"On Anxiety": Samir Chopra in conversation with Maryam Aghdami

Today, anxiety is often seen as a pathology, the most diagnosed and medicated psychological disorder of all. However, many philosophers argue that anxiety is a normal, essential part of being human, offering a deeper understanding of ourselves and potentially leading to more meaningful lives. In his new book, Anxiety: A Philosophical Guide, Samir Chopra intertwines insights from Buddhism, existentialism, psychoanalysis, and critical theory to offer a multidimensional view of anxiety as an existential, political, and moral issue, reflecting societal and personal dynamics. While Chopra does not feel that philosophy can “cure” anxiety, it can lead to greater self-knowledge and self-acceptance, making us less anxious about being anxious.

This event will discuss important questions on the philosophical approaches to anxiety: What is anxiety? How is anxiety related to our existential condition? What are the material and cultural triggers of anxiety? Is medication necessary to treat anxiety? Can philosophy help us to overcome our anxieties? And, if so, how?

Samir Chopra is a philosophical counsellor and professor emeritus of philosophy at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He is the author and coauthor of many books, including Shyam Benegal: Philosopher and Filmmaker, A Legal Theory for Autonomous Artificial Agents, and Eye on Cricket: Reflections on the Great Game. His essays have appeared in the Nation, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Aeon, Psyche, and other publications.

Maryam Aghdami is a PhD candidate at Birkbeck College, University of London, where she is researching the intersection of feminist epistemology, social epistemology, and the epistemology of ignorance. Her interests also include the epistemic injustice experienced by neurodivergent individuals and philosophical approaches to mental health. She is also a strong advocate for public philosophy beyond academic settings and serves as the editor of The Philosopher.