The Lost Art Of The Intellectual Life
We live in one of the most informationally rich societies in history,
yet we are simultaneously one of the most intellectually poor.
It seems counterintuitive—you would think easier access
to high-level information would lead to better intellectual quality,
greater ideas, and superior output.
However, that does not seem to be the case.
This phenomenon was actually predicted by Friedrich Nietzsche.
He noticed that the more information society accumulated,
the lazier people became in their ability to think and craft new ideas.
He coined the term the “last man”—someone with such an abundance
of information that they become intellectually lazy,
losing the capability to create original work.
Instead of creating, society becomes focused solely
on critiquing the art and philosophies of the past.
In the book The Intellectual Life by A.G. Sertillanges,
this hypothesis is further explored.
Sertillanges outlines a path to regain the intellectual life,
allowing individuals to craft better, more unique ideas
and think more clearly.
Here are the main pillars and practical applications of the intellectual life.
1. Find Your Key Interest
One of the biggest problems with having an abundance
of information and social media is that it becomes difficult
to identify what you truly love and want to pursue.
You are constantly pulled in competing directions.
To cultivate an intellectual life,
you must be deeply interested in your pursuit.
As Sertillanges writes,
“If you tell me what you love, I will tell you what you are,
as love is the beginning of everything in us.”
This is often why formal schooling derails
the intellectual path—you are forced to study things you have
no interest in, which turns you off from academia entirely.
To find your interest, simply follow your curiosity.
You do not have to land on a specific industry
or philosophy immediately.
Follow the thread of what entices you.
If you follow what you love and what you find fun,
you will naturally start to cultivate an intellectual life
without unnecessary stress or forced effort.
2. Only a Few Books are Necessary
Once you find the thread you want to follow,
do not let yourself be inundated by the tens of thousands
of books available on the subject.
Sertillanges argues that only three or four core books
are truly necessary to build the foundation of any interest.
For example, if you want to understand existential philosophy,
you do not need to read 25 different books.
You might read:
- One book by Nietzsche
- One by Dostoevsky
- One by Hemingway
- One by Thomas Aquinas
These core texts lay an intellectual foundation.
Everything else you read or consume on the topic
is just supplementary information that you can attach
to that foundation.
Trying to read every single word ever written
on a subject is impossible and, more importantly,
prevents you from taking action.
The intellectual life is a lifestyle. It requires producing, acting,
and crafting your own work.
The greatest historical intellectuals did not have access
to infinite information;
they built proper foundations on a few great works
and then spent their time actively thinking and producing.
3. Simplify Your Life to Embrace Boredom
To effectively process information and create your own insights,
you must sit in silence and embrace boredom.
You can only do that when you actively simplify your life
and remove constant distractions.
Practical Advice: Set an Actionable Assignment
Most people have responsibilities, jobs,
and boring administrative tasks that fall outside
their main intellectual curiosities.
To keep your intellectual life thriving amidst a busy schedule,
set an actionable assignment for yourself on a regular basis.
To live an intellectual life, you must absorb information
and then produce your own.
You can set an assignment to complete:
- Once a week
- Once a fortnight
- Once a month
- Once every three months
This assignment could be writing a private essay,
creating a piece of art, building something, or producing a video.
Setting a strict deadline forces you to read, absorb information,
and actively apply it.
This little bit of friction and stress keeps your curiosity
focused, thriving, and ultimately fun.
Designating just 30 minutes a day to work
on this specific intellectual assignment will keep your
cognitive abilities sharp and your mind moving forward.
