How I Build a Story's Philosophical Conflict - The Writer’s Mind Podcast 015

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

Get Practical Tools to Write Your Great Screenplay: www.practicalscreenwriting.com

[@nikhilkhamkar4589]

This is most awesome blueprint of writing a story and script through philosophical conflict. I listened to it 3 times. If you listen to every word Tyler spoke, with complete attention, you will understand the wonders hidden beneath this podcast. I am grateful to you Tyler and I am intrigued to listen more to you. Please come up with more podcasts for the examples of Philosophical conflict or questions raised in popular movies we all know and we would affirm this concept more onto our brains. Thank you so much 🙏

[@patrickmcgee4694]

What keeps you so motivated!!!You are honestly the best, binge your content on the daily 😤😤😤

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

I just love talking about this stuff!

[@adrianw.a.9384]

@@thewritersmindwithtyler Teaching others this information also helps you to remember it! It's a clever way of retaining knowledge

[@MarkusGjengaar]

Your podcast is on another level! Keep up the good work! 👍

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

Much appreciated!

[@justjudygirl]

I could not agree with you more, Tyler. Growing up watching the Andy Griffith show, with Ron Howard as Opie ,is a great example of this. A master class in critical thinking and how to live life in a positive way. Always a moral example, I think I learned more about how to live a responsible life by watching that. Between that and the Addams family, I think I got out very well rounded education! Yes, stories have always been around and passed down, mainly because the storytellers wanted us to learn some thing and if we can do it in a fun way, well that makes the lesson easier. Thank you so much for your insights. You are so smart for your age. :)

[@jose11032]

Dear Tyler, this was exactly what I needed at this point in my process. It got me back on track. I will pick up your podcast again and take you with me like a small geanie in my pocket when I lose track of the philosophical question in my work. Thank you! Love from Denmark

[@aarkmish8087]

Thank you for this Tyler.

[@TheStoryBlueprint]

Definitely my favourite episode so far, really insightful

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

Thanks so much! That's great to hear.

[@camillemccall7705]

This is one of the best discussions on philosophical stakes I've heard. Thank you! Please keep these episodes coming !

[@hansbengtsson9942]

Really inspiring! So seldom spoken of in other writing pods. This is to the core.

[@vajravelcm6640]

Beautiful video. This gave me great clarity. Thank you Tyler.

[@Zerepzerreitug]

Great episode. Left me with lots to think about.

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

I'm glad to hear it

[@peterhaywood4111]

Wow! I just now discovered this podcast! I'm in!

[@shneastley7373]

Thanks for inspiring me, I always try to write a story people can resonate with.

[@ValdemarDeMatos]

I think the main difference between a non (os less) philosophical story and a philosophical story is that non philosophical stories try to give answers and philosophical stories try to bring up questions.

[@CrazyL95]

I respect Tyler's position on philosophical conflict and how he sticks to that. But I'll always believe that you can tell a good story only with the intent of entertaining and not of pushing any message or belief. Ironically enough that then creates a philosophical conflict between He and I, fascinating...

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

I believe that you can develop a message from the story you already crafted. so that you can incorporate it subtly in the next draft.

[@KEP1983]

@CrazyL95 Speaking of philosophy, you just engaged in a false dichotomy :)

[@joshuaduncan235]

I think there will always be a message. Even if you write for the sake of entertainment the actions your character takes will communicate “this is good” or “this is not good” to the reader. Alternatively, it could even communicate “whether this is good or not doesn’t matter.” Regardless, there will always be a message IMO.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

@@joshuaduncan235 I agree.

[@jakariashafin8685]

I think one should figure out what message they want to tell their readers and write the rest of their story based on that. basing the world building on the message then using the world building to create characters then using the characters to generate plot.

[@fransuh2853]

Amazing ✨ I love getting to understand what's behind great stories

[@PinaPuddu]

Great podcast. Thank you!

[@savvycomic2843]

Incredible Content! I am blown away. They need to have you on Film Courage!

[@travisgames6608]

I must apologize. I just found this other channel of yours. Love the content.

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

Welcome aboard!

[@goodday7099]

Bro. i really admire the way you think and i can really relate with you! Thank you for this video!

[@nono-gj2km]

Completely unrelated, but your voice is really soothing; I'm super glad that google recommended me your video!

[@albertmailyan9680]

you are awesome Tyler, the best teacher

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

thank you!

[@cletusmugane]

thank you sir....i love this life of a story teller

[@PrimerCinePodcast]

Your summaries are wonderful dude. Wonderful! Thank you so much

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

My pleasure!

