Social Skills as the Road to Character

The Art of Manliness

Society & Culture, Education, Philosophy

4.7 • 14.5K Ratings

🗓️ 25 October 2023

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If you've wanted to develop your character, you've probably thought about strengthening virtues like courage, humility, and resolution. But my guest would say that practicing social skills is another way of increasing your moral strength, and the moral strength of society as a whole. David Brooks is the author of numerous books, including his latest, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. Today on the show, David discusses why our culture lost an emphasis on moral formation, and why this loss has led to alienation and anomie. We then talk about the role each of us can play in repairing this fabric by developing concrete social skills, avenues to improve character that, unlike some virtues that are only called upon in a crisis, you can practice every day. David shares insights on how we can get better at giving people attention, asking good questions, and helping those who are going through a hard time. We also discuss how understanding different personality types and life stages can allow us to better understand other people.

Transcript

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0:00.0	We're at McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness Podcast.
0:11.8	If you've ever wanted to develop your character, you've probably thought about strengthening
0:15.2	virtues like courage, humility, and resolution.
0:18.6	But my guess would say that practicing social skills is another way of increasing your moral
0:22.7	strength and the moral strength of society as a whole.
0:26.4	David Brooks is the author of numerous books, including his latest, How To Know A Person.
0:31.0	You are to have seen others deeply and being deeply seen.
0:34.3	Today on the show, David discusses why our culture lost an emphasis on moral formation,
0:38.9	and why this loss has led to alienation and enemy.
0:42.3	We then talk about the role each of us can play in repairing this fabric by developing
0:45.7	concrete social skills.
0:47.6	Adventurers to improve character that, unlike some virtues that are only called upon a
0:51.4	crisis, you can practice every day.
0:54.5	David shares insights on how we can get better at giving people attention, asking good
0:58.2	questions, and helping those who are going through a hard time.
1:01.6	We also discuss how understanding different personality types and life stages can allow
1:05.0	us to better understand other people.
1:07.6	After the show's over, check out our show notes at a-m dot i s slash no a person.
1:21.1	Alright David Brooks, welcome back to the show.
1:23.2	Oh, that's great to be back with you.
1:24.7	So you got a new book out How To Know A Person.
1:27.2	And in this book, you take a deep dive to explore how to be the kind of person that can
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