# An Invitation to Being Human: Ep. 6 - Life is Not a Competition

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-wes-cecil-podcast-7118191/an-invitation-to-being-human-ep-6-life-is-not-a-competition
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-wes-cecil-podcast-7118191/an-invitation-to-being-human-ep-6-life-is-not-a-competition.md
Podcast: [The Wes Cecil Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-wes-cecil-podcast-7118191)
Published: 2026-07-13T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/wes-cecil/episodes/an-invitation-to-being-human-ep-6-life-is-not-a-competition
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/66fb968b13b87f41275ee4bd/e/6a54217873fcc6a8a738c9a0/media.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2966

## Resource

Perhaps one of the most pernicious concepts in modern society is the concept that we are all in competition for scarce resources. In this zero sum conception of the world, each human must, by necessity, compete with others for survival and self-expression. By reflecting on the writings of Primo Levi - particularly his “If This is a Man” - I try to underline how this deeply flawed and dangerous vision of the human condition actually destroys the possibility of simply being a human being at all. Join Wes on Patreon for a deeper dive into the ideas we explore on the podcast. It’s a space for lifelong learners — with bonus lectures, course materials, peer discussion, and audio diaries from France. Wes is active in the community and often engages directly with listener questions. Starting at $2/month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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