Meaning of Life | John Danaher and Lex Fridman

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  • čas přidán 7. 06. 2024
  • Lex Fridman Podcast full episode: • John Danaher: The Path...
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    John Danaher is a coach, scholar, and educator of jiu jitsu, submission grappling, judo, MMA, and the martial arts.
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Komentáře • 298

  • @daniel_najar
    @daniel_najar Před 3 lety +337

    "It was hard to win the battle for survival but it's 10x harder to win the battle for meaning" John Danaher

    • @denisbejtja9937
      @denisbejtja9937 Před 2 lety +6

      That fucked me up

    • @kolikari3813
      @kolikari3813 Před rokem +1

      With that perspective we can all learn to stop and fucking chill for a second

    • @BagHolder323
      @BagHolder323 Před rokem +1

      That’s the quote.

    • @DylansThoughts
      @DylansThoughts Před rokem

      Mate such a shit quote ngl, nothing this guy said was profound, or even slightly inspiring. 1/10

    • @alhfgsp
      @alhfgsp Před 11 měsíci +3

      One is grounded in easily understood physical conditions, the other is beyond the frontier of our understanding. Heavy stuff.

  • @007SuperSoldier
    @007SuperSoldier Před 3 lety +496

    Truly one of the best answers Lex has received for this question.

    • @tangohtai3995
      @tangohtai3995 Před 3 lety +5

      Could not agree more

    • @codyevans6454
      @codyevans6454 Před 3 lety +18

      I said the same thing to myself... This answer was the most coherent, critical, and Honest answer to that question, I've personally ever heard.

    • @hustleup3840
      @hustleup3840 Před 3 lety +6

      100%

    • @Chris-hw4mq
      @Chris-hw4mq Před 2 lety +5

      Answer is simple there is no meaning of life its what you make of it

    • @Romans1-8
      @Romans1-8 Před 2 lety

      @@Chris-hw4mq just something to pass the time.

  • @TheSoggiestSao
    @TheSoggiestSao Před 3 lety +169

    I’ve honestly watching so many podcasts and videos about this topic and no one has answered this better than John Danaher. Excellent job in explaining the connection between survival and meaning! I never thought of it like that. True legends, you two.

  • @anthonyjesse5880
    @anthonyjesse5880 Před 3 lety +143

    Lex filled the void that was JRE.

  • @diddiecapitan2951
    @diddiecapitan2951 Před 3 lety +91

    The meaning of life is to wear your rush guard everywhere

  • @houdinididiit
    @houdinididiit Před rokem +46

    “Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer”. - Joseph Campbell

    • @shadowdawg04
      @shadowdawg04 Před rokem +6

      BS....

    • @kolikari3813
      @kolikari3813 Před rokem +1

      Not really meaning but consequence

    • @chaitalichatterjee4742
      @chaitalichatterjee4742 Před rokem +2

      ​@@shadowdawg04 better Live Asking pointless questions which lead us no where 😂😂 LoL

    • @jfdhkdfskn1024
      @jfdhkdfskn1024 Před měsícem

      I am an admirer of Joseph Campbell. That might be the dumbest thing that guy ever said.

    • @houdinididiit
      @houdinididiit Před měsícem

      @@jfdhkdfskn1024 Really? Tell us the meaning of life?

  • @HM-mw7cg
    @HM-mw7cg Před 3 lety +84

    I would love it if John wrote stuff, literally anything. He's made it clear before why he left philosophy and academia, so it's probably a very private endeavour for him, but I'd love it if he could share more of these thoughts.

    • @HM-mw7cg
      @HM-mw7cg Před 3 lety +6

      @Ádhamh Ó Donnabháin he said he left it when he saw the coming wave of political correctness. He may have also said something about identity politics. But he mentioned that he loved the hurly burly world Of jiu jitsu and how there wasn't any of that bullshit. I believe this was all spoken about in the interview he did with Brian Rose

    • @travisfoyil4625
      @travisfoyil4625 Před 10 měsíci +1

      He writes a lot on social media, intriguing stuff

  • @jl6569
    @jl6569 Před 3 lety +175

    This guy has a PHD in Epistemology (Philosophy). This is the right guy to ask haha.

    • @brandono6784
      @brandono6784 Před 3 lety +6

      Does he really? I didn't know who this guy was when I clicked the video and was thinking "Wow this guy sounds like a literal philosopher with this answer." Every other sentence was just so clear and reasonable. Then when I exited full screen and saw it was John Danaher and I was like ..the MMA guy? Lol

    • @bigfatjuice
      @bigfatjuice Před 2 lety

      Epistemology does not directly deal with the meaning of life... That would be (analytic) existentialism in case you want to read into it. I had a uni course on it and it was extremely interesting

    • @rhinobridge
      @rhinobridge Před 2 lety +14

      Actually he didn't finish his PhD. He dropped before presenting his thesis. But yeah he has the knowledge.

