Happy Talk: Simon Critchley + Philip Seymour Hoffman

In Memoriam: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Just over a year ago philosopher Simon Critchley met with Philip Seymour Hoffman for the final in a series of on-stage conversations called Happy Talk. In a searching dialogue that in hindsight seems prescient, the actor wrestles with the concepts of happiness, love, and death with the same courage and compelling insight that he brought to his roles. Recorded at the Rubin Museum of Art on December 17, 2012
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[@yt30417]

God damn he was so brilliant. I am moved to tears when I think that he won't ever come back and make some wonderful movies. There's nobody out there like him.

[@truthlivingetc88]

Are you happy ?

[@RaketKAT]

I am, dispite shizzle, but would be more happy if anyone had another tip on great in depth but amusing personal interviews like this one, or inspiring lectures by professors that I could watch ?

[@matthewpalumbo2782]

Please be careful with your language. We aren’t all comfortable with it. Sorry, just needed to do this. I’m trying to be careful figuring out what I need and what I want. Sorry, just please be more careful. It’s my fault today because I chose to scroll down to count how many comments were made before someone typed RIP. It’s the comment that makes me wonder when I should start talking to more people in CVS.

[@fasteddylove876]

@@matthewpalumbo2782 Not quite sure what you mean by your last 2 sentences?

[@russellpanken]

god damn right

[@FightingKami]

"The task of an actor is to defend everyone you play." That whole segment was one of the most profound pieces of acting advice I've ever heard.

[@tatie7604]

Yes, we know that. That's the lowest level of building character. But some characters aren't worth defending or playing. There's a price for advancing depravity. If you never realize this you will be both a pawn and a target for someone else's agenda. That's all I'll say unless you want to pay me.

[@tatie7604]

You haven't been to NYU. You aren't an actor.

[@redonline808]

@@tatie7604chill

[@Socrates...]

happiness is the forgetfulness of oneself in the moment

[@antonioaguirre3989]

I confused "forgetfulness" for "forgiveness" and I really liked

[@gottalight9379]

Word

[@mattg5431]

Antonio Aguirre i think forgiveness of oneself in the moment would be contentment, not happiness

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

Happiness requires hard work and diligence. Waiting or searching for it is the act of a fool.

[@TheFirefighter1971]

Buddha is negative and worthless. If he was here today he would be a hard bottom.

[@alexalien2456]

Philip Seymour Hoffman: "Pleasure is not happiness. I kill pleasure. I take take too much of it and therefore make it unpleasurable. Like too much coffee and you're miserable. I do that to pleasure often. There's no pleasure that I haven't actually made my self sick on. And so I look at pleasure and kind of get scared." Simon Critchley: "I get paid to think - and not think that much."

[@bobjohnson4318]

I actually like that you did that Simon Critchley quote, I was thinking of it from another angle. I am a management consultant, and if you do TOO much thinking for the client, they begin to resent you, even if the answers are good ones. So yes, many of us get paid to think and then paid at even higher rates to not think too much.

[@Yonverpage]

@Genghis Calm Ignore him bro, they're just a troll.

[@henryosborne7052]

Lisa Surlie Do we need to call your parole officer? It seems that you’re off your meds.

[@henryosborne7052]

Lisa Surlie You know, there are a lot of people that having great results with shock treatment. You should look into it.

[@debbiepowers4743]

I don’t like the interviewer he seems to be trying to impress someone

[@444ltr]

movies are empty without him. He was such a brilliant actor that he left a void in the film industry that cannot be filled,

[@Missjunebugfreak]

He's still my favourite actor of all time. Miss him a lot.

[@denisespurlock]

It hurt me so bad when Philip passed away. Top quality performance in all he did. RIP, Philip!

[@wadestevens5659]

It’s so simple. Happiness is the ability to not want the present to be different than it is.

[@LadiesOfThePleiades]

There is so much love when he talks about his kids.

[@kal2487]

"Be careful when you cast out your demons that you don't throw away the best of yourself.”-Friedrich Nietzsche. There is something about this interview that reminds me that those dark parts of ourselves we try to hide, are the parts that need the most acceptance and when exposed are also the most healing to other people.

