Narrativity (Part 2) -When You Don't Think of Your Life as a Story

On The Very Idea - A Philosophy Podcast

In this second episode of a two part series on narrativity, I look to flesh out an account of how we can think of our life if we don't think of it as story. People who are non-narratives in this way are often episodic. They live their life in chunks or episodes giving limited thought about their past and future without being obsessed with either. Episodic people tend to live in the day and the week and the month that they find themselves in without trying to consciously weave their 'now' into a coherent story with their self from childhood or 5 years ago. Are episodics being irresponsible in living this way, something less than fully human? On the other hand, are narratives overly focused on the past and therefore prone to rumination and depression? Some questions I raise along with some heavy, heavy borrowing from Galen Strawson and some trivia and the usual ramblings. I also try to link the whole academic obsession with narrativity to neoliberalism for those who like politics.