{"id":98489,"date":"2023-04-08T09:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-08T13:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=98489"},"modified":"2023-04-11T13:25:12","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T17:25:12","slug":"the-two-mountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-two-mountains\/","title":{"rendered":"The Two Mountains: Why David Brooks Is a Relationalist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What are the two mountains that David Brooks discusses? Why does he choose one over the other?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <em>The Second Mountain<\/em>, David Brooks talks about two approaches to life. The first approach is characteristic of individualism, which prioritizes personal liberty and spurns commitment. The second approach is characteristic of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/is-everything-relative\/\">relationalism<\/a>, which celebrates community and prizes commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more to learn about these two worldviews and to understand why Brooks chooses the second mountain in his own life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Mountain of Individualism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first of the two mountains is the mountain of individualism. According to Brooks, the dominant approach to life in Western culture is individualist: It emphasizes the value of the individual, divorced from community, and views self-expression as life\u2019s primary goal. Brooks argues that despite its prominence, <strong>the individualist approach leaves us unfulfilled<\/strong> since it doesn\u2019t satisfy our longing to serve others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: While Western culture embraces individualism, experts observe that <em>collectivism<\/em>\u2014the worldview that emphasizes the interconnectivity of the members of a society\u2014is <a href=\"https:\/\/lsa.umich.edu\/psych\/news-events\/all-news\/faculty-news\/how-east-and-west-think-in-profoundly-different-ways.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">standard in many Eastern cultures<\/a>. Even within Eastern countries, however, researchers observe that certain areas\u2014such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2014.01311\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hokkaido, a Japanese island<\/a>\u2014still exemplify many of the characteristics of individualism.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brooks explains that individualism arose as a rebellion against the community-first worldview that was dominant in the wake of two world wars and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/great-depression-and-the-new-deal\/\">Great Depression<\/a>. Though the individualist view is multifaceted, Brooks lists several assumptions essential to it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The ideal society secures the most freedom for its members.<\/li><li>Communities that aren\u2019t chosen voluntarily\u2014like one\u2019s family and country\u2014are less important because we didn\u2019t freely choose them.<\/li><li>Worldly accomplishment is the primary gauge of success because our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/realationships-with-others\/\">relationships with others<\/a> aren\u2019t as important.<\/li><li>We have to decide our values for ourselves, as we shouldn\u2019t blindly accept the values of our community.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: In addition to these assumptions, researchers argue that several other beliefs are essential to individualism. For instance, researchers find that individualist cultures affirm <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1177\/106939719502900302?journalCode=ccrc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the uniqueness of every person<\/a> and embrace the notion of <a href=\"https:\/\/ppw.kuleuven.be\/okp\/_pdf\/Realo2002TCOI.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">personal responsibility for our own actions and lives<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As these assumptions illustrate, the individualist approach claims to offer unfettered freedom\u2014to choose our own beliefs, to focus on ourselves, and to live as we please. However, Brooks argues that <strong>the freedom that individualism prizes leads to deep dissatisfaction.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He explains that individualism\u2019s freedom prompts young adults to take one of two paths. First, some adults dedicate themselves to worldly success\u2014they focus on their careers, seeking prestigious jobs and promotions to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-find-purpose-2\/\">find purpose<\/a>. Such individuals, Brooks claims, are plagued by insecurity, as no amount of success feels like enough.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: In Brooks\u2019s previous book, <a href=\"https:\/\/shortform.com\/app\/book\/the-road-to-character\/1-page-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The Road to Character<\/em><\/a>, he likewise denounced this first path, on the grounds that it emphasizes \u201cresum\u00e9 virtues\u201d to the detriment of \u201ceulogy virtues.\u201d In other words, Brooks suggests, individuals on this first path neglect their moral development (which would foster the kinds of virtues we praise in eulogies) in favor of their career development (which emphasizes only the achievements on your resum\u00e9).)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the path of success proves unfulfilling, some people turn to the second path: They pursue exhilarating experiences, such as traveling to exotic destinations, hoping these experiences will satisfy them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: Danish philosopher S\u00f8ren Kierkegaard famously criticized this pursuit of exhilarating experiences, which he called the <em>aesthetic<\/em> life. He argued that <a href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/kierkegaard\/#Aesth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the aesthetic life is immoral<\/a> because it\u2019s selfish and escapist, encouraging us to forsake our responsibilities for our pleasure. However, Kierkegaard held that the aesthetic life is only the first phase of existence, as it spurs us toward ethical\u2014and, eventually, religious\u2014lives.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Brooks asserts that neither of these paths leaves us fulfilled, as they lack a greater purpose. But, according to Brooks, this dissatisfaction is valuable since it exposes the vanity of our ego\u2014the identity that we convey to the world. In turn, Brooks claims that we become aware of our deeper yearnings\u2014to form deep relationships and serve others well. So, <strong>the failure of individualism points us toward relationalism<\/strong>, which we\u2019ll discuss in the next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: Another source of the dissatisfaction Brooks identifies might be our fixation on happiness. Some experts argue that while we take happiness to be a self-evident good (and the pursuit of happiness to be self-evidently worthwhile), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20210105-why-our-pursuit-of-happiness-may-be-flawed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">it\u2019s not even clear what happiness <em>is<\/em>, let alone whether it\u2019s inherently fulfilling<\/a> the way we assume it is. These experts suggest that instead of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/stop-trying-to-be-happy\/\">trying to be happy<\/a>, you should seek <em>purpose<\/em> through your habits and actions\u2014an approach that, as we\u2019ll see, echoes Brooks\u2019s arguments.