We take selfies, we only talk about ourselves on social networks, we "swipe" others on dating applications… But who are we really, we who live in 2020?

In the fifth episode of the "Les Éclaireurs" podcast, Matthieu Belliard opens the debate with the philosopher and writer Eric Sadin.

Éric Sadin is a philosopher and writer.

And he found an expression to define us, who have become accustomed to taking selfies at every opportunity and only talking about us on social networks.

According to him, we, the men and women of 2020, have become "tyrant individuals", mistakenly persuaded to be all-powerful. 

Is such a "tyrant" governable?

Is it possible to create a real society with such self-centered individuals?

In the fifth episode of the new podcast "Les Éclaireurs", Matthieu Belliard once again takes the time to listen to the world change and holds up a mirror to us.

Are we just narcissists?

With his guest, the presenter of the morning of Europe 1 questions us about the notion of liberal individualism and is particularly interested in the influence of new digital technologies on our behavior. 

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Three ideas to remember to take the time to listen to the world change

Technologies give us the illusion, wrongly, of being able to "heal" our wounds (to listen from 4'50).

"When you experience humiliation at work and then you throw your painful experience on social media, it's not narcissism. It produces the illusion of a cathartic discharge, that is to say to do good, ”explains the philosopher.

"It's so telling of the time. It is not a search for celebrity. Social networks do not allow you to build your happiness or your fulfillment, but effects of influence on others (...) We let's not see that all of this was created by the digital industry in order to generate profit.

We want to protect our own personal data, we forget the damage caused by the Gafa on society (to listen to from 9'28).

"Once we are concerned about the protection of our small personal data, the rest, we do not care like the year 40", annoys Eric Sadin.

But this passion for self can be explained according to the philosopher: "There is a loss of faith in the speeches conveyed by all the people or the institutions of the general order. So there is necessarily a withdrawal into one's own beliefs. , favored by digital technologies that allow an individualized relationship to information exchanges between people ".

The screen will interfere more than ever in our relationship with others (to listen from 17:40) "I think that with the Covid, we lived the experience of crossing the threshold in the digitization of our lives and in particular with teleworking. We must be careful about it because it puts others at a distance. But it also gives the feeling that there is a kind of screen with others. (...) However, one of the major issues of our time is to build together in schools, in cities, in the way of imagining work ". 

"Les Éclaireurs" is a Europe 1 studio podcast

Presentation: Matthieu Belliard

Line-up: Marine Apruzzese

Director: Jean Lénaff (with Xavier Jolly)

Editorial project manager: Fannie Rascle

Distribution and editing: Clémence Olivier

Graphics: Karelle Villais

Director of Europe 1 Studio: Olivier Lendresse

Archives: Documentation and Heritage Department

Episode references

"The era of the tyrant individual. The end of a common world", Eric Sadin (Editions Grasset)

Extracts:

Boris Vian, "The Lament of Progress", 1956

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