Classical Wisdom Speaks Aristotle and the Good Life
Aug 19, 2025
Lorraine Besser, a philosophy professor at Middlebury College and author of The Art of the Interesting, explores timeless insights from Aristotle on living well. She discusses how Aristotle's ideas on virtue and eudaimonia influence our modern views on happiness. Delving into 'psychological richness,' Besser emphasizes the value of novel experiences for personal growth. She encourages listeners to find depth in the mundane, transforming everyday moments into opportunities for fulfillment, and highlights the balance between focus and embracing novelty for a richer life.
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Reading And Conversations Spark Richness
- Lorraine notes adults rarely read for interest outside classes, yet books can produce psychological richness.
- Conversations with new people also often leave us thinking and feeling differently afterward.
Actively Create Interesting Experiences
- Seek out or cultivate psychologically rich experiences by learning new things or engaging novel conversations.
- You can create richness internally by allowing curiosity and free-flowing thoughts to emerge.
Learn From Boredom
- Use experiences of boredom to identify what fails to engage your mind and then seek complexity instead.
- Prefer stories or activities that challenge you and avoid those that leave you flat.
