We live in an age where speed is a virtue:
the faster, the better. You’re hungry? Your smartphone allows you to order food from
countless restaurants and have it delivered in no time. You want to be entertained? Today’s streaming services bring the latest
films and television series into your living room with the push of a button. We can communicate with people directly worldwide
and obtain information instantly, wherever we are, as long as we’ve got an internet
connection. Thanks to dating apps, we also have access
to an unprecedentedly large pool of potential mates whenever we use our smartphones. Whatever we want, we want it quickly because,
after all, time is money, and we don’t want to waste any of it. The ability to speed up many of life’s processes
seems like a blessing: we can live more efficiently and get more done in a shorter amount of time. We can be more productive, enjoy a larger
quantity of entertainment, communicate with more people, and travel to more destinations
within a lifetime. But does doing more in less time equal better,
more pleasurable experiences? Is a fast-paced life a happier life? A growing group of people believes that we’re
better off slowing down. This slower approach to life is known as ‘slow
living.’ As a counter-movement, ‘slow living’ opposes
the fast-paced life that aims for many experiences in a short time, as living at high speed means
we’re often living hastily, chaotically, superficially, and with a lack of appreciation
of the moment. So, instead, ‘slow living’ encourages
us to prioritize what truly matters and take time to digest it. ‘Slow living,’ therefore, includes simplifying
one’s life and savoring the present moment. When we try to define ‘slow living’ theoretically
and practically, we’ll discover numerous interpretations and ways to live more slowly. So it seems that ‘slow living’ is largely
open to interpretation. However, values like simplicity, balance,
intentionality, and being mindful seem to be recurring ingredients among expressions
of slow living. But aside from the lifestyle practices, is
there a philosophical underpinning for ‘slow living?’ The idea of slowing down life isn’t new. For example, thinkers like Henry David Thoreau
and Arthur Schopenhauer favored living at a slow pace. This video explores not just the ‘slow living’
lifestyle (and how to practice it) but also some philosophical reflections that support
the idea of ‘slow living.’ The ability to speed up certain aspects of
life and fit in as many experiences as possible in one lifetime sounds like an enrichment;
the more experiences, the better. Also, by doing things faster, we can live
our lives more efficiently, getting more done in less time. But this increased pace has downsides, as
the greater quantity of our experiences may significantly diminish their quality. When we’re constantly in a rush, we may
not have the time or mental space to engage with the activities we’re participating
in fully. We may rush through meals, conversations,
or other activities without fully savoring them, making them feel less enjoyable or fulfilling. Also, when we’re always in a hurry, we may
miss important details or nuances in our experiences. For example, suppose we’re rushing through
a museum exhibit. In that case, we may not take the time to
fully appreciate each piece of art or read the accompanying descriptions, which can diminish
our understanding and enjoyment of the exhibit as a whole. Living life at a fast pace can also lead to
overstimulation or overwhelm, particularly if we’re constantly trying to fit in as
many experiences as possible. And when we’re always on the go, we may
not give ourselves enough downtime or space to process our experiences, making them feel
less meaningful or memorable. So, we may think that we’ve experienced
a lot, but we actually experienced many things superficially and, often, hardly paid attention
to them. Paying less attention can negatively impact
our happiness. For example, when constantly rushing around
and not fully engaging with our surroundings or experiences, we may miss out on moments
of joy or contentment. We may not take the time to appreciate the
small things that can bring us happiness, such as spending time with loved ones, enjoying
a beautiful sunset, having a delicious meal, or simply reflecting on past experiences that
gave us joy. Going fast comes with a price: it can harm
our mental health and well-being. When we’re constantly on the go and not
taking the time to care for ourselves, we may feel burnt out, anxious, or depressed. Moreover, we may be so focused on achieving
our goals or getting things done that we neglect the things that truly bring us happiness and
fulfillment, which are often simple and easy to obtain. In a world that values productivity and hustle
culture, slowing down and taking a step back may seem counterintuitive. But it could dissolve the stress and chaos
that cloud what we’re actually looking for: feelings described as contentment, joy, and
happiness. So, what did the past philosophers say about
slowing down life to enjoy it more fully? The ancient greek philosopher Epicurus preached
living a simple life, enjoying contentment with little rather than the endless chase
of vain pleasures. His philosophy shows that the things we need
to live happily, like simple foods, shelter, and tranquility, are easy to come by. For Epicurus, the best pleasure is static:
it’s the pleasure of having our desires satisfied, of no longer being in need or want. Moving pleasure, however, is fleeting and
temporary, such as the enjoyment of entertainment, food, and intercourse. Epicurus prioritizing static pleasures over
moving pleasures is relevant to the concept of ‘slow living’ because it emphasizes
the importance of taking a more intentional and mindful approach to life: in this case,
to be selective of one’s pleasures of choice. Individuals can achieve a greater sense of
balance and contentment in their lives by focusing on cultivating long-term, stable
sources of pleasure and satisfaction rather than constantly seeking temporary thrills
and distractions. The simpler our pleasures are, the easier
we’ll achieve a contented state. If we can easily satisfy our desires, we’ll
experience less stress and save more time to sit back, relax, and simply enjoy the contentment
of being satiated. So, we could say that engagement in ‘static
pleasure’ is the ultimate form of slow living, as experiencing static pleasure requires us
to slow down and stop chasing. Static pleasure is generally enjoyed slowly;
how can we enjoy satisfaction if we’re already busy chasing the next pleasure again? The 19th-century American philosopher Henry
David Thoreau’s book “Walden” describes his experience of living a simple life near
Concord at Walden Lake. He emphasized the importance of slowing down
one’s life and living deliberately. He believed that society’s fast-paced lifestyle
hindered authentic living and that we should simplify our lives to truly experience happiness. I quote: “I went to the woods because I wished to
