Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature) The Dark Places of Wisdom with Grant Bartolomé Dowling
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Sep 19, 2024 Grant Bartolomé Dowling, a PhD Candidate at Stanford, specializes in ancient philosophy, particularly Plato's Socratic dialogues. He dives into Parmenides' intriguing views on knowledge and sensory perception. The conversation explores the mystical aspects of ancient wisdom in Peter Kingsley's work, emphasizing the balance between rational thought and mystical practices. Dowling also unpackages the myth of Persephone, highlighting her role in themes of death and transformation, and reflects on how ancient insights can inform modern decision-making.
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Parmenides the Naturalist
- Parmenides, a pre-Socratic philosopher, was seen as a naturalist, focusing on the physical world.
- His most famous theory was monism, the belief that everything is one.
Parmenides and Dualism
- Parmenides, despite his monism, makes a distinction between appearance and a higher truth.
- This higher truth is accessible through the mind, not the body, resembling dualism.
Kingsley's View of Pre-Socratic Philosophy
- Peter Kingsley argues that pre-Socratic philosophy was less about language and more about communion with the divine.
- This involved practices like meditation and altered states of consciousness, similar to prophecy.