[@TheWaterlou25]

I don't want him to be gone. I feel like I lost a close family member. R.I.P. This interview made me cry.

[@kallemick]

I felt the exact same when he died :( I never even met him and had only seen some of his movies at the time but it truly felt like i had lost someone close to me ...

[@TheKingWhoWins]

Here in October of 2022 to say the same thing

[@greenbeagle13]

Great video. PSH is such a "common man"..., and the BEST actor ever - as in E-V-E-R..., hate that he is gone.

[@judewilding5093]

I'm so gutted I discovered Mr Hoffman after his death, he's just unreal, I admire his hard work more than anything.

[@pauliebots]

Same here. I was aware of him but not his brilliance. I am now watching all his stuff...amazing dude.

[@wadestevens5659]

I agree with so many of the comments here particularly those referencing Hoffman’s vulnerability and brilliance. At the same time, this is a precise example of being too smart for your own good. At times, they are literally talking themselves into misery. Sometimes you can think too hard. Which can be bad if your “thinker” happens to be broke. Basically, you don’t have to believe everything you think!

[@edub9930]

Completely agree. Im the same way in a sense. Someone who lives "in their head" so to speak. I at times found myself frustrated (perhaps because I see it in myself) "youre thinking too much" syndrome. Sometimes you just have to slow down & enjoy the simple things in life & stop overcontemplating everything. Which unfortunately I do believe is what drove him to his demise

[@darrensmith9407]

He was the most versatile actor in the history of film making...we are fortunate to have shared the world with him in our lifetime RIP P.S.H

[@videovedo36]

I'm only 12 minutes into the conversation and it's already unsettling and painful to listen to some of the things said, in light of what happened. Part of the reason I "fell" for Hoffmann were some beautiful, deep, honest, clever interviews I read which showed a complex and fascinating mind (&soul). I cried like an incredulous baby over his death (and the death of David Bowie, for other reasons, which is kind of a coincidence for me now with Critchley also being a superfan) and felt we were being robbed of some incredible art to come. Of some incredible sensitivity, lived through, displayed, donated. Being extremely insightful, selfaware, intelligent (and able to be daringly creative) is no shield at all, ever.

[@chungiemunchin]

PHS sits humbly, like a kid being taught something new and interesting when the subject of death is brought up near the end of the interview. His body language communicates something altogether different from the rest of the interview....like a student who is simply listening. Very few actors leave such a feeling of what could have been when they die....PHS was the greatest!!!!

[@Natalie-Smith-1111]

chungiemunchin P.S.H. Not PHS

[@el6178]

I think the first ingredient to take out of someone"s life to help them 'just be', is fame, the worry for the approval of others. On the other hand, the ancient glory was a confirmation that you lived a meaningful life. We re going to miss Hoffman. His imense generosity.

[@CaroleDiTosti]

This is an incredible interview. Critchley is absolutely wonderful to have discussed these issues with Hoffman...a loving individual. I always knew Hoffman was deep and brilliant. You cannot have created the body of empathetic work he created with the depth of love for the most foul of human traits...that he created. His death was a sacrifice...but we learn from his work...and I will now read Critchley. Thankful he is on our shores.

[@therightsofthereader6094]

Carole Di Tosti I am fascinated by Critchley after this conversation. you should check out his talk on his book SUICIDE A DEFENSE. It's really informative and strangely life-affirming. And you should also read TH

[@daneiladams]

Phil talks about being and how hard it is but I find it quite easy to be at times, and very pleasurable especially when there is no "I" to mess with things.....just sitting and being

[@katioushcka]

Thank you, Simon!! One of my favourite interviews with Philip Seymour Hoffman!

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

Peace. Contentment. And the dedication to bring these to all.

[@tinman652]

Oh damn, he was really thoughtful and intelligent.

[@angelinafigueroa988]

But I am so "happy" to get to watch Philip, such a great, great actor. love his work, his persona, the way he talks, just a guy next door. There are not words...

[@Daneiladams555]

Hoffman is the real philosopher here

[@tosu9185]

enable ratings, the comment section will prob be a mess anyway, not the likes tho. Philip was brilliant. he deserves this video to be watched.

[@alexalien2456]

Philip Seymour Hoffman was a great philosopher.

