In a world driven by overachievement and narcissism, Byung Chal Han’s insights from the Philosophize This podcast illuminate the challenges accompanying societal pursuits of constant productivity, shedding light on their impact on mental health. Han contends that the relentless drive for achievement perpetuates a shallow existence, alienating individuals from constructive negativity and contemplation, ultimately leading to depression.

Have you ever thought about how we consume information? It’s easy to speed-read through a book or an article, but the real value lies in taking the time to contemplate how that information connects to what we already know. Without this effort, the information remains raw and doesn’t contribute to our growth. Instead, it traps us in our own shallowness and limits our ability to connect with others.

Han’s advice is valuable for us all. He encourages us to make time for ourselves and indulge in activities that bring us joy without worrying about whether they add value to our lives or make us money. By finding a balance between work and play and by valuing rest, we can lead more fulfilling lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the fast pace of life and forget the importance of reflecting on our values, but it’s essential to do so if we want to gain a deeper understanding of life and other people. If we don’t make time for meaningful activities, we risk leading a shallow existence that can negatively impact our lives in many ways.

“One travels everywhere but experiences nothing.

One catches sight of everything but reaches no insight.

One accumulates information and data yet does not attain knowledge.

One lust after adventures and stimulation but always remains the same.

One accumulates online friends and followers but never encounters another person.”

Han’s observations on disappearing elements from society, such as rituals, culture, and the ability to find truth and knowledge, resonate deeply. He defines rituals as temporal technologies that offer a narrative structure crucial for maintaining a coherent sense of self. The disappearing constructive negativity, including hesitation and boredom, threatens the meaningfulness of life, urging a deliberate slowdown for truth and knowledge to flourish.

Elif Shafak’s “inner garden” concept intersects seamlessly with Han’s emphasis on constructive negativity and contemplation. Shafak encourages retreating to this mental sanctuary with books to counter societal biases and cultivate a more balanced perspective.

Her advice is to reflect on what we truly want to pay attention to and examine whether paying attention to every last news report out there serves our individual purposes.

“[We have to] recognize these emotions. But how do we turn them into something positive? We have to make a distinction between information, knowledge and wisdom. We’re living in a world in which we have way too much information, less knowledge, and very little wisdom. We have to change that ratio.”

Elif recommends embarking on that journey to a life guided by wisdom, not aimless information: “We need to slow down. We need to spend less time getting our information from social media. We need to get back to books.
“I think we each need an inner garden to retreat into for as long as we can every day to balance ourselves. Because when we’re surrounded by other people, we’re affected by their energy. If all my friends are biased against a certain identity — whether it’s a sexual identity, ethnic identity or cultural identity — that bias will also start to affect me. We don’t realize this. So when we go to an inner garden with a book in our hands, something else opens up in our psyche.”

I agree with this sentiment since it brings up an old ritual of simply carrying out your interest; start reading it to hone and cultivate your knowledge rather than percolating.

However, a personal reflection on the current information age raises concerns about individuals’ direction. The obsessive pursuit of being constantly informed often needs more genuine contemplation. The risk is that retreating to books becomes a mere act of social validation, a ritual posted on Instagram, with little introspection. There’s a danger of people merely skimming the surface, consuming information without questioning biases or delving into deeper layers of understanding.

A close example is Bookstagram, a cultural trend that revolutionized how books are marketed, reviewed and read. Although it’s gaining wide popularity among youngsters due to its visual appeal, it lacks the traditional depth of character development. It feeds highly on high-reach influencers whose commercial value is far more valuable than the intellectual. It received a lot of backlash. However, its success is notable.

As Han aptly describes, this tendency aligns with “society’s increasing positivisation,” where appearances of productivity and enlightenment may mask a lack of genuine engagement. The challenge lies in encouraging individuals not just to retreat to books but to engage in true contemplation, questioning biases and perspectives, and fostering a sincere understanding of the world. Only then can the abyss of information be navigated, allowing for a more profound and authentic connection with knowledge and wisdom in the digital age.

Both Han and Shafak advocate for slowing down amidst the digital chaos, recognizing the need for intentional contemplation to counteract the superficiality inherent in an age of constant information consumption.

By taking the time to truly understand and connect with the information we come across, we can deepen our experiences and enrich our lives. So, let’s make a conscious effort to slow down and appreciate the knowledge around us.

References:

Shafak, E. (1970). How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division Free Download. Retrieved from https://yes-pdf.com/book/3942

Han, B.-C. (2015) The Burnout Society. Stanford, CA: Stanford Briefs, an imprint of Stanford University Press.