper questions about how we spend our time, advocating for a mindful approach to living that acknowledges our mortality and the sacrifices we must make to lead meaningful lives.

Takeaways

📝 The speaker began with a personal story of realizing mortality at a young age, which sparked a lifelong interest in the value of time.
🤔 The script emphasizes the importance of asking philosophical questions about time, such as why we work and what gives our lives meaning.
📚 It critiques modern time management practices for being technique-focused rather than rooted in philosophical inquiry about living meaningfully.
⏰ The concept of time as money is challenged, with the argument that it devalues our time and leads to a more stressful and less fulfilling life.
💰 The script suggests that viewing time as money can lead to greed and a lack of consideration for others or the environment.
💡 Roman philosopher Seneca's view is cited, suggesting that valuing time as money is undervaluing it, especially when considering our mortality.
🤷‍♂️ The speaker reflects on the idea that we may say we 'don't have time' as a way to avoid making choices and facing their consequences.
👵 The script contrasts the time constraints of our great-grandparents with our modern perception of time scarcity, despite having more freedom and flexibility.
🤝 It points out that our time management choices have societal implications, affecting everything from voting to social connections.
🧐 The importance of self-reflection on time allocation is highlighted, encouraging us to question whether we are making excuses or sacrifices.
💬 The speaker concludes by advocating for a philosophical approach to time management, which involves continuous questioning and meaningful choices.

Q & A

What is the main fear the speaker had when they were six years old?
-The main fear the speaker had when they were six years old was the fear of getting bored.
What realization did the speaker have after watching a documentary on sea turtles?
-The speaker realized that sea turtles can live up to 150 years, which led them to the realization of their own mortality and the mortality of everyone around them.
Why did the speaker's mother say that the concept of death is something that cannot be changed?
-The speaker's mother said that death is a natural part of life that is inevitable for everyone, and there is nothing one can do to change that fact.
What is the speaker's view on the modern time management movement?
-The speaker views the modern time management movement as philosophically empty, focusing on productivity and efficiency rather than on the philosophical roots of making life meaningful.
What does the speaker suggest is the problem with equating time with money?
-The speaker suggests that equating time with money leads to impatience, unhappiness, greed, and a decreased willingness to help others or consider the environment.
According to the speaker, what is the true value of time according to Roman philosopher Seneca?
-According to Seneca, as mentioned by the speaker, if we think of time as money, we are actually valuing our time very cheaply.
What does the speaker believe is the fundamental question in philosophy that helps with time management?
-The speaker believes that the fundamental question in philosophy that helps with time management is 'Why shouldn't I kill myself right now?' as it prompts reflection on what one truly values in life.
What is the speaker's opinion on the statement 'you can't manage time'?
-The speaker disagrees with the statement 'you can't manage time,' arguing that time can indeed be managed, but it requires making choices and living with the consequences of those choices.
Why does the speaker argue that saying 'I don't have time' is a lie?
-The speaker argues that saying 'I don't have time' is a lie because it is often an excuse to avoid making choices and taking responsibility for how one uses their time.
What does the speaker suggest is the consequence of not managing time meaningfully?
-The speaker suggests that the consequence of not managing time meaningfully is a lack of fulfillment and potentially contributing to societal issues such as isolation and a lack of civic engagement.
What advice does the speaker give for managing time in a meaningful way?
-The speaker advises embracing philosophy and continuously asking meaningful questions about how one uses their time, rather than focusing on tips, tricks, and shortcuts.

Outlines

00:00

🦖 The Philosophy of Time and Death

This paragraph explores the speaker's childhood fear of boredom and the existential realization of mortality after learning about the lifespan of sea turtles. It delves into the philosophical roots of time management, questioning the modern approach that focuses on productivity rather than the meaningful use of time. The speaker criticizes the 'time is money' mindset, illustrating its negative effects on happiness and social behavior, and emphasizes the need to reconnect with the philosophical inquiry into what makes life meaningful.

05:03

💡 Rethinking Time Management: Beyond Productivity

The speaker challenges the conventional wisdom that time cannot be managed due to the overwhelming demands of life. Using a personal anecdote about a professor who suffered personal losses due to her dedication to work, the paragraph highlights the importance of managing time to live a fulfilling life. It discusses the paradox of having more time yet complaining about its scarcity, and how the fear of making wrong choices leads people to claim they have no time. The speaker encourages embracing the freedom to make choices about how to spend our time, suggesting that time management is about making sacrifices for a meaningful life.