    • @TA-hf6si
      @TA-hf6si Před 2 lety

      His education leans more towards teaching ironically

  • @deifor
    @deifor Před 3 lety +65

    This was beautiful. Danaher is a truely enlightened being.

  • @jasongodmere9882
    @jasongodmere9882 Před rokem +12

    It's always been my opinion that physical pursuits mold the greatest philosophers. This man is testament to that idea.

  • @matthunt7390
    @matthunt7390 Před 3 lety +47

    When there is nothing more to eat, it eats itself.

    • @Pclub4ever
      @Pclub4ever Před 3 lety +1

      So damn deep.

    • @anotherangrymonkey7435
      @anotherangrymonkey7435 Před 3 lety

      Where is this quote from?

    • @matthunt7390
      @matthunt7390 Před 3 lety +1

      @@anotherangrymonkey7435 tbt on my path to bettering myself, thru self reflection as to why I did some of the belligerent things in my past, is when that realization came to me.

  • @jcglez9491
    @jcglez9491 Před 3 lety +32

    Danaher the most underrated philosopher of our times‼️

  • @user-qp6vg9ho8u
    @user-qp6vg9ho8u Před 3 lety +17

    “It’s hard to win the battle for survival but it’s not 10x harder to win the battle for meaning”
    Wow!

  • @nuriddinburkhonov5214
    @nuriddinburkhonov5214 Před 2 lety +3

    Thanks to both of you guys!

  • @headbussinninja
    @headbussinninja Před 3 lety +7

    Wow, watched this 10 times and still 😳 at the lost of words. Well played and I will continue to watch these videos

  • @thefriendlyscaff6462
    @thefriendlyscaff6462 Před 3 lety +19

    That’s the coolest thing Iv seen on the tube for a while

  • @rhyshebbs7970
    @rhyshebbs7970 Před 3 lety +38

    When thinking of the question “what is the meaning to life” realise it is Life who is asking the question. In the words of Viktor E Frankl
    “Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible”

    • @deifor
      @deifor Před 3 lety +1

      That could be an explanation for the existence of God, or god, or a generator of intelligence, of spirit.

    • @brhanufentaw2833
      @brhanufentaw2833 Před 2 lety

      I agree with you

  • @SCheco3
    @SCheco3 Před 3 lety +26

    One of the best answers to meaning of life ever, thank you to this podcast.

  • @eddiereyes3478
    @eddiereyes3478 Před 2 lety +7

    I agree… what a great interview, Lex has had on many great minds but this man’s introspective really touched me in a profound way.. thx Lex and John

  • @issei4975
    @issei4975 Před rokem

    Lex,brother,make a playlist of these!

  • @amospizzey1
    @amospizzey1 Před 3 lety +4

    Brilliant conversation ⭐️

  • @lindasapiecha2515
    @lindasapiecha2515 Před 3 lety +9

    Excellent discussion 👍

  • @jotarokujo7955
    @jotarokujo7955 Před rokem +3

    what an exeptional human being is John Danher. I could listen him for hours. Always meaningful answers

  • @S4MBONE
    @S4MBONE Před 3 lety +5

    meaning is implicit to life and is instinctual like good music. You know it when you feel it

  • @danielmohave8280
    @danielmohave8280 Před 3 lety +8

    Thank you so so much for these videos , there's nothing more enjoyable than to hear two intellectual people have meaningful conversations! I'm subing.

  • @kamesh5846
    @kamesh5846 Před rokem +2

    Thats one of the best answer i have ever come across regarding the meaning of life. This guy is the common man's philosopher. Made hell a lot of sense than any philosophers or psychologists answers to this question.

  • @giorgialeksandria6665
    @giorgialeksandria6665 Před 3 lety +25

    John Danaher is a living legend Stoic Philosopher.

  • @jacobwestfield3164
    @jacobwestfield3164 Před rokem +1

    I could listen to this guy talk all day.

  • @danylemieux8903
    @danylemieux8903 Před 3 lety +2

    What a powerful answer !

  • @Karlytho
    @Karlytho Před 2 lety +4

    "The minute mankind's existence became more or less guaranteed, the problem shifted from survival to meaning."

