Flourishing in burnout society

• Main Author: Lim, Aaron Wei Heng
• Other Authors: Teru Miyake
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Arts and Humanities; Philosophy
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/174504
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The new paradigm for society is what Byung-Chul Han terms a burnout society, characterised by its unending pursuit of productivity and a deeply ingrained culture of achievement. Our worths are measured in output and achievements. We find ourselves under the constant shadow of deadlines and societal expectations, which coerce us to achieve, produce, and work more. Our lives hold little meaning beyond work. The constant comparison to others in this competitive environment has led to us constantly feeling inadequate and burnt out. Once only experienced by those in stressful positions, burnout is now commonplace. Many of us experience it at some point in our lives. This silent epidemic drains the authenticity and meaning of our lives, leaving us disillusioned, struggling to find meaning beyond to-do lists. Is this truly the way to live? This paper serves as a sombre reminder to live authentically and as a beacon of hope. It charts an exploration into the philosophical recalibration of our priorities and a re-evaluation of our lives and humanity's future. It calls for an examination and criticism of how individuals have lived the past few decades; it calls for a return to Vita Contemplativa alongside Eudaimonism.