Philosophy: even the gods are convinced by necessity

2025-05-19

Raw link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr-DQLh8OZM

In this 30-minute video, I talk about the importance of knowing the limits in whatever we are doing and of working with what we have. I start by describing a saying we have in modern Greek that comes to us from antiquity («ανάγκα και θεοί πείθονται»). I then apply it to matters of everyday life that involve indecision. This is about the feeling of unease we experience when we are not decisive. In the process, I explain the importance of committing to tasks that have a life of their own and require maintenance. I then comment on how freedom is not just “I can do whatever I want” but also “and I live with the consequences of my actions.” Ultimately, knowing our limits helps us come down to the practicality of the here-and-now and to recognise that how we feel about something is a reliable starting point whenever the indecision we are facing is overwhelming.