  • @nycgweed
    @nycgweed Před 3 lety +1

    Great answer ! Thanx lex for the great content

  • @jedimindtricks1463
    @jedimindtricks1463 Před 3 lety +42

    fbi agent asks serial killer the meaning of life

  • @francescospezzanoarchimove6226

    Wonderful video literally

  • @barryjb
    @barryjb Před rokem +3

    The meaning of life is to get to a position where each person can choose when their life ends.

  • @eIicit
    @eIicit Před 3 lety +12

    I enjoy his measured, thoughtful way of speaking

  • @TrillWillI
    @TrillWillI Před 3 lety +28

    This deserves 5 million views instead of 5,000. Amazing answer to the meaning of life.

  • @FR-ty5vn
    @FR-ty5vn Před rokem +2

    Brilliant man - I’m not sure I’d say survival if guaranteed when every human is born with a death sentence, disease/violence/accidents kill many during their youth or early adulthood, but I get the point: we are much less vulnerable and more secure than in the past. Danaher strikes me as an existentialist: life’s meaning is what you assign it…

  • @colin2utube
    @colin2utube Před rokem +1

    That was a beautifully circular conversation. From the idea that a human alone and without technology is at the bottom of the food chain, but in a group with tools they're at the top, to the idea that a Meaningful life requires one to be part of a community larger than ones self. That makes perfect Evolutionary sense, we SHOULD feel a compulsion to be part of a community of tool developers !

  • @behrad9712
    @behrad9712 Před 2 lety

    Amazing John Danaher!

  • @ishankhan1277
    @ishankhan1277 Před 3 lety +12

    This man is Fascinating , He should become a Guru for life , like other yogis who speak about everything in this world , Huge Respect for John Danaher.

  • @anirudhupadhyay695
    @anirudhupadhyay695 Před 2 lety +4

    What an articulate gem of a person. Best answer I have heard till now. Much respect Sir John Danaher.

  • @raisnaix
    @raisnaix Před 10 měsíci

    This clip, and the contemplation on it that followed for the next week, literally changed core beliefs in my belief system and, by proxy, my entire outlook on life.
    Thank you for this!

  • @Lehmann108
    @Lehmann108 Před 10 měsíci +1

    The philosopher coach. I had one in H.S. John Small, RIP,

  • @ethostattoo2172
    @ethostattoo2172 Před 3 lety +1

    We need certainty,uncertainty,connection,meaning,growth,and contribution to something greater than self.

  • @Indiadagreat18
    @Indiadagreat18 Před 3 lety

    What an answer 🙏

  • @aidenwilson9874
    @aidenwilson9874 Před 3 lety +1

    Call listen to these two all day

  • @MrFribeiro9877
    @MrFribeiro9877 Před 3 lety

    First time hearing this perspective. nice,

  • @User36282
    @User36282 Před 3 lety +18

    This is about as good an answer as you could ever receive for "what is the meaning of life?".

    • @cdb0816
      @cdb0816 Před 3 lety +3

      Jordan Peterson has a great answer too

  • @porscheisamust
    @porscheisamust Před 3 lety +42

    Meaning of Life - Spiritual beings living a temporary physical experience to grow their spiritual awareness.

    • @enesog
      @enesog Před 3 lety

      And than die off at their peak due to nature?
      Hmmmm seems meaning only exists when you are alife.
      Relligions idea of eternal life in a spiritual world .... aren't that bad after all.

    • @Oldhandlewasabitcringe
      @Oldhandlewasabitcringe Před 3 lety +2

      Theres no real evidence of spiritual beings though, youve built a pre supposition into your conclusion

  • @alastormeowly5102
    @alastormeowly5102 Před 3 lety +7

    Meaning of life, to assist entropy creatively

  • @Thomas-zh4dy
    @Thomas-zh4dy Před 3 lety +4

    Great job lex. John is a true genius.

  • @WilliamJonesChess
    @WilliamJonesChess Před 2 lety +11

    Lex asks John Danaher: What do you think is the meaning we have on this spinning ball?
    John: as humans, our existence is guaranteed.
    Now our mind shifts from survival to meaning.
    It is hard to win the survival battle, but it can be 10 times harder to win the battle for meaning.
    What I find the best people do is take charge of their lives as a form of authorship.
    They look at life as a tale to be written. We all have to write out own story.

  • @wertytrewqa
    @wertytrewqa Před 3 lety

    I really liked this response.

  • @FM-zj8jl
    @FM-zj8jl Před 3 lety +2

    We clearly think too much. It's quite simple, the meaning of life is to create life. We're made for it... If you can't create life, create a good life for yourself and others around you by giving away good things, good love, good work, good friendship...
    In this 'modern world', our ego is our worst enemy, comparing yourself to others isn't healthy, thinking about the past and worrying constantly about our future make people depressed and anxious and some insane to the point of committing suicide. Simplify your life, try to make good things for you and around you, and your life's meaning will be fulfilled.