[@thinkingwithmartinheidegge4150]

Why can't you face the horror of getting old? upload your pic as an old man as your profile

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

A dead junkie? Talented and lost, sure. Someone I would take wisdom from? No.

[@Yonverpage]

@@hugh-johnfleming289Who said you should take advice from him? It isn't a philospher's job to give advice, it's to stimulate thought and exploration.

[@StellarJAGuar]

@@thinkingwithmartinheidegge4150 is er in the middle of ddd and the internet and the other day that he eeeweeedrrreeeeeeerrrree

[@chadwilliams9141]

@@hugh-johnfleming289 wisdom can be gained. Someone's short falls should not take away from their insights. Don't go throwing stones at glass houses.

[@naui_diver9290]

Amazing person...greatly missed

[@kinotarantino1]

I miss this guy so much!

[@AlexanderVerney-Elliott-ep7dw]

If we watch the exchanges between Hoffman and Critchley we immediately sensation that Hoffman is a natural philosopher whilst Critchley comes across as a natural actor and acts at philosophising without actually philosophising at all and Hoffman has an overwhelming abundance of dasein whilst Critchley has an underwhelming poverty of dasein that is no dasein at all since Critchley is vacuous as an absolute-absence-not-being-there whilst Hoffman is vivacious as a potent-presence-being-there . When we all watch this video we uncannily and unwittingly realise that it is actually Hoffman who is the real philosopher and Critchley who is the real actor as Critchley comes across as acting all the time whilst Hoffman comes across as philosophising all the time .

[@alexsell9219]

As a philosopher writing on Heidegger (whose lexicon you seem to be appropriating), this entire comment is hilarious bullshit. Is it meant to be a joke?

[@GoldenGateNum9]

*Watching the late Seymour Hoffman in Twister 1996 the other day, one of my favorite movies, I realized what a tragic waste his passing was.*

[@AndrewClark4MarkRacing]

Excellent and yes, sadly missed. Thank you for this.

[@angelastiles1630]

And then there's happiness in the form of contentedness.

[@laraoneal7284]

Such an extraordinary and fascinating conversation. I’m mesmerized by Philip Hoffman.

[@annip5573]

I have just found this interview. It makes me still very sad to see and hear him, mentioning his children.....

[@annip5573]

And thanks very much for the upload.

[@Weird-City]

Happiness is a false God (an impossible goal). I think we should strive for contentment. That's the closest we can get to "happiness".

[@velmagardea2143]

will be missed forever. RIP Phillip!

[@joshuafriesen4436]

Listening to this it’s occurred to me that we’ve lost a certain vitality in our culture. Cinema, conversation, freedom of thought. I don’t know exactly but the world just feels dumber and bleaker

[@dagney44]

So true. I feel the same way

[@wadestevens5659]

Yes. I think the political climate of the last 10 years has amped up our nations adrenaline level. It’s always fight or flight . When that’s going on there’s no time for rational thought and thoughtful exchange of ideas.

[@EzeICE]

Wow this is kind of difficult to watch. We have lost a great one. But thanks for the upload. RIP Mr. Hoffman.

[@markporter702]

Best PSH interview I have seen.

[@zumokik]

"Blank on Blank" brings me here.

[@Yonverpage]

Same man.

[@Darwin8765]

so amazing.. thanks for sharing

[@Shayler78]

Some say happiness is a choice, that we are as happy as we allow ourselves to be.

[@susmith7837]

The Talented Mr Ripley. So smart so cool.

[@MeetLeAnne]

We love you, Phil. Always. You can never be replaced. You were a gifted storyteller, and thank you for your contribution to this planet, but Goddamnit, if you had only reached out. Fucking depression. Fucking Addiction. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. *huge sad sigh*

[@thehollywoodfarmer]

+Meet LeAnne My "Goddammit," and my heartbreak over this interview, which shows so gloriously his beautiful, insightful, sympathetic soul, gave birth to a poor short cinematic tribute in which I try to draw him back into life, literally. I tried to give him exactly this voice. Which sounds like it's coming out of a heart which is both bursting with love and so deeply broken.

