Slavoj Žižek | Why Be Happy When You Could Be Interesting? | Big Think
Big Think1 HN recommender · recommended in 1 month, 2014-2023
3.6M views · 14 years ago · commentary · evergreen
A two-minute Big Think clip of Slavoj Zizek arguing that happiness is a conformist, even unethical goal. He asks why one would want to be happy when one could be interesting.
HN shares it as a short, provocative counterpoint in threads on purpose, goals and the pursuit of happiness.
1:17:12Violence | Slavoj Žižek | Talks at Google
Talks at Google
791K views • 18 years ago
21:20The surprising science of happiness | Dan Gilbert
TED
4.7M views • 14 years ago
10:57RSA ANIMATE: First as Tragedy, Then as Farce
Royal Society of Arts
1.9M views • 16 years ago
2:45:33Marxism: Zizek/Peterson: Official Video
Jordan B Peterson
4.7M views • 7 years ago
10:52The Power of belief -- mindset and success | Eduardo Briceno | TEDxManhattanBeach
TEDx Talks
5.6M views • 13 years ago
15:25The surprising habits of original thinkers | Adam Grant | TED
TED
12M views • 10 years ago
3:57Zizek on toilets
Diego Cumplido
681K views • 15 years ago
16:52A kinder, gentler philosophy of success | Alain de Botton
TED
2.1M views • 17 years ago
12:04Why Being Delusional is a Superpower
Veritasium
15.2M views • 6 years ago
10:23RSA ANIMATE: Smile or Die
Royal Society of Arts
2.5M views • 16 years ago
5:50You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.
Harvard Business Review
17.9M views • 1 year ago
18:53Toward Rational, Authentic Food Choices | Melanie Joy | TEDxMünchen
TEDx Talks
911K views • 11 years ago
2:46:27Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned — Kenneth Stanley
Machine Learning Street Talk
154K views • 5 years ago
20:37The riddle of experience vs. memory | Daniel Kahneman
TED
1.5M views • 16 years ago
7:26Optimistic Nihilism
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
18.9M views • 9 years ago
1:02:36The Pervert's Guide to Computer Programming Languages - SXSW
Vulk Coop
28K views • 9 years ago
7:00David Deutsch on Optimism
Royal Society of Arts
46K views • 10 years ago
1:10:03Debate Noam Chomsky & Michel Foucault - On human nature [Subtitled]
withDefiance
2.7M views • 13 years ago
6:01Slavoj Žižek on "They Live" (The Pervert's Guide to Ideology)
Christian G
427K views • 12 years ago
2:23Music and Life - Alan Watts
seandulac
2.6M views • 19 years ago
4 comments from Hacker News
Slavoj Žižek [1] sees happiness as a conformist category. He argues that: > We don't really want what we think we desire. [1]: ▶ this video
I see your Mr Peterson (whom I love), and I raise you with the inimitable and sporadically brilliant Slavoj Zizek - whom I fucking hate so much that I love too. Happiness is an unethical "cut-ay-gory": ▶ this video (For those you aren't aware of his tick, don't watch, just listen)
Andrew, you're fine. I'm going to guess that you're American as America is the most happy-obsessed culture in the world in my experience. Happiness as virtue is not universal, maybe you need some more time abroad. I know you said you visited 100 countries but visiting 100 countries and living in another country for many years is quite a different thing. Or maybe you just need different friends or perhaps a meditation practice, I don't know. I'll leave you with this 2 minute video from Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek, "Why Be Happy When You Could Be Interesting?": ▶ this video
I don't fell that being happy is worth it. If I needed no money and no attention, perhaps happiness shouldn't also be the next goal to achieve. See what I mean here: ▶ this video