Iain McGilchrist and Stephen Blackwood: The Unfolding of Life and Thought

In Part II of their conversation, Stephen Blackwood and Iain McGilchrist discuss questions of theology, science, and philosophy, including: the shared nature of human life, revealed anew by the COVID-19 lockdowns; 'unfolding' as a metaphor for actualization; freedom, necessity, and reason; and the fundamental role of the humanities in a thriving culture.
2:37 - Observations of COVID-19 and its social effects
10:55 - Balance between communitarianism and individualism
14:24 - Unfolding and actualization
18:08 - The freedom of unfolding and its intrinsic necessity
24:27 - Unfolding in relation to otherness
31:54 - Consciousness as inherent in matter
39:00 - Meaning as an encounter
47:00 - Rationality vs reason; doing wrapped up in being
53:13 - McGilchrist's early influences
57:57 - Why do we need the humanities? And their current state.
1:11:20 - New intellectual communities
In their discussion of the humanities they discuss the following article by Dr Steven Pinker and Dr McGilchrist's response:
Dr Pinker's article
newrepublic.com/article/11412...
Dr McGilchrist's response
lareviewofbooks.org/article/c...
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Ralston College Short Courses
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Пікірлер: 32

  • @RalstonCollegeSavannah
    @RalstonCollegeSavannah Жыл бұрын

    Applications for Ralston College's MA in the Humanities for 2023 are now open: www.ralston.ac/humanities-ma

  • @peterroselle7612
    @peterroselle76122 жыл бұрын

    This was a gem of a discussion by two brilliant scholars. What a shame it does not have more views - ironically, the lack of views is what they touch on at the end.

  • @tyleremick2121
    @tyleremick2121 Жыл бұрын

    Iain's insight and Stephan's questions and responses are simply beautiful. I cannot get enough of these kinds of conversations. i would love to be apart of the learning these two have to offer.

  • @edperry4235
    @edperry42352 жыл бұрын

    Absolute gold. Thank you, Stephen and Iain, for this exhilarating conversation. Iain’s comments in the last ten minutes or so on the demise of universities, church and the media are spots on.

  • @karlasears9985
    @karlasears99854 жыл бұрын

    As a classical homeschooling mom this is exactly what is needed. We are bring back the quadtrivium. It is the arts of humanities with the arts of the sciences into a liberal arts education. Thank you for this conversation

  • @reverie4632
    @reverie46324 жыл бұрын

    Please activate Closed Captions for your future videos. Being able to read what is said makes listening to conversations much more pleasant and the content more digestible.

  • @g.craigpowell2616
    @g.craigpowell26163 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant, thank you. For anyone unfamiliar with Dr McGilchrist's work, I highly recommend his book The Master and His Emissary, which for me has been life-changing. It discusses how the lateralisation of the brain affects the way we view the world, the way we relate to one another, our attitude to the arts and culture, and some of the philosophical questions touched on here.

  • @TriggerIreland
    @TriggerIreland3 жыл бұрын

    At 53:30 it's sounds like the sound of positive self awareness. Haven't heard this tone from mcgilchrist before. What a skillful interview with a powerful intellect/empath.