[@WitnessMinistries360]

Many people (meaning most) try to divide and subdivide LOVE up into slices (Such as happiness, joy, pleasure. . . ) and try to just go after the slices they desire like at an all you can eat pizza buffet! True LOVE encompasses and endures all things and still LOVES! (Which is what unconditional LOVE is and does!) [Expand this post below!] FLESHLY "LOVE" is conditional attempting to over-compensate in the perpetuation and justification of itself both in the giving and the receiving of excessive conditional-love for NOT being itself unconditionally LOVING! (Which is in and of itself an endless vicious self-perpetuating cycle!) Dysfunction and division can NEVER be solved with further dysfunction and division! (NO-MATTER how ones slices and dices it) Which just keeps up the MULTIPLYING and DIVIDING of itself! LOVE is about being WHOLE and undivided both individually and collectively! NOT division which is perpetuated by ones self-imposed FEAR of lack and limitation! (TRUTH and ones CREATED-REALITY are two completely different things!)

[@lifemusic1980]

I've never been so excited to see a video in my suggested videos. 💙

[@eclay432]

He was the best actor I have ever seen, ever! Aside from that I feel for him and his family. Unfortunately I know exactly how he was feeling and it is rough, real rough.

[@georginam824]

Love this man - I recently wondered if he might have lived. If so, I understand. To live amongst them and survive is excruciating. I respect you and if you are still on this earth in this lifetime, I respect you even more. I get it.

[@frankdoane2898]

I remember happiness. I just don't remember how to get back there.

[@helenpruzan6970]

That was ...so good!!!

[@scottfine4169]

Wonderful!!!!

[@michelangelocaravaggio261]

Happiness is being safe, secure and loved, by yourself as well as others. Happiness is innocence.

[@truthlivingetc88]

mmm not a bad statement

[@LunaLu-00]

I liked the 2nd sentence

[@truthlivingetc88]

you don`t look very innocent

[@lukaskaltenmaier3808]

Interesting! But then happiness would be irretrievable once lost. Is it the knowledge of ones 'sin' / lost innocence? Because that you could maybe suppress or forget, for a while at least. Then again the truth has a way of always coming back to haunt you.

[@albatroce2324]

Happiness is innocence, a paradise lost

[@joanpascal7745]

loved his work!!!

[@Daneiladams555]

Happiness doesn't require "the other" Being there, I can be happy as a fuck sitting on a bench in the sun without anyone there

[@RobertDustinSmith]

Great talk

[@TheLuvthatjoker]

Thank you star's. Thank you moon. Thank you... *Master*

[@laraoneal7284]

Simon is a fascinating man also. Sometimes I think you can be TOO INTELLIGENT and it can be self destructive. RIP Philip Hoffman.

[@PPLL463]

Dam , what a shame , that he is no longer here !

[@nancybeveridgetaylor3256]

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was so mentally ill , so addicted, so tortured. I get him, as an intersexed person person who has struggled with all of this all my life! I struggled with sexual abuse, and then bulimia and depression and other food issues related to my sexual abuse, until my adult life. And then my intersexulity came out at 15 years old! And then no help until I got help my self at 19 years old! My intersexulity was never diagnosed until I was 19, when I had researched my own issues!!

[@johnb7337]

Happiness is fleeting, about getting something that you want. Meaning is what it's all about.

[@rapunzelagain]

Oh, sweet, sweet, sweet Phil. I've nothing to add. Except that his New York accent is very strong in this video, no? Just an observation.

[@Arashocky]

It is so strange to see Simon talking about death with Philip...

[@debbiepowers4743]

Very astute observation Phillip. I kill pleasure by taking too much of it. It’s what killed him. What a loss for us.

[@ZloyHouseCasino]

Lovely Actor .

[@nancybeveridgetaylor3256]

When you are struggling with addiction and wrangling from a life time of religious monstrosities, it may never leave you.

[@geezerpoet]

Happiness comes on you accidentally as you do worthwhile things. Happiness comes from activity.

[@ThatsNotPoetry]

He is actively describing depression. It's so sad to see.

[@greenbeagle13]

@Lisa Surlie - You are such an amazing bore - saying the same immature comment over and over and over... Go get a job, and please don't get pregnant anymore - wow.