[@alcatrazasure1865]

This helped heaps. Have done my first draft with the central philosophical conflict of strictly following law versus natural law and principles. It got a bit lost and boring. Thanks.

[@GeoffMcDonald]

Brilliant, Tyler. I've just spent the past few hours dissecting it. I'm actually using it to build a brand (as well as create video stories). Thank you! 🙏

[@schmetterling4477]

May you have as much success as he has. KZbin will send you a monthly check for 73 cents. ;-)

[@daniellawrencewilson]

Loved this one!

[@danielnazareno3901]

Thank you! This landed a lot of things in my writing process

[@schmetterling4477]

Periods are not just afflicting women. They are also the eternal enemies of writers.

[@globalfuturefilms9487]

Hey ,I love all your videos. Inspired me to make my first on how to - short film making in India. from script to film festivals .when im shooting i'm always thinking of how to sound more relaxed like you :'D ❤️️

[@rahulbohra8338]

This is gold....super awesome....

[@prometheus200]

Love this dude. U make me think about my work

[@schmetterling4477]

"U" and no punctuation mark at the end of a sentence. Are you writing the next great American novel by any chance? ;-)

[@CarmenPerez-kz6rw]

Incredible. I had to subscribe.

[@riserebel4838]

Man gotta say, I’ve been wanting to grow as a writer and as a person. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing Both. As learning how stories work helps us learn how people work. Being able to dissect ourselves and learn

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

Best of luck!

[@LittleMusicBoxes]

Bruh.. mind blown open. Thank you.

[@the_medievalchick]

I don't think it is possible to write a story without a message. It's just that sometimes it's less "visible", especially if it doesn't go outside what is considered standard. However, to have a conflict, which is what a story is, you need sides, and as an author you take one side, or try to stay as neutral as posible, but that's a statement in on itself. You can not hammer your reader with the message, but if you think it's not there you are either ignoring it or pretending It's similar to things being "political"... Being purposefully apolitical is a statement.

[@clastophobic]

Hey man! I love the work you are doing! I have learnt alot from you! I had a question....I just saw this amazing movie 'Pieces of a woman' and I felt that it didn't really follow the Dan Harmons structure but yet its still beautiful! If you could make a video on it, that would be amazing!! Love you work!

[@fleurdelacour491]

i just found this channel. hey thanks for all these

[@jatproductions8937]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

You bet!

[@leelawrence3728]

What is the relationship between philosophical conflict and character flaw? Thanks for the great content!

[@thewritersmindwithtyler]

think of character flaw as the false belief your character holds in regards to the philosophical conflict

[@anthonycorcino6700]

@@thewritersmindwithtyler dont you mean existentialism?

[@suyashchandratre5623]

Hey tyler Please make video on elements of psychological thriller and how to write philosophical conflicts in such movies

[@Ivorlamp]

This^

[@glenn_r_frank_author]

Do you think that having a definitive "winner" or "solution" to a Philosophical Conflict is needed or even desired in a story. Does the conflict have to "pay off" in such a way that one viewpoint is the "winner"? It seems to me that sometimes that is what gives readers/viewers the feeling that the story was preaching to them. I think the most dramatic and engaging stories are ones where maybe one philosophy wins in the end, but with costs that make the characters and the audience wonder if it was worth it.. .was it the right choice - leaving the reader/viewer to decide themselves. -- Do you think that is a valid view of this, or do you think a philosophical viewpoint has to have a "winner" that resolves the issue as a clear winner in the end?

[@karim0302]

I think he thinks that's a valid view, judging from his video on character arcs and the example he gives from Whiplash!

[@rustyrodentmotorcycles1041]

In my opinion, I believe that entertainment for entertainment sake is all well and good, but those are not things that will be picked up again and again, if there is no “depth” to a piece of entertainment, then it was fun while it lasted, but there’s no reason to review it, (unless it has become a subject of Mere-exposure effect), but something with depth and analysis of a question, is something that when viewed time and time again gets you to think about the subject in different ways depending on where you’re headspace is. Now building these questions into a story is best done by being subtext, not by preaching.most don’t likes to be preached to most don’t look to entertainment to be lectured, even on subjects you agree with. I believe a genre that does this well is science fiction, because it uses the crazy out of this world situations to pose a question or hold a mirror to a part of human existence and place in the world without being like “hey look at this, and you should think this way” (but much like any type of entertainment this has to be done correctly)

[@mrkshply]

@Structure -in sculpture and drawing you start with basic shapes and then make the details last. I think novice writers try to make the details before the shapes and then wonder why their stories fall apart. Tbf novice artists everywhere do that

[@Robuobu]

Read Brothers Karamazov, there´s some great philosophical conflict

[@charliewest1221]

One of the greatest novels of all time. One's education is incomplete if one hasn't read this masterpiece.

