Humanity’s Meaning Crisis: What Ancient Wisdom & Modern Psychology Reveal | John Vervaeke
John Vervaeke delves into the concept of the meaning crisis facing our planet and explores how we can cultivate lives filled with purpose and wisdom. He shares his personal journey through a meaning crisis and reflects on how Socratic wisdom has shaped his understanding. As he examines the broader implications of our current societal struggles, John highlights the main contributors to this, drawing parallels between modern times and historic civilizations and examining four essential aspects that define meaning in our lives. He addresses the impacts of scarcity mentality, technology, and loneliness, while offering insights into the contemplation of death and the fear of the unknown. The conversation also touches on the four types of knowing, the existential significance of love, and the process of relevance realization, which frames our perception of reality. Ultimately, he presents a vision for humanity's future in the aftermath of the meaning crisis, contemplating the inevitability of suffering and drawing wisdom from great philosophers throughout history.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Four Things that Make Life Meaningful:
The meaning crisis on our planet has left people feeling empty and aimless in life. John proposes these four aspects which define a life that feels meaningful:
Coherence
The structure of your experience needs to feel like it makes sense, even if there are unknowns.
Purpose
Rather than an end-goal of your life, purpose is a north-star. It is an orientation that helps you navigate and track through your reality.
Significance
You must have things in your life that feel real and deep, not superficial or ephemeral.
Mattering
Most importantly, you must feel connected to something ‘bigger than yourself’. Ask yourself these questions to determine if you have mattering:
What do you want to exist even if you don’t?
How really real is it?
How much do you matter to it? And how much of a difference does it make to you?