[@nancybeveridgetaylor3256]

When you leave religious chains, and go on, sometimes you never get free. As a psychiatric nurse, who has struggled with addiction myself, after I retired I got help!

[@ancientsignals]

41:50 "We live in a culture that denies death and flees death and is therefore constantly shocked by it because we keep it at the edges all the time. We don’t have the rituals. We don’t know what to do. We're confused by death and death is somehow obscene. We need to shove it somewhere else."

[@scottfine4169]

Crazy him talking about this when he had such a dark deep secret with Heroin.

[@Vanq123123]

In Memoriam .

[@Vanq123123]

r.i.p philip

[@ebenclukey7293]

So this is what philosophers do. Wow. Phil shoot's down the expert's concept of happiness in 30 seconds. "I kill pleasure."

[@pratyushpriyadarshi8130]

You missed the part where he talks about the play virtue in controlling that pleasure.

[@martinbell6550]

0 seconds ago Good early questions. He talks of being connected with his kids when they are okay. I sense that happiness is to do with connection but not when it is dependent on the outcome: such as, ‘being okay’. That is just fortuitous. I suspect happiness is when we are connected but our state of connection is not dependent on things being good or bad. We experience trauma whilst connected which distracts us from connection but whilst we are present and connected with our circumstances there is real happiness and it is possible to deal with trauma whilst connected. The tendency is to cover over the connection and I suspect that it is sometimes necessary to do that. I love PSH but his existential pain was overwhelming. Sadly I suspect that also made him the great actor he was.

[@davecourtois5142]

To Philip... who escape to the valley By Dave Courtois. the valley of endless dream How far is your gate, How deep is your game... When it came in? where is go out? did you feel on the edge? Role in, roll out, be the limit, see a little further... Take your time, be it, stay in, pop out. Look around and be it, be it. Push it, pull out, make it inside out. Object of nothing, subject to logic, the action will be magic. Lost in the infinite measure of space. You are the none sens of the direction you take. Being the experience, what else can be lost. Be the subject, be the object, be the action, you are nothing more than music. Travel around, be the destination, you are welcome. Teach it, put it on paper, repeat it, repeat it, repeat it, make it real. Cut the equation whit a mirror, let reflect the illusion. There so much to forgot before you know, you are not what you think. Be useful to be use, make yourself fit. Be put in peace, fit in the puzzle, who appreciate the landscape. Pattern of the past, kaleidoscope in motion, keep it changing... Faction of fractal, colourful limits of infinity falling in the dance of time. Afraid to be forgot, afraid to be nothing, afraid to be apart... Run, run, run to reach your speed. Move to exist, put your trace, Is there a race? Win the prize you pay. Prisoner of movement, how long is your road? don’t be afraid by the end! Wake-up wake-up, and see the real part of the dream. Now sleep to to make it yours. You are welcome at the valley of endless dream!

[@moosiki]

Ι love the way he pronounces the word ευδαιμονία (eudaimonia)

[@amorreale22]

yea, and isn't it usually translated as 'flourishing'?

[@moosiki]

Anthony Morreale in Greek ευδαιμονία means intense happiness

[@jameswest4819]

Seymour did not really understand happiness. He was really pursuing what he thought might be happiness. Pleasure, getting high, power, fame...it all may or may not give us that nebulous concept of fulfillment. It is not the same for everyone. So many people never get there because there is always something better.

[@noabaak]

Here’s a person talking of happiness about one year before his own death. He was found dead with a needle in his arms and left w/ 35M dollars. The very fact reflects what happiness should be. It’s not what states but demands of you. - NYC, 2/25/2021

[@davidpfau8221]

"There is no pleasure that I haven't made myself sick on."

[@chopin65]

This is one view of happiness. I am of the opinion that happiness originates in a logical and well executed mind, of a life of thought in addition to one's life in a society, family, loved... The life of the mind should be as vivacious and energetic as the life of a person. We have, for example, art. We are the only species in earth that has art, poetry, and music. This distinguishes us from other animals. We have religion. Name another species that has that? We explain nature with mathematics and science, and build technology and redefine how we dream month to month with mathematics, science, and technology. We are the great living paradox of what we call Earth. I think what we do is as important way to frame the question. To otherwise do so is an act of hubris, which is the true faith of humanity. We assume we can plan outcome, when we can merely inherit it. This was a great talk, however.

