The Enlightenment and Its Impact on Human Advancements

23min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

This chapter discusses the Enlightenment and its impact on human advancements, with one speaker presenting a positive perspective on the rejection of religion and embrace of reason. However, the other speaker provides a different perspective, acknowledging the positive outcomes but expressing a willingness to push back. They engage in a conversation about the complexities of life and the limitations of our usual way of thinking.

Psychiatrist and author Iain McGilchrist talks about his book, The Master and His Emissary, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. McGilchrist argues we have misunderstand the purpose and effect of the divided brain. The left side is focused, concrete, and confident while the right side is about integration of ourselves with the complexity of the world around us. McGilchrist uses this distinction to analyze the history of western civilization. This is a wide-ranging conversation that includes discussions of poetry, philosophy, and economics.