The Strangest Philosopher in History - Samuel Beckett 

As always, thank you so much for watching. I hope you enjoyed. And thank you to Blinkist for sponsoring this video. Get a 7-day free trial and 40% off Blinkist Annual Premium using this link: bit.ly/PursuitOfWonderJun24

"What time is it ?!" ..... Pause;... looks at watch;..."Same as usual." Got to be one of the best bits of dialogue ever.

Thich Nhat Hanh said "Desire is the obstacle of happiness" That is what I get from this. Waiting for what we don't have steals our joy in the present

The answer to the riddle is to stop chasing meaning in a meaningless existence and to look behind the mirror and challenge the belief or pursuit itself. It is an itch that can never be scratched.

We’re all in the waiting room of death.

Im convinced that Pursuit of Wonder is regularly changing the titles of their videos as a social experiment that will be part of a future video. The amount of times ive skipped over a video when looking for an older video because the name was different than I remembered is... probably still in the single digits, but the fact that its happened more than 3 times astounds me.

Any Beckett fans out there remember this news item? "In 1985, the actor Jan Jönson staged Waiting for Godot with a group of Swedish prison inmates and planned a premiere at Gothenburg City Theatre that never happened because the prisoners escaped. Beckett apparently said, “That’s the best thing that happened to this play since I wrote it!"

The most important realisation of my life was that the only thing that matters are the things that are important to me. I do not try to fit into other's expectations, my efforts are gauged by desire for an outcome, my outcomes are determined by what makes me happy. If I exert myself at work, it is only to further the lifestyle I have chosen to live and not to conform to a societal goal or pursuit of status. In this respect the work of Beckett and Camus is correct, because life is futile then it should be enjoyed to the fullest without infringing on others. A life with no meaning is not a meaningless life, it is a life packed with fun distractions and enjoyable whims free of guilt.

Ive learned through experience is that when facing the truth will lead you to anxiety and depression. This happens because everything you think you know (your identity) is a fabricated lie and that is a hard pill to swallow. Stay strong and follow what you instinctively know to be right.

Godot was written close to 8 decades ago. I defy anyone to watch or read it now and not be chilled by its relevancy. In fact, there is a reasonable argument that it is still ahead of its time. More accurately, it is simply timeless in its relevancy just like the Illiad, the Book of Ecclesiastes, King Lear, The Wasteland or any of the monumental works of art that get at the essence of who we are and the circumstances of where we exist. He was a giant and we were blessed to have had him

Absurdity is kind of what makes life beautiful, we don't have to strive towards a common higher meaning of existence. We get to choose our path and create our own meaning.

Beckett and Cioran were friends. What a wonderful duo.

I'm waiting for the world to end. I believe this kind of waiting is quite common nowadays.

My study of Beckett has brought me the single most profound insight in my entire life: I don’t like to be kept waiting by the waiting.

This is my introduction to this channel.. this might be one of the greatest videos I've ever seen.

You never fail to show us a completely different perspective of the world in your videos They are really insightful Looking forward to this one as well👍☺️

Bravo! This video is one of my favorites. Waiting patiently for my next favorite.......

Beckett suffered from clinical depression, as did his mother. His principal theme is that life is pain, but the pain must be endured. The “black humor” is in fact music hall humor, as music hall was one of Beckett’s diversions.

This is actually nuts, I was thinking about reading this play yesterday, not the first time I have heard of it.

Excellent! Thanks for producing!❤

Don’t harm others, including animals. That is all

I believe Beckett lived knowing source very deeply, regardless of awareness.

For me, Beckett still is a beautiful reminder.

wow, really captivating video 🎉 can't wait to see what I rediscover about myself and self reflect on decisions I've made. POW has made me leap light years ahead instead of going through the Kafka Esq situations 😊 channels like these , we need more

Mind blown at the idea the tree is inspired by the Eden story. Never delved deep into Godot but have 20 years experience and a degree in study of Drama. I probably should rethink life!

The fact that we have nothingness or meaninglessness in life makes it more interesting cause if don't have any meaning we can create it with out imagination we can live the life how we want it. That's why it's one of the best thing

Very profound and truthful. I am glad Godot isn't coming. I hate to take a swing at people.

We're all waiting for our own Godots.

There is meaning to our lives. Ethics arise from the fact that we are aware, self aware, and have a form of free will. We can value independently, and choose to live lives characterized by kindness, love, curiosity, and shared experiences. The fact that our lives are finite does not diminish or undermine their value. Keep on living folks, take joy in it, and share that joy.

Brilliant. Thank you. 😊👍

For anybody who's curious of further exploring this, the clips are from a BBC series titled "Beckett on film".

I saw a beautiful production of Godot last fall. A wonderful balance between funny and terrifying.

Always stimulating my mind with your content. Bravo. Becketts philosophy reminds me of Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophy particularly in his thoughts on the importance of art

I've watched Not I soo many times..still gives me chills

Great video... It definitely makes me curious to check more of his work

It is because life is meaningless that we have to live it to its fullest, embracing the absurd nature of existence itself.

