Episode 112: Ian Marcus Corbin - Our Loneliness Epidemic

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Ian Marcus Corbin is an essayist and a philosopher at Harvard Medical School who works on loneliness in society. During our conversation, Ian defines loneliness, discusses Robert Putnam's book Bowling Alone, the importance of close social relationships, the decline in civic participation in America, the risk of isolation to human beings and society, and the recent assassination attempt of Donald Trump.

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00:00 Intro

00:21 Defining loneliness

05:12 Growing evidence of modern loneliness

07:12 Robert Putnam's work in "Bowling Alone"

19:00 Advice for combating loneliness

22:31 What causes loneliness?

27:13 The Harvard study on happiness - good relationships are most important

31:20 How to prioritize a wise, flourishing life

38:19 Trade-offs between working for money and having meaningful work

44:05 Loneliness and the threat of totalitarianism

46:00 The assassination attempt of Donald Trump

51:35 Loneliness and modern men

58:05 The lack of a script for men today

1:00:14 What communities or societies are flourishing today?