TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
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Re: TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
#2Amazing talk.
Re: TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
#3Really liked this.
For anyone who has read Alain de Botton: Could you recommend some of his books? I'm really interested in checking out his work after watching this.
Re: TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
#4Really liked this. For anyone who has read Alain de Botton: Could you recommend some of his books? I'm really interested in checking out his work after watching this.
I really enjoyed reading The Consolations of Philosophy by him:
Re: TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
#5Really liked this. For anyone who has read Alain de Botton: Could you recommend some of his books? I'm really interested in checking out his work after watching this.
Try The Art of Travel.
Re: TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
#6I love this kind of TED talks.
One of Alain's main arguments was that the "kinder, gentler" philosophy of success should partly be based on the negative implications of meritocracy, i.e. "if you are at the bottom, you deserve to be there and thus you're a looser". But to meritocracy's defense -- isn't it more fair to say that "if you are at the bottom, you can with an effort pull yourself out of there"? And thus "merit" a better position in the social hierarchy?
For me, once anyone at the bottom make the slightest effort to rise, they are instantly rising in social hierarchy. Thus, it's all up to themselves, and it's all based on a choice. Make a decision, and merit follows.
I'm not sure what I want to say with this argument. But somehow, the criticism forwards meritocracy seemed a little shallow in the talk.
Re: TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
#7Really liked this. For anyone who has read Alain de Botton: Could you recommend some of his books? I'm really interested in checking out his work after watching this.
I have just finished reading "The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work" which I thought was fantastic. Particularly the chapter where he follows a high voltage electricity line across southern England until it disappears underground in London. He walks with a man who's a 'pylon geek' essentially and it's wonderful.
Re: TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
#8I love this kind of TED talks. One of Alain's main arguments was that the "kinder, gentler" philosophy of success should partly be based on the negative implications of meritocracy, i.e. "if you are at the bottom, you deserve to be there and thus you're a looser". But to meritocracy's defense -- isn't it more fair to say that "if you are at the bottom, you can with an effort pull yourself out of there"? And thus "mer…
It is easy to interpret some of what he said as a criticism of meritocracy, but I don't believe there was any. I think what he was trying to say is that meritocracy is great, but we often use the concept to justify cruel attitudes or judgments.
Re: TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
#9Really liked this. For anyone who has read Alain de Botton: Could you recommend some of his books? I'm really interested in checking out his work after watching this.
I have just finished reading "The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work" which I thought was fantastic. Particularly the chapter where he follows a high voltage electricity line across southern England until it disappears underground in London. He walks with a man who's a 'pylon geek' essentially and it's wonderful.
I read that one recently too. I liked it... something pleasantly British about it (I don't know how else to describe it).
Re: TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
#10I love this kind of TED talks. One of Alain's main arguments was that the "kinder, gentler" philosophy of success should partly be based on the negative implications of meritocracy, i.e. "if you are at the bottom, you deserve to be there and thus you're a looser". But to meritocracy's defense -- isn't it more fair to say that "if you are at the bottom, you can with an effort pull yourself out of there"? And thus "mer…
One distinction that is useful is looking at things in absolute terms or in terms of rankings. In a ranking system, someone is always going to come out the winner, and someone on the bottom. At the Tour de France, someone wins, a bunch of other guys don't, and someone comes in last, even though they are all extremely talented and fast cyclists. In business, someone might make the most money, but most people doing good work create value for society, and increase total wealth, without it necessarily being at the cost of someone else.
In other words, ranking systems and contests are zero sum games, whereas plenty of other things are not.