  • @redgemini9851
    @redgemini9851 Před 2 lety +1

    JD needs his own channel ASAP!

  • @GoodDay2Smoke
    @GoodDay2Smoke Před 3 lety

    To learn and pass the knowledge.

  • @houssambouhou7846
    @houssambouhou7846 Před rokem

    Anyone knows the name of the painting on the video's miniature?

  • @TheCormacMcGuinness
    @TheCormacMcGuinness Před 3 lety

    Holy shit. Food for thought

  • @puddintime8107
    @puddintime8107 Před rokem +1

    Solid answer but the game isn’t over. We went from the top of the food chain to self destruction capabilities along with a better understanding of existential risks. We have some working on many aspects that would greatly increase our long term chances, but we are a long ways from that reality.

  • @sojourndrummond1846
    @sojourndrummond1846 Před rokem +1

    The purpose of life is happiness. Yea! That’s it happy happy joy joy.

  • @zackpane7973
    @zackpane7973 Před 3 lety +6

    The purpose of life is to live a life on purpose.

  • @villatour
    @villatour Před rokem +3

    Very cool and thoughtful answer. That said I’m surprised a man of his intellect would fail to address the role that religion and art have long played in our existence - long before our survival was more or less guaranteed.

  • @fingerpickinggood
    @fingerpickinggood Před 3 lety +1

    I recomend 2 books by the philosepher David Benatar. He is pessimistisch concerning questions around meaning but i think he got it right: 'The human predicament and 'Better to never have been.

  • @_taxman_
    @_taxman_ Před 11 měsíci

    All I want is reassurance that we can see ourselves out from existence without repercussions.

  • @b00m3rh4nd_sol
    @b00m3rh4nd_sol Před 3 lety +4

    People's lives are essentially in danger even today, but the risks are largely hidden away from us in some weird set of shell games. It used to be easy to understand risk, nowadays people need a PhD to comprehend the various systems and what to do about them... I wonder if our survival instinct is perhaps driving AI and robotics as a way to hedge survival.

  • @jamesabar207
    @jamesabar207 Před 3 lety +1

    The meaning of life is to live ✌

  • @growyourown123
    @growyourown123 Před 2 lety +2

    In order to truly know life you must know and appreciate death. Someone who has almost lost their life or who has died and returned. That's who knows and appreciates life.

  • @gsadventures678
    @gsadventures678 Před 3 lety

    What a fucking answer John!

  • @narsty2637
    @narsty2637 Před 2 lety +2

    This is one of the best things I've ever heard

  • @garofiespinoza3503
    @garofiespinoza3503 Před 3 lety

    Unreal

  • @brianjoyce9040
    @brianjoyce9040 Před 2 lety +2

    Finding meaning in the safest world humanity has ever known? It is clearly a luxury some cannot find an answer to. Selfishness is not the answer. Greed is not the answer. Appreciation of what humans accomplished, and sharing that seems a reasonable place to start. Peace.

  • @thisisgettingold
    @thisisgettingold Před rokem +3

    John coming through on this podcast with a MENSA level IQ, easily.

  • @Red_AIert
    @Red_AIert Před rokem +1

    This is a fascinating take on meaning of life. 🙂👍🏽

  • @ragemachine420
    @ragemachine420 Před 2 lety

    👏 bravo

  • @vladyslavkorenyak872
    @vladyslavkorenyak872 Před 3 lety +2

    It's doing what you want.

  • @joemurray9334
    @joemurray9334 Před 3 lety +4

    Wow was that Jordan Peterson or John Danaher... powerful, simple and brilliant. Wonderful answer to an impossible question

  • @fernandoruiz5794
    @fernandoruiz5794 Před 2 lety +2

    What an amazing magician

  • @Thewonderingminds
    @Thewonderingminds Před 3 lety

    it's beyond and certainly above man's mere intellect intertwining in the dream world, that which scientists know neither why we fall unconscious at sleep nor what being is while unconscious and dream.

  • @nuggzay8556
    @nuggzay8556 Před 3 lety +1

    one thought i have about the "afterlife" or "incarnation" of our individual consciousness, is that IF we do live in an eternal universe/multiverse, then it is an inevitability that we will exist again...

  • @satellite3253
    @satellite3253 Před 3 lety

    8:48 damn

  • @kazlee7985
    @kazlee7985 Před 3 lety

    Wow!