Perfect Thank you

I don't think I've ever heard of Samuel Beckett but I think he's my spirit animal.

Great visuals!

I first saw the play ‘Not I’ as a television production and it was captivating. Much later. I saw a documentary (maybe on RU-vid) about the making of a live stage performance of ‘Not I’. It was equally engrossing, telling the story of how difficult it is to stage, especially for the actor. Both are worth searching for.

Well done. I love Waiting for Godot, Happy Days, and Endgame. I want to read more of his work. I don't find it confusing or frustrating. It is funny, brilliant, and so very true.

I let all of that go a long time ago! It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. So much peace comes with it. Just see life as a gift and live a good and happy one. ☺️

AWESOME THANK YOU

Brilliant as usual

Well, that was quite encouraging and uplifting....

Thx, new pov unlocked 😅

Absurd does not exist on it’s own. It is the consequence of inaction of an unconscious man that is manifesting itself into life. We all think that it is Estragon and Vladimir that wait for Godot. But in reality it is Godot who is waiting for both of them.

I have enjoyed this video and all of your comments. Wonderful ideas and thoughts.

I liked this one a lot. Thanks for this.

I already question my entire existence

Thank you man.

Great visuals.

Amazing video bud

From roughly 5 to 9 mins is incredible.

I know a place, where I'll wait for my undefined uncertain end: pursuit of wonder channel

Comes back to the most important realization, 'the moment!'

Love Beckett. Reading him sure is a different experience.

Beautiful

The voice behind the video is filled with existential overtones, it fits the subject very much. I think I know the person, and whenever I listen to him I get a similar impression: an alert mind tirelessly pursued by undefined but very noticeable angst.

He’s the greatest

Hey Pursuit of Wonder! Who makes your videos? They are so creative!

A Short excerpt from chapter 1 - "Enlightenment" of "Udāna" which means "Flight" or "to fly" in English. The "Udāna" is a Buddhist scripture, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. "If there is this (state), another (state) arises, by the arising of this (state), a (state) is produced, that is to say: "From Ignorance spring Conformations, from Conformations springs Consciousness, from Consciousness spring Mind and Material Form, from Mind and Material Form, the six Organs of Sense, from the six Organs of Sense, Contact, from Contact, Sensations, from Sensations, Desire, from Desire, Attachment, from Attachment, Being,1 from Being, Birth, from Birth spring Decay, Death, Sorrow, Lamentation, Pain, Grief and Despair. Thus the whole mass of suffering originates". thus: "If there is not this (state), another (state) does not arise, by the non-arising of this (state), a (state) is not produced, that is to say; By the destruction of Ignorance, Conformations are destroyed, by the destruction of Conformations, Consciousness is destroyed, by the destruction of Consciousness, Mind and Material Form are destroyed, by the destruction of Mind and Material Form, the six Organs of Sense are destroyed, by the destruction of the six Organs of Sense, Contact is destroyed, by the destruction of Contact, Sensations are destroyed, by the destruction of Sensations, Desire is destroyed, by the destruction of Desire, Attachment is destroyed, by the destruction of Attachment, Being is destroyed, by the destruction of Being, Birth is destroyed, and by the destruction of Birth, Decay, Death, Sorrow, Lamentation, Pain, Grief and Despair are destroyed. Thus the whole mass of suffering is brought to an end. I would suggest everyone to read below 4 books to know the truth. But even by saying "the truth" I'm not doing enough. The last book is for more human side of things. Udāna. Ashtavakra Gita or Bhagwad Gita. God is Nothingness by Halaw Andre. Thinking and Destiny by Harold W. Percival

Subscribed. Loved this. So, I’m sure I’ll love the rest of your shit. -Jimmy

BANGER

Ironically, it was the awakening of self on a human scale that brought about the horrors of the 20th century. If we return to Christ and truth, we will see a resurgence of meaning and worth.

Nice intro summary, thanks. Unsure if I've seen your other videos, I'm a subscriber,(so I think so - the metaphor of a couple who move a fair bit, go for walks in their neighborhood, and regularly pass an old man digging a hole, comes to mind...).Anyway, maybe this your videoes could include a series of critiques or reevaluations of some of these thinkers either from their time ir since -just for more balance/extra goodness :)

thanks!

“When you’re up to your neck in s$”t, all you can do is sing” good advice for life . While living in France he used to drop a boy off at school , that boy would grow up to be Andre the giant .

As a massive Beckett fan, I thought your video was an excellent and accurate introduction to Beckett. I often cringe at or avoid layperson’s popularizations of various intellectual topics or writers, because they can cheapen, oversimplify or just plain misread the sources. But I felt that everything you said was spot-on. You have a good understanding of Beckett.

I find it interesting that in writing Waiting For Godot, Beckett finally discovered the subject matter of his own artistic salvation. One cannot be successful and a nihilist at the same time. Futility is just another color on the artists palette.

