Status Anxiety
Mon, Feb 19
According to the philosopher Alain de Botton, status anxiety is "a worry, so pernicious as to be capable of ruining extended stretches of our lives, that we are in danger of failing to conform to the ideals of success laid down by our society and that we may as a result be stripped of dignity and respect; a worry that we are currently occupying too modest a rung or are about to fall to a lower one." While social status and the things that it affords to those who have it are certainly, to some extent and in some circumstances, good things, de Botton seems right to point out that the anxiety it can induce is real and potentially damaging.
Goals - by the end of today's class, you will:
- Understand what de Botton means by "status anxiety;" be able to offer examples, and explain some of the sources de Botton identifies;
- Consider whether, and why, it might be bad for one's working life to be driven by status anxiety; identify the particular ways in which this threatens someone seeking to live a good life; and
- Articulate strategies for avoiding or dealing with status anxiety in your own life.
Read This:
(Access readings on Perusall)
Primary Reading: de Botton, "Status Anxiety" (Selections)
Do This:
After completing the readings for today, consider the following questions (which we will talk about in class):
- Consider de Botton's definition of status anxiety: "a worry, so pernicious as to be capable of ruining extended stretches of our lives, that we are in danger of failing to conform to the ideals of success laid down by our society and that we may as a result be stripped of dignity and respect; a worry that we are currently occupying too modest a rung or are about to fall to a lower one." Now apply this to our contemporary culture. What are "the ideals of success laid down by our society"? And how realistic are these?
- de Botton lays out several sources of status anxiety in today's reading, and we'll be considering one proposed solution (which is, perhaps unsurprisingly, doing philosophy). Can you think of other potential sources? Where do you think status anxiety comes from? Can you think of other proposed solutions?