Session 10: Systemic Thinking

Question 1

“Positivity” =
and
“Negativity” =

Answer 1

free of regulations, economic rules and norms

full of restrictions, prohibitions, regulations

Question 2

Obedience Society →

Achievement Society →

Answer 2

obedience subjects → runs on negativity

achievement subjects → runs on positivity

Question 2

what causes psychic infarctions

Answer 2

Pressure to achieve and systemic violence (pressure from structure → framed as freedom → leads to self pressure & self exploitation) that produce “psychic infarctions” (breakdowns)

Question 2

Disciplinary tends to create …

Achievement tends to create…

Answer 2

mad men and criminals

depressives and losers

Question 3

Han reading paradox

Answer 3

Paradox:
Achievement society looks free but it doesn’t mean real freedom

Freedom and constraint merge → you “freely” push yourself into constant performance → self-exploitation (system rewards that behaviour)

Question 4

how does depression happen as a result of capitlaism

Answer 4

Depression happens when the achievement-subject reaches “no longer being able to be able” (nicht mehr konnen kann)

You can’t keep up with the endless “can”

Flips into internalised war

Question 5

Link

Answer 5

Capitalism rewards achievement → culture normalises achievement → you internalise it as your identity → when you can’t keep up = blame yourself → mental health crisis

Question 6

What happens psychologically when work/achievement becomes centralised:

Answer 6

You feel free (bc you chose this) but trapped in performance

Burn out bc you can’t ever finish achieving

Consumption / optimisation becomes coping mechanism

Question 7

Han Boredom Reading

Answer 7

1. Excess Stimuli → shattered attention
2. Multitasking Progress
3. Hyper Attention replaces Deep Attention (kills creativity)
4. Deep Boredom is not Useless
5. Vita Completiva

Question 8

Excess Stimuli → shattered attention

Answer 8

Excess positivity = excess stimuli → changes economy of attention
Burden of work forces people into new techniques of time/attention management which reshapes neurological cognition

Question 8

Multitasking Progress

Answer 8

Multitasking is not a modern skill
Argues its closer to animal vigilance
Never fully allows us to immerse in experience

Question 8

Hyper Attention replaces Deep Attention (kills creativity)

Answer 8

Deep/contemplative attention (immersion, capable of reflection)
VS
Hyperattention (switching between tasks, low boredom tolerance)

Modern life rejects contemplative attention in favour of hyperattention

Hyper attention can not tolerate boredom so it blocks out the “boredemness/openess” that creativity requires in order to flourish

Question 8

Deep Boredom is not Useless

Answer 8

Rush doesn’t produce anything new it only reproduces and accelerates what already exists
Inability to be bored is the issue, not boredom itself

Question 9

Vita Completiva

Answer 9

Contemplative life = real experience
Admiring at the way things are, rather than treating everything as a project

Question 10

tech and system

Answer 10

Every tech that is developed and largely distributed in the system serves the objectives and goals of the system
Eg. growth, profit max. efficiency