live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn
what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” End quote. Thoreau believed that by slowing down and
simplifying our lives, we could become more in tune with nature and our own inner selves. And so, he encouraged people to disconnect
from the distractions of modern life, such as technology and consumerism, and instead
focus on the simple pleasures of life, like engaging in meaningful work, spending time
in nature, and cultivating deep relationships with others. The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu also
showed the importance of slowing down and living in harmony with nature. In the Tao Te Ching, he famously
stated that nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. Accomplishment doesn’t require speed. Just take a look at nature. Natural processes like growing plants or the
formation of rivers are pretty slow, but the results don’t lie. If we force things, however, trying to speed
things up in unnatural ways, we’ll only get in trouble, according to the Taoist point
of view. Lao Tzu believed that by living in accordance
with the natural flow of the universe, our lives would be more peaceful and effortless. The concept of ‘Wu Wei’ (translated as
effortless action or non-action) encourages not to force things and, in many cases, to
slow down to embark on the natural flow. So, slowing down, the Taoists see as a means
not to force the ways of nature, which we might be doing when we’re rushing. In both Lao Tzu’s teachings and the ‘slow
living’ lifestyle, the emphasis lies on finding balance and harmony in one’s life
rather than constantly striving for more and pushing oneself to the brink of exhaustion. The 19th-century philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer
believed that the pace of modern life is detrimental to human well-being. In his essay “The Wisdom of Life,” he
argued that we are so busy pursuing our goals and desires, which makes us miserable. He wrote: The most important of all for happiness is
the avoidance of those voluntary evils that are unnecessary to our existence; and the
prime cause of this is the hurry and bustle that mark our existence, the rapid alternation
of excitement and ennui, and the constant stimulation that results from our complex
social and economic arrangements. For it is to these that we owe that fevered
restlessness which throws us into the arms of the manifold illusions we mistake for happiness. End quote. In this passage, Schopenhauer suggests that
modern life’s fast-paced, overstimulated nature prevents us from experiencing true
happiness instead of the “illusions” we mistake for happiness, like wealth and status. He argued that we should strive to simplify
our lives and avoid unnecessary distractions and sources of stress. Thus, ‘slow living’ aligns with Schopenhauer’s
belief that slowing down one’s life, or getting rid of the “hurry and bustle,”
is necessary for achieving true happiness and contentment. Another example from Schopenhauer’s philosophy
that supports the idea of ‘slow living’ is his distinction between two kinds of pleasure:
the pleasures of the will and the pleasures of the intellect. He considered the pleasures of the will of
a lower kind, as they arise from the satisfaction of our desires and needs, such as hunger and
thirst. Pleasures like these are fleeting and ultimately
unsatisfying, as they fail to provide lasting happiness and contentment. However, the pleasures of the intellect come
from contemplating science, art, and philosophy. Schopenhauer believed these pleasures are
superior to those of the will, as they are more sustainable and provide a sense of lasting
fulfillment. Intellectual pleasures are also more accessible
than the pleasures of the will, as they are relatively cheap and don’t depend on external
circumstances. Intellectual pleasures are, by nature, ‘slow.’ Then there’s Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic
emperor of the ancient Roman Empire, who gave himself straightforward advice we can use
if we seek tranquility. I quote: If you seek tranquillity, do less. Or (more accurately) do what’s essential
- what the logos of a social being requires, and in the requisite way. Which brings a double satisfaction: to do
less, better. Because most of what we say and do is not
essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more
time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, “Is this necessary?” End quote. Regarding ‘slow living,’ we could use
this passage to remind ourselves to stick with the essentials. Doing too many things at once generates stress. By doing less, on the other hand, we can pay
closer attention to the things we choose to do and work on them more slowly and precisely. As Marcus Aurelius stated, we’ll have “more
time and more tranquility,” which are core ingredients of ‘slow living.’ So, how do we put ‘slow living’ into practice? Is it a matter of making our social circles
smaller, ditching that job that often requires us to overwork, and appreciating the small
things in life? What else can we do to slow down and enjoy
life more fully? There are countless ways to apply the idea
of ‘slow living’ to our lives, and we’ll explore a couple of practical examples. The first one is to simplify one’s schedule. Our lives can become overly busy and complicated,
leaving us stressed and overwhelmed. To slow down, you can simplify your schedule
by saying “no” to commitments that don’t align with your priorities, taking breaks
when needed, and prioritizing relaxation and tranquility. Unplugging from technology is another way
to slow down our lives. Even though ‘slow living’ doesn’t reject
technological advancements, it does encourage us to approach them mindfully. Technology can be a significant source of
stress and distraction. To slow down and be more present, we could
take regular breaks from screens, unplug during meals, and set aside time for quiet reflection. Another practical way of ‘slow living’
is the cultivation of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully
present when engaging in our daily activities. We can cultivate mindfulness through activities
like meditation and yoga. Aligning with Taoist philosophy, connecting
with nature is another effective way to slow down, and it helps us to feel more grounded
and calm. Spending time in nature is proven to reduce
stress and anxiety. The Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, which
we’ve explored in a previous video, suggests a practice of ‘forest bathing,’ during
which we deliberately slow our pace during a forest walk. Instead of being goal-oriented, going from
point A to point B, we focus on the beauty of nature and open ourselves up to its healing
capabilities. Even though living life in the fast lane might
seem fun and exciting, it’s not necessarily the key to happiness. Slowing down can be a rewarding experience. Instead of getting more quickly and superficially,
we intentionally embrace less more profoundly and in the present. Thank you for watching.