[@mutsamungoshi]

Philip ❤️

[@oniriclink0000]

Is there any subtitled version? I would really appreciate,because i only understand half of things and is so fucking interesting!!!

[@colinviray4833]

It's like they had a contest to see who could act more tired, hungover, whilst pontificating.

[@FOXAMG63]

I think they both needed that cup of coffee.

[@orangewarm1]

Life is dhukkha - the first nobel truth. Dont expect happiness.

[@VWGTI2013]

He was hilarious in Along Came Polly.

[@KrikitKaos]

Maybe I just don't personally relate to any of what he says, but if anyone has edited this to remove the puffed-up, pointless Critchley and just leave PSH's bits, I'd love the link.

[@livia1881]

Then ....how would you follow the conversation?

[@KrikitKaos]

livia1881 Necro much? I don't need to follow the conversation.

[@livia1881]

Krikit what are you...12? Obviously you are a child.

[@KrikitKaos]

livia1881 Nope.

[@KrikitKaos]

livia1881 Wrong again. Who's the one slinging insults in this thread...?

[@bobjohnson4318]

I agree with one commenter below... the women in the audience and their fucking nervous laughter when things are serious puts me on edge. Do you think its a comedy routine with Hoffman and a philosopher? Please, go see some standup.

[@anaximander66]

How annoying that must have been for Hoffman to express something profound and painful as killing all pleasures and listen to the chorus of child like thinkers laugh. Why is that funny, because it was evoked by Hoffman? A truly wise and profound thought wasted on people who don't have the maturity to contemplate it with him. I know that sounds very judgmental but I'm so tired of this mentality, that everything is a joke. What stuck me was the oversight that we tend to ignore the small things as we get older. We can't get under a table and pretend it's a submarine anymore, like we lose something as we gain knowledge. Such an elusive thing, that we need more than there is to obtain wonder in this life. Of course I think there is more than what's in this life but still, from a purely existential perspective, it is quite a perplexing mystery.

[@gabrielsmith6600]

it was funny dude, things can be funny and wise. He even delivered it to be funny and relatable.

[@zachuang8895]

get your head out of your arse steve

[@trumancapote9097]

AMERICA has become a fucking JOKE!!

[@hazuinf]

I think they were laughing in recognition

[@samanthafischer2200]

anyone know what sermon he is talking about? or if it is online somewhere?

[@chuckblack8227]

Feel happiness. Feel feelings. Thinking about it is silly. Everyone has missed the point.

[@NetRiverside]

He was just too smart for his own good...sometimes is better to be born dumb and stupid....

[@Martyrium1]

que alguien lo traduzca al español!

[@annip5573]

My English is not good enough, can anybody please tell me the name of the play/production Philip Seymour Hoffman is talking about at the beginning of the talk, thanks in advance.

[@81995sometime]

“Ivanov" by Chekhov -- performed by Ethan Hawke

[@annip5573]

LissaLissa Taylor Many thanks!

[@casperguylkn]

Someone made the argument before, and I wish I could find the article, it debates Jack Black and PSH going for the same roles at least when both were earlier in their career. Anyone ever hear of that? It would seem at one time, that may had been true, but PSH took a big left turn. Closest I could find is this short article. www.hollywood.com/news/movies/3498341/jack-black-haunted-by-philip-seymour-hoffman?page=all

[@Misserbi]

Happiness is the point of life? Purposely choosing not to be is simply organizing a system. Go to the lowest and you will know what I mean. We are supposed to find that again?

[@cahillgreg]

7th anniversary of his passing - RIP

[@aaronsmyth7943]

33:25 Simon Critchley mentions a film here, does anyone know the name of it, because I couldn't understand him? Thanks.

[@richardhyde9945]

"Synecdoche, New York" with PSH as the main character.

[@FOXAMG63]

PSH was a kind and generous soul. Brilliant and generational talent.

[@MrsP474]

I wish I had known him.

[@sandralucasmelvoin292]

He directed me in a commercial and having known him too briefly has added to the deepest pain and appreciation in my long life.