Matthew B. Crawford on Practical Philosophy and Shop Class as Soulcraft

Safetyism Critique

Matthew B. Crawford critiques the concept of "safetyism," highlighting how an excessive focus on safety can distort societal behavior and attitudes towards risk. He argues that as society becomes safer, any remaining risks seem more intolerable, creating a feedback loop that undermines personal judgment and autonomy 1. Crawford suggests that this dynamic is fueled by material interests and a therapeutic state that encourages dependency on experts. Ryan Holiday shares a personal anecdote about his child's outdoor school, illustrating how safety concerns can sometimes lead to unnatural or unsafe practices 2.

We get fixated on one danger in particular and sort of a tunnel vision.

--- Matthew B. Crawford

This fixation often results in a lack of holistic understanding of the risks we accept in daily life.

   

Risk Balance

The discussion shifts to the necessity of balancing risk and safety in our lives, emphasizing how irrational responses to risks can affect lifestyle choices. Ryan Holiday notes how society has become passively accepting of certain public health crises, like heart disease, while overemphasizing others like COVID-19 3. This imbalance highlights a broader issue of how we perceive and respond to risks. Matthew B. Crawford argues that accepting risk is essential to living well, as attempts to eliminate it can lead to a diminished life experience 4.

To live well necessarily involves accepting risk. To try to eliminate risk is to have a kind of half life.

--- Matthew B. Crawford

He connects this acceptance to the spirit of play, which involves risk-taking and is foundational to culture.