Status Anxiety

[amber]

In the next hour, he goes on to talk about why people want status, and how some philosophers (notably Adam Smith, who wrote The Wealth of Nations) say that it has little to do with the money and possessions in themselves, but the human desire to be well regarded, taken care of, and have their opinions valued. Because our self esteem tends to raise if others regard us well, and lower when they don't. Similarly, when people have lower wage jobs, it isn't the actual work that perhaps makes them unhappy, it's the fact that they have opinions, thoughts, desires, etc. that any person sitting in a boardroom has - but are treated as if they don't, as if things they say, and they themselves, are not of importance - just because the job they do is rote, coglike, they perform one simple task over and over. Which is natural. But not necessarily completely desireable.
So, I guess we can conclude that those who seek the trappings of wealth, the conclusion of status the most - can never fulfill their sense of self worth in other ways that other people can fulfill them.
This places happiness in the hands of others, others who perceive that the aquisition of wealth is the measure of value. More often than not, people we don't even know, public opinion.

"Those who attach so much value to the opinions of others pays them too much honor".

However, He addresses how the worst state a human can be in is to be ignored. Uses the babies-dying-from-lack-of-attention example. And that we just naturally have a desire for love from the world.

He then posits that one way of rethinking the whole heirarchy, etc., is the expression of art. Art is universal, everyone can be important. Anyone can say something important, all can be worthy of respect. Also art helps us deal with "failure". Much of great art is stories of failure, that is where conflict lies. Also a way for us to express our compassion for those who have failed, both in making and experiencing art.

And lastly, how death is the great equalizer, and helps people focus their priorities, and how it has been depicted through art.

I'm just scratching the surface of all that was said, I highly recommend this series to anyone. It addresses complex concepts (as you can see here, the dichotomy of human nature needing approval and love and attention but fallaciously overemphasizing status as a way to obtain it, and over valueing status as a reason to give affection and approval) but is also very accessible. This is the same guy who did the "Philosophers" series, too.

Really, really good and fascinating. Yoga for the mind, lets the air circulate through the unused parts, stimulating new ideas, making your brain more flexible.