Now I know what Seinfeld's "The Chinese Restaurant" episode was based on.

Search for meaning can be described as an Itching sensation we get sometimes. If we scratched it, it causes more pain then relief saying that one should keep moving forward without focusing on the itching part. Just like we do in our lives when its itchy.

4:50 ”how does one sustain meaning and create art… ” “The art of the people (Greeks) was not be accounted for by their whims and fancies; it was to be determined by need. What does not spring from necessity is not art. Unless a people need art as they need bread, how can their art be great?” - A. R. Orage: Friedrich Nietzsche, the Dionysian Spirit of the Age

a friend turned me on to beckett in 2002. he had a bunch of real to real movies of godot, end game, what where, the goad, not I ect. "the goad" is my fav.

it's a strange but enviable power. to lodge a phrase like "waiting for Godot" so deeply into our language like no work shorter or longer than it ever could. though I am probably naive for envying its author, knowing what I do about him

So many are already questioning our existence.

Isn't the emphasis in "Godot" on the second syllable?

Waiting for GODot... Perhaps in good time...

I am a self proclaimed schooler/student of and being. I preference you amongst the top of my go to lecturerers/storyteller with worthy knowledge and concepts to revisit or be introduced to, i have always found value in content enjoyable for those who consume information for contemplation and digestion to grow wisdom for its own fulfilmemt and become more at peace with all as we learn more of how much less we know. And its perfect discoving its all as it should be.

I love your videos….can you do one on Joseph Campbell and ideas around myths???

Dark you say? Looks like I just found my new favorite philosopher! Thanks! Darkness is where I find the most truth. It’s also very lonely there bc nowadays at least, nearly everyone is afraid of the dark. They go to great lengths to avoid anything dark bc it makes them feel bad. Awwww 😢 And that’s why a majority of people are in denial. They have the naive worldview of a teenager and they’re not looking for any information that would cause them to update their worldview. They actually LIKE being ignorant and in denial. Willful ignorance might be the most pathetic thing I can think of. I hate people who live their lives that way, as if it’s some enlightened life practice. Those people are a big part of the reason why we can’t have nice things.

HE ABOUT SUMS IT UP FOR ME TOO!!!

The most important and dynamic part of this video is the ad for Blinkist. Beckett knew he could never be as great as Joyce, so he tried to dis everything in the world of Joyce. End of criticism.

I'd like to see you do a video on how the German Existentialists differ from the French Existentialists & how the World Wars may have played a difference in their outlooks.

To love is to both laugh and cry.

Waiting for some outside God, nothing will happen. Wait an eternity. Look for God within, kingdom is within, realization can happen in a second

His only notable contribution to the plan was the word "godot", which when added to Asimov's contribution of "robot" are the two most fundamental hints to what God's plan really is, until the TV series "Adam-12" and book/movie "The Princess Bride" came along

I am a Beckett fan! not because I know all his works but because I believe life is futile. We are mortal, so we understand our existence through the prism of our cultural and social timeframe. My life is important because I'm living it right now.

It's about the contradictions between the four Gospels with the conclusion that "people are bloody ignorant apes." It depicts the inevitable state of servitude we bloody ignorant apes are born into and how we are always in a master-slave dynamic even if we don't know or have never seen the master. Furthermore, it illustrates the abjection of the slave mentality when one slave attempts to be the master of an even lower slave. Thanks for the interesting video, Beckett helps me curb my idealism, and his work also helps with the problem of being born Irish.

"Let's dance first, and think later. That's the natural order."

Spock: *"YOU MAY FIND THAT HAVING SOMETHING IS NOT NEARLY SO PLEASING AS WANTING IT."*

I love NileWonder!!!

Every one should see Waiting for Godot. It's very fun!

Once upon a midnight dreary While I pondered weak and weary On the thoughts of bygone lore Quoth the Raven ' 'Nevermore' ' Ghostly sights appear to me Imagine what it’s like to be With sorrow standing at the door Quoth my Raven ' 'Nevermore' '

The moment you realize it is all absurd, is also the moment you are released to enjoy things free from imposed supernatural representations. Live, tinker, love (if you want to), enjoy, feel pain, and generally exist bc there is no higher purpose.

"And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune then the piper will lead us to reason. And a new day will dawn for those who stand long and the forests will echo with laughter." - Led Zeppelin 😁

I feel like Samuel really manifests Kafka's and Camus style in his writing Or maybe it's just me

Godot: [meanwhile] ".... maybe this isn't the right place...?

Good analysis, writing less so. And GoDOT accent on second syllable. I read this in French grad school seminar at Princeton, 1972 or 3, as undergrad in English, with Frederic OBrady, AKA Marcel Hillaire in many films and TV shows. We all pronounced second syllable emphasized. In English as well. Long vowel before single consonant is a general rule in American English. Sam wrote this in French.

Where do you get that deeply atmospheric background music i want ir