We are experiencing an attention crisis. That is Byung Chul Han’s assessment in About God. This philosopher bestseller He argues that we have become accustomed to the instantaneous and nearly infinite consumption of sensory stimuli, to the point where we find it increasingly difficult to concentrate, focus on one thing at a time, delve deeply into something interesting, or simply let ourselves get bored. The result: our senses are overwhelmed with information clutter.
The “digital economy” doesn’t contribute much. Many companies pursue—as if it were true spoils of war—the seconds, minutes, or hours we spend consuming their content. And when it comes to social media, algorithms are designed to hijack our attention and, all too often, create an addiction. That’s how they can monetize their videos or texts and convince their sponsors that we’ll see their ads: they sell our attention to them.
But it's not just about protecting ourselves from algorithms, from the damn clickbait or the supply of cheap dopamine, even if we have to put up firewalls against the blaze of infinite distraction. Han’s proposal challenges us to develop “contemplative” attention. Because, as the South Korean scholar asserts, mindfulness leads us to a fulfilling life. And in this way, we become capable of immersing ourselves fully in what we are doing, enjoying the effort and the joy of the present moment.
Contemplative mindfulness is cultivated minute by minute: by focusing fully on the person we’re talking to, on the class we’re teaching or attending, on periods of deep work, on a walk through the park without a phone, on intense exercise, and on moments of prayer. These real experiences gradually reconnect us with what is true, while our ability to enjoy them fully grows.
