Many psychologists and philosophers believe that people are hedonists, seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. But what about our appetites for spicy foods, hot baths, horror movies, sad songs, BDSM, and hate reading? How can we explain our choices to suffer—in pursuits such as art, ritual, sex, and sports, and in longer-term projects such as training for a marathon or signing up to go to war? Drawing on research from developmental psychology, social psychology, anthropology, and behavioral economics, I suggest that we are driven by non-hedonistic goals; we revel in difficult practice, we aspire towards moral goodness, and we seek out meaningful lives.

In this talk, Smith presents the latest in psychology and neuroscience (as well as the wisdom of great philosophers) to help us find meaning and hope during the pandemic. She unpacks what she calls the “four pillars of meaning”— belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence — and how we can build some or all of these pillars in our lives through the lockdown. 

Together, these pillars help us give back, deepen relationships, set purposeful goals, and make sense of who we are during challenging times. Ultimately, a meaningful life lies in connecting and contributing to ideas beyond yourself — whether it’s your family, your job, or humanity at large. Our most meaningful pursuits — from starting a business to mastering a musical instrument — require hard work, sacrifice, and long-term vision. We don’t necessarily do them to be happy; we do them because they’re meaningful.

For individuals seeking something more in these unprecedented times, Smith’s talk gives us the tools we need to build resiliency, gain a broader perspective, and truly deepen our lives.

As our civilization careens toward a precipice of climate breakdown, ecological destruction, and gaping inequality, people are losing their existential moorings. Our dominant worldview tells us we’re split between mind and body, separate from each other, and at odds with the natural world. This worldview has passed its expiration date: it’s based on a series of flawed assumptions that have been superseded by modern scientific findings.

In this talk, author Jeremy Lent will discuss themes from his new book, The Web of Meaning, revealing how another worldview is possible—based on our deep interconnectedness with all of life. Showing how modern scientific knowledge echoes the ancient wisdom of earlier cultures, the presentation weaves together findings from modern systems thinking, evolutionary biology, and cognitive neuroscience with insights from Buddhism, Taoism, and Indigenous wisdom.