In The Burnout Society and The Scent of Time, Han argues that our world is obsessed with hyper-activity and utility. Everything must have a "use" (be productive, be "optimized," be data). In his view, "uselessness" is a form of resistance. It is the space where contemplation, play, and true healing happen.

The Intersection of Han and Trauma Studies

When we apply Han’s philosophy to trauma studies, the "uselessness" you’re referring to becomes the ultimate necessity:

• The Violence of Positivity: Han speaks about the "excess of positivity"—the pressure to always be "okay," to perform, and to "self-optimize." In trauma recovery, this is toxic. Healing isn't a "productive" task you can check off a list; it is a slow, often "useless-looking" process of sitting with pain.

• The Achievement Subject: We have become our own exploiters. We feel "pride" in our busyness, but Han suggests this pride is exactly what leads to the "fall" (burnout, or a total nervous system collapse).

• Contemplative Silence: Trauma often leaves the survivor in a state of hyper-vigilance (the opposite of Han’s "deep boredom" or "contemplative life"). By reclaiming "useless" time, one actually begins to regulate the nervous system.

"The loss of the ability to contemplate... is responsible for the crisis of our culture." — Byung-Chul Han

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It’s a fascinating paradox: the "useless" knowledge of how to simply be (without producing anything) is perhaps the most valuable tool for someone navigating the aftermath of trauma. It moves us away from the "survival" mode of the achievement-subject and back into a "living" mode.

Since you're familiar with Han, do you think our modern obsession with "healing" has itself become a form of achievement-seeking that he would criticize?