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-mountain-of-relationalism\">The Mountain of Relationalism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In light of individualism\u2019s shortcomings, Brooks recommends an alternative approach: relationalism. While individualism values personal freedom and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/maturity-continuum-7-habits\/\">independence<\/a>, relationalism values commitment and service. Consequently, Brooks argues that <strong>the relationalist approach provides meaning and fulfillment <\/strong>by satisfying our deep-seated desire for loving relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: The term \u201crelationalism\u201d can have various meanings depending on context; for example, relationalism in physics refers to the view that <a href=\"https:\/\/shamik.net\/papers\/dasgupta%20substantivalism%20vs%20relationalism.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">space and time don\u2019t exist independently<\/a> but are rather <em>relations <\/em>of other real, material objects. Brooks uses \u201crelationalism\u201d much differently, however, defining it as a middle ground between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/individualism-and-collectivism-what-they-are-why-theyre-myths\/\">individualism and collectivism<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, Brooks clarifies that <strong>the relationalist approach is centered around commitment<\/strong>. In short, he defines commitment as a promise made out of love to something or someone, without expecting something in return. Moreover, Brooks clarifies that committing to something requires shifting your behavior to serve it, even if love wavers. For instance, committing to a spouse might require tending to their needs, even if you lose your romantic affection for them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: Though Brooks claims that commitment is incompatible with expecting something in return, experts argue that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/constructive-wallowing\/201602\/8-things-you-have-the-right-expect-your-relationship#:~:text=Affection%2C%20compassion%2C%20respect%2C%20and,interest%2C%20and%20generosity%20with%20you.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">expectations are crucial to romantic commitment<\/a>. For instance, they suggest that you should expect empathy, respect, and time from your partner; if these expectations aren\u2019t met, dangerous power imbalances can arise. Brooks may, however, be correct that, for <em>non-<\/em>romantic commitments, we shouldn\u2019t expect anything in return.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although we\u2019ll discuss the specific nature of these commitments in the following sections, Brooks claims that at a broader level, our commitments change us in four ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>They mold our identity, as they become the center of our lives.<\/li><li>They give us <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/a-sense-of-purpose\/\">a sense of purpose<\/a>, as they tether us to a larger goal.<\/li><li>They give us genuine freedom, as they free us to fulfill our deepest desires.<\/li><li>They help us cultivate virtue, as they teach us to become self-sacrificial rather than self-centered.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So, individuals that abandon the individualist approach in favor of its relationalist counterpart find themselves transformed by their commitments\u2014<strong>they cast off their egos, and embrace a lifestyle that\u2019s other-centered rather than self-centered<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: Additionally, researchers found that <a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jcr\/article\/39\/5\/1070\/1794934\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">commitments can also alter our behavior<\/a>\u2014especially when these commitments are specific. In an experiment performed at a California hotel, these researchers tested two groups of guests, one that committed generally to saving energy and one that committed specifically to hanging their towels for reuse. While guests who made the specific commitment were most likely to hang their towels <em>and <\/em>turn off their lights, guests who made the general commitment were only slightly more likely to do so than those who made no commitment.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are the two mountains that David Brooks discusses? Why does he choose one over the other? In The Second Mountain, David Brooks talks about two approaches to life. The first approach is characteristic of individualism, which prioritizes personal liberty and spurns commitment. The second approach is characteristic of relationalism, which celebrates community and prizes commitment. Read more to learn about these two worldviews and to understand why Brooks chooses the second mountain in his own life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":21643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,24],"tags":[972],"class_list":["post-98489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-philosophy","category-society","tag-the-second-mountain","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Two Mountains: Why David Brooks Is a Relationalist - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"David Brooks outlines &quot;the two mountains.&quot; Learn about these competing worldviews, and understand why Brooks chooses the second mountain.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-two-mountains\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Two Mountains: Why David Brooks Is a Relationalist\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"David Brooks outlines &quot;the two mountains.&quot; Learn about these competing worldviews, and understand why Brooks chooses the second mountain.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-two-mountains\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shortform Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-04-08T13:01:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-04-11T17:25:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/wordpress.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/human-self-lonely-mountains-goal-visions.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1220\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"650\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Elizabeth Whitworth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Elizabeth Whitworth\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-two-mountains\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-two-mountains\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Elizabeth Whitworth\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d2928cf6c11a69ced1491d6a5b74fb13\"},\"headline\":\"The Two Mountains: Why David Brooks Is a Relationalist\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-04-08T13:01:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-11T17:25:12+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-two-mountains\/\"},\"wordCount\":1230,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-two-mountains\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/human-self-lonely-mountains-goal-visions.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"The Second Mountain\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Philosophy\",\"Society\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-two-mountains\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-two-mountains\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-two-mountains\/\",\"name\":\"The Two Mountains: Why David Brooks Is a Relationalist - 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