`Author:` BYUNG-CHUL HAN `Availability:` [[Suggestions]] > [!info] > ![[IMG_2677.jpeg]] ## Key Takeaways In The Burnout Society, Byung-Chul Han does not offer a step-by-step guide for countering the toxic effects of neoliberal [[Individualism]], but he does suggest philosophical and cultural shifts to foster a more holistic and [[Sustainable]] way of life. His focus is on recovering spaces for contemplation, community, and forms of existence that resist the relentless drive for productivity and self-optimization. Below are Han’s ideas, as well as contributions from other thinkers who explore similar themes: ### Han’s Suggestions in The Burnout Society #### 1. Reclaiming Contemplation and Stillness: Han argues for a return to practices of slowness, stillness, and contemplation, which he sees as antidotes to the hyperactive “achievement society.” He draws inspiration from older modes of being, like those found in Eastern philosophies and mysticism, which prioritise reflection over action. #### 2. Valuing Communal Life: While neoliberalism emphasises individualism and competition, Han stresses the importance of rebuilding communities that prioritise shared values, mutual support, and solidarity. #### 3. Embracing Non-Productive Time: Han advocates for rethinking our relationship with time. Instead of viewing time as a resource to be maximised, he suggests cultivating experiences of purposelessness, play, and genuine leisure—activities that do not aim at measurable “success.” #### 4. Restoring a Poetic Worldview: Han discusses the need to revive a sense of wonder, beauty, and creativity in everyday life, counteracting the instrumental rationality of modern capitalism. Poetry, art, and storytelling can reintroduce depth and meaning into human existence. #### Complementary Thinkers and Movements 1. Ivan Illich (Tools for Conviviality): Illich critiques industrial society’s focus on productivity and proposes a return to “convivial” tools and practices—those that foster human connection and meaningful work without exploitation. 2. Hartmut Rosa (Resonance): Rosa builds on Han’s ideas, advocating for relationships of “resonance” between individuals and the world. He suggests that instead of controlling and mastering our environment, we should cultivate deeper, reciprocal connections with people, nature, and culture. 3. Joanna Macy (The Work That Reconnects): Macy focuses on ecological and spiritual practices that reconnect individuals with their communities and the natural world. Her approach offers a holistic response to the alienation and burnout of modern life. 4. Bell Hooks (All About Love): Hooks critiques individualism and advocates for radical love as a communal and transformative force. She emphasises the need for collective care and compassion as a means of healing personal and societal wounds. 5. Slow Movements: Movements like Slow Food, Slow Living, and Slow Cities encourage people to embrace slowness in their work, consumption, and lifestyles. These approaches align with Han’s ideas about resisting the pressures of hyper-efficiency. Key Principles for Change • Shift from “Doing” to “Being”: Focus on the intrinsic value of existence rather than constant achievement. • Prioritise Connection: Rebuild communal ties to counteract isolating individualism. • Embrace Vulnerability: Acknowledge limits, rest, and imperfection as integral parts of life. • Challenge the System: Advocate for systemic changes to work culture, education, and technology that prioritise human well-being over profit. Byung-Chul Han’s vision, along with those of these other thinkers, encourages us to resist the internalised demands of neoliberalism and to build lives centred on community, reflection, and a renewed sense of humanity. ## Summary ## Quotes - ## Notes The Burnout [[Society]] by Byung-Chul Han is a philosophical exploration of modern society’s obsession with [[Productivity]], self-optimization, and achievement. Han critiques the shift from external systems of [[Control]], such as those found in disciplinary societies (as theorised by [[Michel Foucault]]), to internalised self-exploitation in what he terms the “achievement society.” Key ideas include: 1. The Achievement Subject: Han argues that modern individuals are no longer oppressed by external forces but instead internalise the need to be constantly productive, leading to self-exploitation. This constant striving for performance results in chronic exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout. 2. Focus on Neoliberalism: Han connects this self-exploitative mentality to the rise of neoliberalism, which prizes competition, [[Individualism]], and the dismantling of communal structures. The “freedom” promised by neoliberal systems is revealed to be a trap that demands endless self-optimization. 