324 - Benjamin Boyce - The Inevitable Fall of the Enlightenment
Jan 18, 2024
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Benjamin Boyce discusses the Enlightenment, rationalism, science, identity, value hierarchies, authoritarianism, subsidiarity, love, and sacrifice. They explore personal transformation, quantifying vs. understanding reality, unity and nationalism, the concept of the individual and its relationship to the collective, proper and improper love in Christian theology, the power of sacrifice, starting a Bible study with 12-year-olds, and approaching high-level thinking and survival.
Personal transformation is the key to transforming the world, not just political actions or activism.
Reason and scientific methodology have limitations and cannot fully comprehend the underlying framework of reality.
Finding a balance between unity and multiplicity is crucial for personal and collective resilience and coherence.
Deep dives
Personal transformation leads to world transformation
The podcast episode explores the idea that the personal transformation of individuals is the key to transforming the world. The speaker emphasizes that political actions and activism are not the primary drivers of true transformation. Instead, individuals becoming saints and embodying higher virtues is what leads to real change. The episode highlights that political solutions alone are insufficient and that a culture war focused on divisiveness is not productive. The speaker encourages individuals to focus on their own personal growth and the development of virtuous relationships, as this is the foundation for transforming society.
The limitations of reason and scientific methodology
The podcast delves into the limitations of reason and scientific methodology when it comes to understanding the world. The speaker explains that reason is effective in quantifying and predicting phenomena, but it does not provide a full understanding of the underlying framework by which reality is organized. The episode distinguishes between the hierarchies of values and virtues that inform our perception of reality and the quantifiable data that scientific methodologies analyze. It emphasizes that both aspects require different tools and intuitions and cannot be measured with the same scope. The speaker highlights the importance of recognizing and balancing these different ways of approaching the world.
The problems of unity and multiplicity
The podcast explores the delicate balance between unity and multiplicity in various contexts. The speaker discusses how excessive unity can lead to authoritarianism, where individuals' unique identities are suppressed. Conversely, excessive multiplicity without proper order and purpose can lead to chaos and disconnection. The episode emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between unity and multiplicity in personal and collective settings. The speaker explores how understanding and embracing this balance contributes to the resilience and coherence of individuals, families, communities, and societies.
The role of love and the need for communal bonds
The episode highlights the significance of love and communal bonds as fundamental elements in human life and society. The speaker emphasizes that love is the force that binds individuals, families, and communities together. Love is presented as the defining aspect of proper relationships and the key to creating meaning and purpose in life. The importance of caring for others, fostering authentic connections, and participating actively in communities is underscored as essential for personal growth and the formation of healthy and thriving societies.
The Power of Transformation
The speaker emphasizes the importance of personal transformation as a solution to societal problems. They argue that political solutions are insufficient and that true change can only come from individuals who embody higher moral values and become beacons of hope and inspiration for others. Rather than focusing on winning political battles or passing specific laws, the speaker encourages self-reflection and personal growth as a more effective way to bring about positive change.
The Meaning of Sacrifice
The concept of sacrifice is explored as a foundational aspect of reality and a key component of love. The speaker explains that sacrifice involves giving up something good for the sake of a higher purpose or ideal. Drawing on examples from sports teams and biblical stories, the speaker asserts that sacrifice leads to true fulfillment and success. They highlight the importance of sacrifices in relationships, storytelling, and the pursuit of higher goods. Ultimately, the speaker suggests that sacrifice is a transformative force that can bring about profound insight and contribute to the flourishing of individuals and communities.
This is a repost of a discussion with Benjamin Boyce on the topic of the Enlightenment, rationalism and science, the problem of identity on the levels of the individual and the group, value hierarchies, authoritarianism, subsidiarity, love, and sacrifice. This conversation happened after I had some disagreements with James Lindsay on Twitter (X) about the Enlightenment and authoritarianism.
My and Jordan Peterson’s research paper published through ARC.Identity: Individual and the State versus the Subsidiary Hierarchy of Heaven: https://www.arc-research.org/research-papers/the-subsidiary-hierarchy
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/Z3DH5i4G3q8
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