10:05

🌟 The Societal Impact of Time Management

In this paragraph, the speaker broadens the discussion to the societal implications of time management, emphasizing its collective nature and the impact of individual choices on the world. The speaker questions the common excuses for not engaging in civic duties or social activities, suggesting that a philosophical approach to time management could lead to more meaningful participation in society. The call to action is to share time with loved ones and to continuously ask questions about how we spend our time, advocating for a mindful and philosophically informed approach to living.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. In the context of the video, it is presented as a tool for asking meaningful questions about life and time, rather than focusing solely on productivity. The video emphasizes that philosophy helps us to understand the true value of our time and to live a meaningful life by questioning modern time management practices.

💡Time Management

Time management refers to the act or process of planning and controlling how much time is used for each activity in order to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. The video critiques modern time management as being 'philosophically empty,' suggesting it has strayed from its philosophical roots and instead focuses on productivity and efficiency, often at the expense of meaningful living.

💡Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophical theory that emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and subjective experience within a deterministic universe. The video touches on existentialist themes, such as the inevitability of death and the importance of making meaningful choices with one's time, as illustrated by the question 'why shouldn't I kill myself right now?'

💡Mortality

Mortality is the state of being subject to death. The video uses the concept of mortality to provoke thought about the value of time and the importance of living a meaningful life. The realization of one's mortality is a turning point in the narrative, leading to a deeper inquiry into the purpose of life and the use of time.

💡Productivity

Productivity refers to the efficiency of productive activity in an economy or business. In the video, productivity is portrayed as a common goal of modern time management, often leading to a loss of focus on what truly matters in life. The script contrasts this with a more philosophical approach to time, which values meaning over mere efficiency.

💡Death

Death is the termination of life. The video uses the concept of death to highlight the finite nature of time and to challenge the viewer to consider what is truly valuable in life. It suggests that contemplating death can lead to a reevaluation of one's priorities and a more meaningful approach to time management.

💡Freedom

Freedom, in a philosophical context, refers to the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance. The video discusses the paradox of modern life, where despite having more freedom and options, people often feel trapped by the choices they have, leading to a reluctance to take responsibility for their time.

💡Consequences

Consequences are the results or effects of an action or decision. The video implies that with freedom comes the responsibility to face the consequences of our choices regarding time. It suggests that acknowledging these consequences is crucial for meaningful time management.

💡Choices

Choices are the act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. The video emphasizes that making choices about how to spend one's time is a fundamental aspect of living a meaningful life. It contrasts the fear of making wrong choices with the empowerment that comes from embracing freedom and responsibility.

💡Isolation

Isolation refers to the state of being alone or separated from others. The video mentions the growing sense of isolation in Western societies, partly due to people feeling they don't have time for social activities. It suggests that a more philosophical approach to time management could help combat this by encouraging people to prioritize relationships.

💡Sacrifice

Sacrifice is the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. The video contrasts sacrifice with making excuses, suggesting that meaningful time management involves making conscious sacrifices in order to focus on what truly matters in life.

Highlights

The speaker's childhood fear of boredom led to a deep realization about the inevitability of death and the finite nature of time.

Philosophy is about asking important questions, especially regarding how to use our limited time meaningfully.

Modern time management focuses on productivity and efficiency, but lacks the philosophical depth of its ancient roots.

Ancient philosophers were concerned with using time to create meaningful lives, in contrast to today's more superficial approach.

The common saying 'time is money' is criticized for cheapening the true value of our finite time.

Thinking of time as money can lead to negative consequences like impatience, greed, and reduced willingness to help others.

Roman philosopher Seneca's view that valuing time as money is undervaluing it, as we have a limited amount of time.

French philosopher Albert Camus suggests that contemplating death can help clarify what we truly value in life.

The speaker challenges the notion that time cannot be managed, using personal anecdotes and philosophical arguments.

The idea that 'I don't have time' is called the biggest lie, as it often masks a lack of prioritization and meaningful choices.

Our great-grandparents had less time due to more demanding work and life conditions, yet they did not complain as much as we do.

Today's society has more time and flexibility, yet we still claim to not have enough time, indicating a deeper issue.

Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre's perspective on the fear of freedom and the responsibility that comes with it.

The fear of making wrong choices with our time can lead to avoidance and excuses instead of embracing the freedom to manage it.

Time management is a societal issue, not just an individual one, with impacts on voting, reading, and social interactions.

The importance of asking the right questions in time management, rather than seeking quick tips and shortcuts.

A call to embrace philosophy in time management to live more meaningfully and make better use of our time.