Midlife audiobook cover - A Philosophical Guide

Midlife

A Philosophical Guide

Kieran Setiya

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Categories:
PhilosophyMotivation & Inspiration

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Key Takeaways from Midlife

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Mind Map

Midlife
Understanding the Midlife Crisis+
The Paradox of Happiness+
Missing Out and Regret+
Dealing with Death+
Loving the Process+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to economists David Blanchflower and Andrew Oswald, how do our levels of happiness generally change over the course of our lifetimes?
  • A. They steadily decline as we age and face our mortality.
  • B. They form a U-shape, dipping in middle age before rising again.
  • C. They peak during middle age when we reach our career goals.
  • D. They remain relatively stable unless disrupted by a midlife crisis.
Question 2 of 7
What profound realization did the philosopher John Stuart Mill have regarding happiness during his own early life crisis?
  • A. True happiness can only be found by dedicating oneself to solving the world's most urgent problems.
  • B. Happiness is a direct result of successfully achieving your childhood and adolescent dreams.
  • C. People who are truly happy have their minds fixed on some object or pursuit other than their own happiness.
  • D. Happiness is an ameliorative state that requires constant and rigorous self-improvement.
Question 3 of 7
Why does the author argue that the feeling of 'missing out' on alternative lives is inevitable in middle age?
  • A. Because modern society places too much emphasis on financial success and status.
  • B. Because human beings naturally desire things they cannot afford.
  • C. Because the world is full of divergent, incommensurable values and every decision involves a trade-off.
  • D. Because we tend to forget the painful memories of our youth and only remember the good times.
Question 4 of 7
Which of the following is a philosophical argument provided in the text for NOT regretting so-called 'mistaken' decisions from your past?
  • A. Past mistakes are usually not as bad as society makes them out to be.
  • B. You can always change your career path later in life.
  • C. Regret is a useless emotion that prevents us from achieving temporal neutrality.
  • D. If you had chosen differently, the positive aspects of your current life, such as your children, would not exist.
Question 5 of 7
What is the 'symmetry argument' proposed by the Roman poet Lucretius to help people cope with the fear of death?
  • A. The idea that the pain of death is balanced out by the joys experienced during life.
  • B. The concept that being dead is essentially the same as the time we spent unborn before entering the world.
  • C. The belief that every human life has an equal amount of suffering and happiness.
  • D. The theory that our future existence in the afterlife will mirror our past existence on Earth.
Question 6 of 7
What is the primary difference between 'telic' and 'atelic' activities?
  • A. Telic activities aim at completion and finished states, while atelic activities do not have a defined end.
  • B. Telic activities are done for physical health, while atelic activities are done for mental well-being.
  • C. Telic activities involve other people, while atelic activities are solitary pursuits.
  • D. Telic activities are focused on problem-solving, while atelic activities are focused on financial gain.
Question 7 of 7
To combat the dissatisfaction that often follows achieving a long-term goal, what practical solution does the book suggest?
  • A. Immediately set a new, more ambitious goal to maintain your forward momentum.
  • B. Give up on all human desires completely, as Arthur Schopenhauer advised.
  • C. Make more time for atelic activities and learn to pay attention to the process itself.
  • D. Focus entirely on ameliorative tasks that improve society rather than yourself.

Midlife — Full Chapter Overview

Midlife Summary & Overview

Midlife (2017) is a philosophical guide to navigating the troubles that middle age can present. Drawing on thinkers from ancient Rome to nineteenth-century England, it offers gentle solace in the face of midlife’s woes.

Who Should Listen to Midlife?

  • Middle-aged people on the cusp of a midlife crisis
  • Those with relatives or friends past their mid-thirties
  • Anyone interested in applying philosophy to life

About the Author: Kieran Setiya

Kieran Setiya is a professor of philosophy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Specializing in ethics, the philosophy of mind, and epistemology, he has also written extensively on public philosophy. He is the author of Knowing Right from Wrong, Practical Knowledge, and Reasons Without Rationalism.

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