Beyond the Quest for Happiness: Why We Need More Than Self-Improvement

The question of how to live a good life has been debated by philosophers, theologians, and everyday people for centuries. In recent years, however, it’s become increasingly clear that our society is struggling to provide adequate answers. The Permanent Questions podcast, hosted by David Brooks, attempts to fill this void with its debut episode featuring philosopher Meghan Sullivan.

Sullivan’s approach to teaching the good life emphasizes cultivating virtue within one’s own soul rather than simply maximizing positive impact on the world. This focus on personal character is a welcome respite from our culture’s obsession with self-improvement through technology and productivity hacks. Her book, co-authored with Kevin Timpe, The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning, outlines this approach.

Brooks’ introduction to Sullivan’s course at Notre Dame University highlights the significance of his own education in shaping his perspective. The Great Conversation, a centuries-old tradition of debate between some of the greatest thinkers in human history, has had a profound impact on Brooks’ worldview. This emphasis on grappling with fundamental questions – how to educate one’s emotions, survive setbacks, and find purpose – is precisely what our society sorely needs.

Our culture often prioritizes short-term gains over long-term personal growth, reflected in statistics such as rising loneliness, despair, distrust, and polarization. In contrast, Sullivan’s approach seeks to form students into better versions of themselves through discussion and reflection, rather than just maximizing external metrics like productivity and success.

The humanistic counterreaction to technological advancement that Brooks references is an important precedent for our current moment. Just as thinkers in the past pushed back against the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and mass production, we must now confront the consequences of our own technological advancements. The elements of civilization that uplift the spirit – religion, literature, art, theology, history, philosophy, friendship, and conversation – are indeed playing a smaller role in our national life.

The Permanent Questions podcast is an attempt to revive this humanistic core through discussion and debate about the big questions of life. By engaging with Sullivan’s approach to teaching the good life, we’re reminded that true personal growth requires more than just self-improvement; it demands a deeper understanding of what it means to live a virtuous life.

The emphasis on cultivating virtue within one’s own soul is a crucial distinction from the self-improvement industry. Rather than focusing solely on external metrics, we must also attend to our internal lives by engaging with fundamental questions about purpose, meaning, and happiness. This requires a willingness to grapple with difficult questions and to develop a sense of purpose that goes beyond mere productivity.

Sullivan’s approach to education is not merely about imparting knowledge or skills but rather about forming students into better versions of themselves. This emphasis on personal formation is essential for developing a sense of purpose and cultivating meaningful relationships, as Brooks notes in his own experience at the University of Chicago.

The humanistic counterreaction to technological advancement highlights an important precedent for our current moment. We must now confront the consequences of our own technological advancements, just as thinkers in the past pushed back against the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and mass production. This requires reviving the elements of civilization that uplift the spirit – religion, literature, art, theology, history, philosophy, friendship, and conversation.

The Permanent Questions podcast represents an important step towards reviving our humanistic core and grappling with fundamental questions about purpose, meaning, and happiness. By engaging with Sullivan’s approach to teaching the good life, we’re reminded that true personal growth requires more than just self-improvement; it demands a deeper understanding of what it means to live a virtuous life. As Brooks notes, “We will preserve our humanistic core. We will preserve what is essentially human.”