[@jonjenkins]

Philosophical conflict also about differing values

[@charliewilde7011]

Thank You.

[@bonafide4874]

Really enjoyed and learned from this video! Also, idk if you're still looking at comments since this video was made two years ago, but just in case, I wanted to ask something! When you said characters and philo conflict are the two most important things in a story, are the characters important because of the philo conflict they each kind of represent? If so, I also wanted to know what you thought about having 1. a diversity of philo opinions, so every angle is covered/ examined, but also 2. a diversity of identities, so we can see how a person's identity and how they are treated by others shape their own philo opinions For instance, in the Game of Throne books, I feel like there is not only a diversity of philo opinions, but also a diversity of characters -- male, female, young, old, more traditionally feminine, and more traditionally masculine. And, I know you could have a philo opinion and be like, 'oh, a woman might have this opinion' or something, but you could also ask the question, 'what could a woman think of this?' and then create a philo perspective/ opinion from that (particularly in works where the philo conflict is linked to social issues to do with discrimination, marginalization, etc.). Likewise, I also feel like it's interesting (again in works/ worlds where specific groups are treated far differently than others) to examine what it would be like for someone of a specific identity to be in a specific position, and how they're treated differently, and how this informs their own philo opinions of the world, and how this influences others opinions about things. The society in Game of Thrones is very patriarchal, and the 'ideal' person in that society would be a (white), able-bodied, non-fat, noble born (typically first born) heterosexual man who can produce children and whose appearance and behaviors match traditionally masculine pursuits. In the first book, we start off with one POV character like this (Ned), and all other POV characters are marginalized or discriminated groups (or become this way). Sansa, Catelyn, Arya, and Dany are women, Tyrion is a dwarf, Bran becomes disabled, and Jon is a bastard. Sansa also shows the benefits of being traditionally feminine and beautiful in this type of society, while Arya shows how a more average looking girl, and a less traditionally feminine one, would be treated. And, all of these characters are somewhat or fully aware of how their identity influences how people treat them, and has also influenced their own philosophical opinions about things. Cersei, for instance, often uses her beauty/ sex appeal to get what she wants, and frequently says things like this to Sansa, about how as a woman, you have to utilize your looks and 'what's between your legs' to get what you want. Tyrion is aware that he is in part only alive and wasn't killed as a baby because he was a member of the nobility and 'a Lannister'. Arya often pretends to be a boy because 1. people mistake her for one always, 2. she is more traditionally masculine/ her behaviors align with that of a boy, but mostly 3. she is safer pretending to be a boy when she does not have enough protection around her. Jon vows not to have kids out of wedlock because he doesn't want them to be bastards like him, and Dany is aware of her unique but precarious position: she has three dragons, but they are babies, she is the heir to house targaryen, but is a woman, far away from her homeland, is young and has been naive in the past. She's also aware of her beauty and its affects on the men around her, but also how (especially by enemies) she is underestimated (and oft uses this against them and/ or plays into this). In Game of Thrones, I feel like the characters' identities themselves -- as either fitting or not fitting into certain societal ideals to do with masculinity/ femininity, able-bodiness, and the power they each wield because of social factors -- is a big factor in exploring a lot of different concepts. So I was just wondering what you thought of this! I'm not sure if I explained it super well, but yeah!

[@hackerhesays731]

what is a boiler plate ànyways thank you for sharing. I enjoy other perspective

[@Valentin-Bleuse]

Is it avaible on deezer ?

[@longviolinfilms]

Was this podcast taken off of spotify?

[@dcle944]

The problem for me is that I think in terms of events or concepts. Like, I want to write a story about aliens invading earth. I don’t think in terms of philosophical conflicts. I don’t wake up one morning thinking I want to write a story about sacrifice for greatness. So the question is how to go from a concept (aliens invading earth) to a philosophical conflict (sacrifice for greatness)?

[@angelmurphy6832]

Step 1: decide to write story. Step 2: work on story until finished*. *step 2 may require time spent exploring various options for your story idea including possible characters, themes, and philosophical conflicts. Try many. See how they piece together then try more until things really resonate or excite you. This may take many months or years.

[@thedude110]

to me it's about playing with the setting and possible conflicts that arise from it. If aliens are invading earth, what kind of situations can you expect? What if the aliens are here to enslave only a certain type of people (ethnicity, race, religion, nationality)? Would it be okay/morally justifiable for the rest of the world to just give those people to the aliens in the name of peace? Create a character that believes it is not justifiable, and another that thinks it is.

