Simon Critchley on Heidegger, Hermeneutics and Why Philosophy Begins in Disappointment

[@birdwatching_u_back]

That Brian Eno bit was fantastic (highly recommend his music btw haha). As an undergrad upperclassman at a tiny liberal arts school in a shabby little town, I’ve never really found any in-person “scenes” to get involved in. There’s so many I *could* get into, but I’ve never been in the right place at the right time, and I guess I never realized how much I withdrew from the world during COVID…and sort of just stayed that way. As an introverted person, I actually thrived during the pandemic at first, but I guess I’m finally realizing just how solipsistic my academic and creative pursuits have become since then. Simon gives great advice. I’ll have to check out his Heidegger lectures. Do you know about his wife, Jamieson Webster? I’ve dipped my toe into her psychoanalytic work, and it’s pretty outstanding. (I hope they’re still together or I’ll be pretty embarrassed about writing this lol)

[@RahulSam]

I will check out Brian Eno's music and am glad you enjoyed the podcast, mate. Frankly, I find a lot of cerebral types tend to become solipsistic, but I agree with Simon that we need a "scene" for a worthwhile life of the mind. And Jamieson Webster is great! I'm hoping to invite her to the podcast once I've read more of her work, too.

[@birdwatching_u_back]

@@RahulSam Hell yeah, I’ll definitely tune in when you have her on! Your work here is indispensable :) And yeah, I think philosophizing about things can drive a lot of us into solipsism…and also guide us out of it, at a certain point. It’s really beautiful when the latter happens-when the things you know suddenly come to life. I think Hegel says somewhere in Phenomenology that, to paraphrase very roughly from memory, a consciousness only interested in collecting information for itself isn’t actually interested in truth.

[@RahulSam]

@@birdwatching_u_back Thank you. You're too kind. Indeed. And on top of that, in PoS, in the Lordship and Bondage section, he says self-consciousness needs another self because the self is not a dessert; the self is social. Two selves become aware of themselves through awareness of each other.

[@user-xq9ki7sz3f]

"Dear [Rahul], I just wanted to take a moment to express my deepest admiration for the incredible content you create. Your philosophical and psychoanalytic insights have truly enriched my understanding of the world and myself. Your podcast and videos are always thought-provoking, engaging, and expertly crafted. Your passion for exploring the human condition shines through in every episode, and I'm so grateful to have stumbled upon your channel. Your work has sparked meaningful reflections, challenged my perspectives, and inspired me to delve deeper into the world of philosophy and psychoanalysis. I also wanted to make a humble request: would you consider inviting Richard Boothby onto your podcast? His work on Lacanian psychoanalysis and philosophy has been a significant influence on my own thinking, and I believe his insights would resonate beautifully with your audience. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm with us. I eagerly look forward to your future content and hope to see Richard Boothby on your podcast soon! Warm regards,

[@RahulSam]

My friend, this is too kind. I wish I knew your name so I could thank you personally. All I can say is I feel undeserving. And I definitely hope to have Richard Boothby on by the end of this year. The delay is because I will be speaking to some analytic philosophers in the next few months, so I need to focus on studying for those podcasts. I also want to carefully read Richard’s book Embracing the Void before talking to him.

[@user-xq9ki7sz3f]

@@RahulSam "Rahul, your humility and dedication to your craft are truly inspiring! I'm thrilled to hear that you're working on some exciting upcoming podcasts with analytic philosophers - I'm sure those conversations will be incredibly enriching. And I completely understand your desire to thoroughly prepare for your conversation with Richard Boothby by studying his work and reading 'Embracing the Void'. Your commitment to depth and understanding is what makes your content so exceptional. Thank you for all that you do, and I eagerly look forward to those future podcasts! (And don't worry about not knowing my name - but for the record, it's Harsh, and I'm a huge fan of your work!❤️)"

[@RahulSam]

@@user-xq9ki7sz3f Many thanks, Harsh!

[@user-xq9ki7sz3f]

@@RahulSam "Rahul, I'm sorry to be commenting again and again - I know I'm being a little annoying! But I just can't help myself when it comes to your podcast and the incredible thinkers you feature. I promise this will be my last request (for a while, at least!). I wanted to suggest another thinker whose work I deeply admire - Rebecca Comay. Her insights on Hegel are truly groundbreaking, and I think your audience would greatly appreciate her perspectives. If you're open to it, I'd love to see her as a guest on your podcast whenever your schedule allows. Thank you again for all that you do, and please keep sharing your knowledge with us! (And sorry again for being a bit too enthusiastic...)."

[@RahulSam]

@@user-xq9ki7sz3f Ah haha! Never apologise for the enthusiasm, Harsh. It means a lot to me. I'll look into Rebecca Comay, too! I know she wrote a book on the French Revolution, and Žižek mentions her often. On a side note - please connect with me on Instagram so that we can keep in touch: instagram.com/name_is_rahul/ Take care, mate.