  • @kateoneal4215
    @kateoneal421510 ай бұрын

    These are WONDERFUL! THANK YOU. ❤

  • @spiralsun1
    @spiralsun12 жыл бұрын

    I really like how Ian doesn’t pontificate about how to “fix” educational problems or etc. saying that people are smart enough if alerted to new ways of viewing to solve the problems. They are deep issues. This is why it took me another 40 years after coming up with this fundamental problem in educational systems and I also use the same examples in the same way sometimes it’s uncanny. Anyway, the problems are much deeper and historical. And they are related to the rise and fall of civilizations, and the mortality of humans themselves. I cannot say enough about the courage and wisdom of Ian McGilchrist since he actually went through the system. He became a doctor. That training is the opposite of what keeps the right brain fully capable and functional. I left graduate school after 4.5 years of PHD work and a master’s project because I thought they were wrong. By “they” I mean everyone on Earth. 😂🤷‍♀️ Seriously that’s why I left-to write my own book about why. I told people that I left because there is no such thing as “spots in the brain” for any function because every spot is defined by every other spot. That was back in 1995 when I left. I couldn’t face a post-doc and trying for grants for something that was wrong 😑. This is where the educational system fails-it is a grid or “sifter” of cognitive wholeness at every level. There is no time to think or integrate what you know. It forces people to not think. Thinking interferes with good grades. SERIOUSLY. The reason people are skeptical of that assertion is because no one actually knows how to think. I do not think in words except when preparing for communication. Anyway… I would love to do an interview about this stuff for Ralston College too. I can tell you what the “logos” is and why this is related to all the major religions and myths. Thanks for this awesome interview. ❤️‍🔥🙏🏻 I almost forgot, lol… starstruck a bit… I worked out the details of how and why this works in the brain beyond lateralization and how it relates to everything else including what civilization is doing. Which we don’t see normally-like in the split brain studies Ian Talks about or the right hemisphere stroke examples. Thanks again. I really need help with getting my ideas out too. Ian and I would be extremely synergistic 🎼 I have been using the example of symphonies for a long time. Heroes are better together 🥰🙏🏻🙌 Only with me, I never let up on my work despite being reduced to living in my car the last 2 years because “no place was made for me in the world” as I always say. Yet here I am. Anyone who can help me I will be extremely grateful. I have had faith and strength throughout, but this is my mission god gave me on this Earth and I will never turn from that task. Thank you again. I have renewed hope that we can save the world before it destroys itself if I can get the word out soon. Ian’s ideas are opening the door. ❤️‍🔥♾

  • @siyaindagulag.

    @siyaindagulag.

    2 жыл бұрын

    WTF....you must live. I go hungry , often.

  • @PromoMIAR
    @PromoMIAR4 жыл бұрын

    Iain is on the Ball. Awesome. Brings it all together for me.

  • @elisabethbenn1572
    @elisabethbenn15722 жыл бұрын

    The last 10 minutes are important. Well, the whole thing is important, but its conclusion is clear.

  • @beauc.diamond7410
    @beauc.diamond74104 жыл бұрын

    I wish this was 3 hours long.

  • @kbeetles

    @kbeetles

    4 жыл бұрын

    Beau C. Diamond Music ..... and then a panel discussion and then a Q&A.... and then a weekend workshop up on the Isle of Sky!!

  • @Boylieboyle

    @Boylieboyle

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@kbeetles nice dream lol

  • @memeful4
    @memeful42 жыл бұрын

    At 32:06, that concept is well-known in buddhism teaching: 境由心生 (Situation is arisen/reflection of consciousness).

  • @nicolesimonealexander4639
    @nicolesimonealexander46394 жыл бұрын

    Possibly life-changing

  • @ThomAnno
    @ThomAnno4 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful and steady philosophy of consciousness / meaning. Keep up the good work.

  • @semqueixas
    @semqueixas Жыл бұрын

    Brilliant discussion.

  • @neiluscook2283
    @neiluscook22833 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for that; both of you! Yes the people are so capable of hearing these deep and intriguing conversations, in fact a great hunger exists for them. I'm gratified that there is in the Deep South a college of this caliber, which I hope will prosper! Thanks again.

  • @franciscomartinez-up9lq
    @franciscomartinez-up9lq Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this knowledge

  • @poetryinmotion8112
    @poetryinmotion8112 Жыл бұрын

    Loved "We need to up the game". I will try to find a poem I wrote many years ago on what I consider is the"truth"..

  • @JonathanDavisKookaburra
    @JonathanDavisKookaburra2 жыл бұрын

    I would like to reference the quote from freeman Dyson. Would you mind sharing where this was published?

  • @MrPochybovac
    @MrPochybovac4 жыл бұрын

    What is the name of the philosopher he is talking about in 11:55 ?

  • @jamesatkinspritchard6664

    @jamesatkinspritchard6664

    4 жыл бұрын

    Heraclitus

  • @neiluscook2283

    @neiluscook2283

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes. He is my favorite ancient philosopher too.

  • @michaelbiggins9711
    @michaelbiggins97112 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant diagnosis beginning around 1:08:00 of what's gone wrong with the humanities in higher education.

  • @kipling1957
    @kipling19572 жыл бұрын

    12:00 Coming together of opposites, the string of a bow.

  • @steinar9579
    @steinar95792 жыл бұрын

  • @darlenemontano4608
    @darlenemontano46083 жыл бұрын

    Y