Berlin Family Lectures: Placeholder and Serendipity - Lecture 2

The second installment of the Berlin Family Lectures features author Yiyun Li exploring the pursuit of precision and clarity as an antidote to the inherent uncertainty of life. Rather than seeking false hope or optimism—which she characterizes as forms of self-blinding—Li advocates for a state of enchantment, defined as a willful, ongoing engagement with the world. Drawing on her background in science and literature, she argues that writers must avoid cliches and the arrogance of claiming absolute knowledge. By analyzing specific word choices in works by Charles Dickens and Leo Tolstoy, she demonstrates how precise language functions as a placeholder for memory and deeper understanding. Ultimately, Li posits that embracing the insoluble nature of existence, rather than attempting to resolve it, allows for a more honest and attentive way of living and creating.