Midlife

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Kieran Setiya is a professor of philosophy at MIT. His writing has been featured in the Los Angeles Review of Books, the TLS, the London Review of Books, the New York Times, Aeon, and the Yale Review. He is also the author of Midlife.

John Stuart Mill’s early life offers a profound lesson on happiness: pursuing it directly often leads to dissatisfaction, while focusing on passions or interests outside oneself can bring unexpected joy. Similarly, Elliot Jaques’ study of middle age revealed it as a pivotal period marked by discontent and self-reflection, often spurred by unmet youthful aspirations and the growing awareness of mortality. Philosophers like Arthur Schopenhauer and others suggest embracing the process of life rather than fixating on outcomes, while distinguishing between goal-oriented and open-ended activities can help foster fulfillment. As middle age forces us to confront unfulfilled dreams and the lives we didn’t lead, philosophy provides tools to accept life’s trade-offs and appreciate its richness. Even regrets can be reframed by recognizing the valuable outcomes they’ve shaped, such as relationships or personal growth. Finally, as mortality becomes more tangible, philosophical perspectives from Montaigne to Lucretius encourage us to face death with acceptance, reminding us that life’s impermanence is intrinsic to its beauty.

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