The Courage to Be Disliked

A young man, referred to as the “youth,” visits a philosopher in the mountains with the goal of asking questions and changing the philosopher’s mind. The philosopher says that people and life itself are both simple. The youth counters that life is complicated; when a person grows up, they have responsibilities and become aware of the darkness of the world. The young man feels incapable of changing, but the philosopher argues that people can change even if the world around them does not. Using the analogy of well water, the philosopher explains subjectivity. The water remains the same temperature year-round, but it can seem warm or cold to the drinker depending on the temperature of the environment. The philosopher tells the young man that it will take courage to see the world head-on.

The philosopher introduces Alfred Adler’s teachings and contextualizes him in comparison to Freud and Jung. He clarifies that Adlerian psychology is aligned with Greek philosophy and therefore is also philosophy.

The youth argues that people cannot change and gives the example of his friend, who wants to live but cannot leave the house without shaking and experiencing heart palpitations.