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Slavoj Žižek | Why Be Happy When You Could Be Interesting? | Big Think

Big Think · 3.6M views · 2012-06-25 · 2:01

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Overview

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.

On Hacker News

HN shares it as a short, provocative counterpoint in threads on purpose, goals and the pursuit of happiness.

Recommended by 1 HN people across 1 months · HN mentions 2014–2023

Topics

Philosophy & ethicsPsychology & human behavior
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zizekhappinessphilosophypurposebig think

What people said

gwilkes · 2016-08 · Recommendation

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?": [VIDEO]

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knowhy · 2023-01 · Reference

Slavoj Žižek [1] sees happiness as a conformist category. He argues that: > We don't really want what we think we desire. [1]: [VIDEO]

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ak39 · 2017-11 · Reference

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": [VIDEO] (For those you aren't aware of his tick, don't watch, just listen)

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Sources

Video by Big Think, played through YouTube.

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