[@angelmurphy6832]

@@thedude110 So you are thinking about philosophical conflict at some point. Cool. What's the problem lol?

[@thedude110]

@@angelmurphy6832 ???

[@angelmurphy6832]

@@thedude110 the process you’ve described “would it be okay/morally justifiable for the rest of the world…” is the beginning of you discovering and shaping a philosophical conflict. Keep going, edit it down until you have two clearly opposing world views and voila. In your case a philosophical conflict could be “every person for themselves vs we’re all in this together.”

[@Jorge-dp7ks]

New subscriber here.

[@squali1930]

Whats is a good philoconflict for a thief story? Any ideas?

[@hackerhesays731]

my struggle. is love, compassion etc should be the essence of life to make the world better. yet naive it can unfortunately turn out. feeling like taking back burner cost everyone. now, there's a fork the one in charge is harsh stubborn and many characteristic s that are ñegative , breeding negative in children, and I see my darker self wanting to combat this. which is totally opposing myself. so I'm numb. stuck in a lock grid climbing up slowly, I hope. to find a solution that doesn't consist of more trauma and pain. also my heart feels fragile, and hope the next phase of life doesn't end in vain.

[@xoh_spaceboss]

Pokémon was one of those stories that hit the screen with no conflict, Ash was supposed to “save the world”, there was a promise in the theme song that never hit. I know the manga vs the anime didn’t line up, but as for the anime, Ash pretty much just went on goofy kid journeys till there was enough built up goofy environmental conflict in the story to do some more goofy stuff with it- that didn’t even catch up to the supposed premise of the show. All the way up to the Mewtwo stuff, and even then the main point of what the show said it was going to be/do didn’t hit its mark. The whole Team Rocket idea went bunk as well. Since then the show has regressed and the “saving the world” idea was slowly removed.

[@wiseauserious8750]

Goddamn good stuff

[@benjaminread5287]

I have to disagree. I don't think we are dealing with any new moral dilemmas. They have all been seen before, perhaps not in the same way, but ultimately it's a problem that's already been had. History can teach you amazing things if you look from the right perspective.

[@HonestArttsEntertainment]

I agree

[@mrkshply]

I always trace our world to the Victorians. Concepts, technology, systems, basically all from the Victorians

[@hackerhesays731]

thanks

[@משהאוזן9]

God bless you

[@pinakichakraborty8759]

❤

[@spiritual_og_KBe]

💯

[@schmetterling4477]

Nah, it's much more simple than that. Some folks can write and others have to talk bullshit about writing on the internet. ;-)

[@sandormarton8565]

Are you from Australia? Because you strectch the words a little bit, that's why I am associating you're from Australia

[@Studio_SamSalem]

Hello my friend, I learn a lot from you and I want to suggest that you read the stories found in the Qur’an because it contains the most powerful way of telling a story, and we believe in it as Muslims that it is from God, and whether you believe in something or not, but you should read the story of Joseph from the Qur’an and you will be inspired by the way it is told. The story of the Prophet Joseph

[@ellimiller8620]

Great video, but I disagree on a couple of points. I don't think stories should be "beneficial", in the way that they "have a message", as this can trap the writer to conventional morality and ruin a good story. For example, you have the classic the scenario of the violent and vengeful hero attempting to kill his enemy, and yet the vast majority of these stories end with "To be better than you, I won't kill you", or "the best revenge is a good life"... any nonsense that will allow the writer to avoid actually having their hero become a murderer because they the writer believe murder is wrong, while the character themselves would've probably just killed him. Forcing your own morality inside an entirely different context, with a vastly different world and a character with vastly different lived experienced from you, creates a stilted, fake, and wholly unsatisfying conclusion. This has happened before in history, where the meta shifted so that all stories had to have "good, Christian, and moral message", and anything less was worthless garbage. As such, stories become obliged to have a message, where it becomes very unnatural to have one. You yourself mention how authors can become stuck in certain conflicts. That is a symptom of presupposing that *constructing* a philosophical conflict is necessary at all. I am not arguing that philosophical conflict is not necessary, nor that it is not beneficial to the story, but rather the *mindset* of having to figure out a "philosophical conflict" manufactures poor philosophical conflict. In fact, I would argue that all story naturally contains such conflict, and the task of the writer is to become aware of it, and let the different ideologies at play naturally rise from subtext to text during the second arc.

[@odwa2026]

Ramadan Kareem! May Allah give you all the prosperity and success. May Allah bless you with wealth and happiness and gives you a healthy life. Ramadan Mubarak.

[@cowinwatts9025]

I'm Sooo Struggling Grrr.

[@hackerhesays731]

UNrar

[@mrkshply]

Do you mean nihilism?