What Is Serious Play in Renaissance Thought?

In the culminating fifth lecture of the Sophia Lecture series, Professor Douglas Hedley culminates his exploration by delving into play's theological dimension, engaging with Marsilio Ficino, Desiderius Erasmus, and Plotinus to dissect 'serious play', a pivotal concept in Renaissance thought. Throughout the lecture series, Hedley has traversed play's philosophical terrain, examining its roots, the vital role of language in human development, the journey into self-awareness, and the allure of aesthetics. In this lecture, he weaves together the interplay of wisdom and play within cultural narratives, delves into Plotinus' portrayal of the cosmos as a divine ballet, and highlights the synergy between divine ecstasy and human creativity. Additionally, he probes the impact of symbolic play in spiritual realms and underscores the critical role of femininity in the discourse on wisdom and play. Professor Hedley's contributions provide a rich, interconnected view of play as a gateway to a deeper understanding of our selves and the cosmos.

Douglas Hedley is a Professor in the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow at Clare College. His work spans the fields of philosophy, theology, and psychology, focusing on the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern thought.

Glossary of Terms

Kenosis: The self-emptying of one's own will and becoming entirely receptive to God's divine will.

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

Living Forms of the Imagination -Douglas Hedley https://www.amazon.com/Living-Forms-Imagination-Douglas-Hedley/dp/0567032957

Sacrifice Imagined: Violence, Atonement, and the Sacred - Douglas Hedley https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Imagined-Violence-Atonement-Sacred/dp/1441194452

The Iconic Imagination - Douglas Hedley https://www.amazon.com/Iconic-Imagination-Douglas-Hedley/dp/1441194630

The Ages of the World 1811 - Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Von Schelling  https://www.amazon.com/Ages-World-Contemporary-Continental-Philosophy/dp/1438474059

Man at Play - Hugo Rahner S.J. https://www.amazon.com/Man-Play-Hugo-Rahner-S-J/dp/1949899799

Plotinus: Myth, Metaphor, and Philosophical Practice - Stephen R. L. Clark https://www.amazon.com/Plotinus-Myth-Metaphor-Philosophical-Practice/dp/022633967X

Quotes

"While our Plato often discusses in a hidden matter, the duty belonging to mankind, it sometimes seems as though he's joking and playing. But platonic games and jokes are much more serious than the serious things of the Stoics." - Douglas Hedley, originally from Marsilio Ficino [00:10:20]

“All fleeting things are just an image. The imperishable is here an event. The indescribable is thus done. The eternal feminine draws us upwards.” Douglas Hedley, paraphrasing Johann Wolfgang von Goethe [00:45:40] 

Chapters 

[00:00:00] Introduction and Musical Performance

[00:04:00] Formal Introduction of Professor Douglas Hedley  

[00:09:35] Exploring the Philosophical and Theological Dimensions of Play 

[00:16:40] The Renaissance Connection: Erasmus and the Play of Wisdom  

[00:22:20] Plotinus and the Cosmic Dance of Creation  

[00:27:00] Playfulness in Theology and Philosophy 

[00:32:00] Sacred Play: The Intersection of Divine Joy and Human Creativity 

[00:36:40] The Iconic Imagination: Symbols and Play in Spiritual Life  

[00:42:00] Femininity, Wisdom, and Play in Cultural Traditions 

[00:52:00] Concluding Thoughts on Play and Human Development  

[00:56:12] Audience Q&A: Insights on Play, Culture, and Society