3. Mental [[Health]] Crisis: The book discusses how the pressures of this achievement society manifest as widespread psychological issues, such as [[Depression]], ADHD, and burnout. Han sees these as symptoms of a deeper structural problem within modern capitalist societies. 4. Loss of Contemplation: Han laments the disappearance of spaces for rest, reflection, and genuine [[Community]]. Instead, individuals are trapped in cycles of activity and consumption that leave little room for meaningful connections or philosophical thought. Connections to Jonathan Cook and Empire Han’s critique of neoliberalism and self-exploitation resonates with [[Jonathan Cook]]’s examination of imperialism. Both highlight the systems of power that dominate modern life, though Han focuses on the individual’s internalisation of control, while Cook critiques external systems of political and military power. 1. Empire’s Role in Modern Life: Han’s achievement society could be seen as a product of the same globalised systems that Cook critiques—systems sustained by economic and political empires that perpetuate inequality and dependency. 2. Media and Propaganda: Cook discusses how Western media perpetuates imperial narratives. Similarly, Han critiques how media and technology in neoliberal societies create an illusion of freedom while reinforcing self-exploitation. 3. Colonisation of the Self: Han’s idea of the self being colonised by the need for constant productivity mirrors how Cook might argue [[Empires]] colonises nations and cultures, stripping them of autonomy and identity. Ultimately, both authors critique the systems that dehumanise individuals, whether through external domination (empire) or internalised demands (achievement society), and challenge readers to rethink their participation in these structures. ### **Byung-Chul Han’s Burnout Society: When *Thumos* Collapses Into Self-Exploitation** Byung-Chul Han’s *The Burnout Society* (2015) offers a radical critique of late capitalism’s psychological toll—one that reframes Fukuyama’s *thumos* crisis and intersects with Timothy Morton’s "hyperobject" anxiety. Here’s how it fits: --- ### **1. From *Thumos* to Exhaustion** - **Fukuyama’s Problem**: Liberalism fails to channel *thumos* (the desire for recognition), leading to populist backlash. - **Han’s Diagnosis**: We’ve **overinternalized** the struggle. - Pre-modern societies had *external* enemies (war, scarcity). - Today, the enemy is **ourselves**—endless self-optimization ("Yes I can!") replaces heroic *thumos* with **shame for not achieving more**. - Result: Depression, ADHD, burnout. #### **Example**: - Achilles’ *thumos* was directed at Hector; modern workers direct rage at *their own productivity apps*. --- ### **2. The "Achievement-Subject" vs. Climate Paralysis** Han argues neoliberalism turns us into **"entrepreneurs of the self"**—but this hyperagency is an illusion when facing *hyperobjects* (Morton’s climate collapse): - **False Empowerment**: "Reduce your carbon footprint!" (individual guilt) vs. systemic inaction. - **Thumotic Impotence**: We’re too exhausted from gig-work grind to muster *collective* climate rage. #### **Contradiction**: Fukuyama worries liberalism *underutilizes* *thumos*; Han shows it *overutilizes* it—**draining the energy needed for planetary action**. --- ### **3. A Post-*Thumos* Future? Morton Meets Han** - **Morton’s "Weird" Hope**: Embrace our smallness in deep time (geologists’ perspective). - **Han’s "Vita Contemplativa"**: Revive *inactivity*—silence, boredom, art—to escape achievement frenzy. - **Synthesis**: To confront climate collapse, we might need **less heroic *thumos*** (Fukuyama) and **more collective stillness** (Han) to perceive hyperobjects. #### **Case Study: The "Quiet Quitting" Movement** - Rejects *thumotic* overwork—but risks political passivity. Can it be harnessed for climate strikes? --- ### **4. Nietzsche’s Shadow: *Ressentiment* in the Burnout Age** - Nietzsche feared democracy would breed *ressentiment* (impotent envy). Han updates this: - Social media turns *thumos* into **performative outrage** (empty clicks, not revolution). - Climate activism risks becoming another **self-branding exercise**. #### **Key Question**: Can we reclaim *thumos* as **sacred rage** (Greta) without burning out? --- ### **Conclusion: The *Thumos* Trap** - **Fukuyama**: Liberalism must give *thumos* dignified outlets. - **Han**: Late capitalism has hijacked *thumos* into self-harm. - **Morton**: Climate collapse demands we *retire* *thumos* for weirder, quieter solidarity. **Final Thought**: The Anthropocene might require **a *thumos* of surrender**—not to defeat, but to our entangled fragility. **Further Reading**: - Han, *The Burnout Society* (2015) – [Summary here](https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=25693) - Morton, *Being Ecological* (2018) – No more "save the planet" heroics. - Nietzsche, *Thus Spoke Zarathustra* – On overcoming the "last man." `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Society]] [[Books index]]