Q&A: Is Consciousness Individual or Fundamental?

In this second episode of the Sophia Lectures, Professor Douglas Hedley from the University of Cambridge embarks on a deep exploration into the theme of "play" and its relationship to consciousness, language, and poetic expression. Drawing upon the intellectual legacies of Owen Barfield and Hans-Georg Gadamer, Hedley explores the philosophical and theological dimensions of language, highlighting its role in shaping our understanding of existence. He discusses the concept of the "inner word" as described by Augustine and how poetry serves as a bridge between the tangible and the abstract, allowing for playful exploration of meaning. Hedley critiques modern perspectives on consciousness, suggesting that they often overlook the importance of play in human experience. Through discussions on the significance of metaphor, the societal role of poetry, and the collective versus individual nature of consciousness, Hedley offers a comprehensive examination of how language and poetry are fundamental to our comprehension of the world and how play is a vital aspect of this process.  This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersections of language, consciousness, and the human condition, providing a rich tapestry of philosophical inquiry and reflection.

Douglas Hedley is a distinguished philosopher at the University of Cambridge, celebrated for his extensive research in the philosophy of religion and Platonism. He is the author of multiple influential works on imagination and religious experience.

Glossary of Terms

Language games: A concept introduced by Ludwig Wittgenstein that highlights the importance of usage and practice in shaping meaning

Resources

Ralston College 

Website: https://www.ralston.ac/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RalstonCollegeSavannah

X: https://twitter.com/RalstonCollege

Douglas Hedley

https://www.ralston.ac/people/douglas-hedley

Philosophical Investigations - Ludwig Wittgenstein  https://www.amazon.com/Philosophical-Investigations-Ludwig-Wittgenstein/dp/0631205691

The Trinity (Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century) - Saint Augustine  https://www.amazon.com/Trinity-2nd-Works-Saint-Augustine/dp/1565484460

Saving the Appearances: A Study in Idolatry - Owen Barfield https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Appearances-Idolatry-Owen-Barfield/dp/081956205X

Truth and Method - Hans-Georg Gadamer https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Method-Hans-Georg-Gadamer/dp/0826405851

Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature - Richard Rorty https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Mirror-Nature-Richard-Rorty/dp/0691020167

Augustine-Confessions-vol-1.pdf - Augustine. (n.d.). Confessions, Vol. 1. https://wesleyscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Augustine-Confessions-vol-1.pdf

Plato. (n.d.). Alcibiades 1.

https://www.platonicfoundation.org/platos-alcibiades-1/

Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture - Johan Huizinga 

https://www.amazon.com/Homo-Ludens-Study-Play-Element-Culture/dp/1621389995

Quotes

"The great archetypal activities of human society are all permeated with play from the start." - Johann Huizinga, Homo Ludens [00:02:30]

“I think consciousness is fundamental to existence. In fact, it's the great philosophical question of our age.” - Douglas Hedley [01:01:24]

Chapters 

[00:00:00] - Introduction to Sophia Lectures: Overview and Introduction of Professor Douglas Hedley

[00:02:00] - Exploring Play and Language: Merging Huizinga’s Play Concept with Wittgenstein’s Language Games and Investigations to Reveal Language’s Essence in Shaping Human Culture and Thought.

[00:20:00] - The Inner Word and the Play of Meaning: Exploring Augustine’s Inner Word and Poetry’s Power to Unveil Transcendent Truths.

[00:26:00] - Tradition, Interpretation, and the Essence of Language: Exploring the Intellectual Legacies of Barfield and Gadamer, Their Critique of Modernism, and the Philosophical Significance of Language's Transcendental Source.

[00:52:00] - Participation, Aesthetics, and the Divine Word: Navigating Gadamer's Concept of Participation through Platonic Light, Aesthetic Experience, and the Theological Depths of Language.

[01:00:00] - Audience Q&A and Concluding Reflections