  • @prez_chesspresso
    @prez_chesspresso Před rokem

    Sage of the ages

  • @TheBhartiyaTrainee
    @TheBhartiyaTrainee Před 2 lety

    This is the best ever meaning of life answer to me!

  • @claytontucker8179
    @claytontucker8179 Před 2 lety

    Smart fellow

  • @Kareem-Ahmed
    @Kareem-Ahmed Před rokem +1

    Well done! I think John Danaher answered that hard question better than Sam Harris did.

  • @cubeincubes
    @cubeincubes Před 3 lety

    Some days I believe in the ever present infinite intensity of the universe and other days pure indifference

  • @misterneckbreaker88
    @misterneckbreaker88 Před 2 lety

    what is the riddle of steel? i was just thinking conan quotes

  • @jaykay6387
    @jaykay6387 Před rokem

    Loved how Danaher basically called BS on Hunter Thompson's quote without taking a personal shot at him. It's easy to be a reckless dickhead if your physical survival is not an issue. As far as his suicide, I'm agnostic on it, I don't look at it as good, bad, or heroic, for him or anybody else who chooses that path. I do think you owe it to your family to do it in a fashion to spare them the most possible grief, but beyond that, it's your life. I ascribe to something similar to what Danaher is essentially saying, which is this; Become competent at something, then try to contribute to society if you are able. If not, then at least try not to be an asshole and stay out of everybody's way. That, to me, is at least the "purpose" of life, if not the "meaning". Everything else beyond that is gravy, if you can't do the first step successfully, there will be no "gravy".

  • @grahamvandyke
    @grahamvandyke Před 3 lety +4

    Amazing answer. A side note: if Danaher believes there's a possibility of an afterlife you can say he's agnostic instead of atheist.

  • @abdelhakym8283
    @abdelhakym8283 Před 3 lety +1

    The answer is simple, this life is a big test,this world is fine tuned cuz it has a creator,this creator expects you to do good and will reward you for it,treat people well,do good,feed the poor,visit the sick,be kind,fight evil,those things will feel extremely wholesome,cuz That's what you are supposed to be doing.

  • @MrJihadkoplo
    @MrJihadkoplo Před rokem

    Mr John Danaher should write a book....

  • @josephpravda9452
    @josephpravda9452 Před 3 lety

    "mean"-ing, or how to rise above the statistical mean, hence competition....in the end with ourselves

  • @chadlawrence2240
    @chadlawrence2240 Před 9 měsíci

    I love this guy. He sounds like a secular existentialist that seems to believe we create meaning by the choices we make. For John these choices entail living in a way that helps other's and allows you to partake in a community. However if Nietzsche is correct there is not ultimate meaning if there is no God. No matter how we live or how long the universe survives eventually time will swallow it all, and nothing will be remembered. However if God exists and there is an afterlife our actions will echo in eternity. Whatever you believe one thing we can likely agree on.....JD is a great guy.

  • @mikeg4350
    @mikeg4350 Před 2 lety

    Damn near perfect answer to this question, on the fly . All the while keeping it summarized and orderly. WOW
    “What do we do now ?”

  • @filipcesnjak2944
    @filipcesnjak2944 Před 3 lety +6

    Love is the meaning of life, how come a lot of people do not get this, think about it and you will find out that it is true.

    • @unitewithch
      @unitewithch Před rokem +2

      Yes and why aren’t people talking about this?

  • @KortovElphame
    @KortovElphame Před 3 lety +11

    *I'll save you time*
    The question of meaning has been convoluted. The meaning of life is simple.... we all know it instinctualy .....
    To Be.... nothing more nothing less.

    • @adrienne4213
      @adrienne4213 Před 3 lety +4

      Sounds cool, but, I think that's more of a cop out than anything

    • @KortovElphame
      @KortovElphame Před 3 lety +2

      @@adrienne4213 the true cop out is looking for meaning..... thats what leads to all the ills we suffer....like war...materialism etc etc. Just eat...shit and sleep. That's all you need to do. Dinosaurs still lived longer than we did... you think they had meaning like we as humans need?

    • @fingerpickinggood
      @fingerpickinggood Před 3 lety

      Read David Benatar 's books, 'Better to never have been. And ' The Human predicament.

  • @jesusmtz29
    @jesusmtz29 Před rokem

    What a human

  • @createyourpattern2773
    @createyourpattern2773 Před 3 lety +1

    Wow

  • @Jerry-uc1pn
    @Jerry-uc1pn Před 9 měsíci

    Sometimes I forget that Danaher has a Master’s in philosophy.

  • @jedabenel2117
    @jedabenel2117 Před 3 lety

    We all souls came from nothing. , And there we will remain forever.
    Try to be good in between.