The Unknown, The Known, and The Knower | Maps of Meaning Series | Episode 3 (WiM412)
Dec 22, 2023
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Luke de Wolf, co-host of the Freedom Footprint Show, joins the host to discuss the unknown and femininity, cultural memories, the story of Enuma Elish, and the balance between order and chaos. They explore mythology, individual action, and the embodiment of cultural narratives.
The destruction of cultural order leads to chaos and serves as a warning against completely removing structure and stability.
A balanced structure in society, with flexibility and appropriate adaptation, prevents chaos and destruction.
The younger generation plays a crucial role in overcoming the challenges caused by the destruction of cultural order and restoring balance.
Deep dives
The consequences of destroying cultural order
The myth describes how the destruction of cultural order leads to chaos. The individual gods, representing undifferentiated humanity, disturb the divine parents, Tiamat and Absoo, leading to their decision to devour their children. Ea, one of the elder gods, learns of the plot and kills Absoo. This act of destroying the cultural memory creates a vacuum, allowing chaos to emerge. Tiamat, symbolizing the unknown, becomes angry and creates monsters that invade the world of the gods. This myth serves as a warning against the consequences of completely removing cultural order, showcasing how chaos ensues when structure and stability are destroyed.
The importance of maintaining a balanced structure
The story emphasizes the need for a balanced structure in society, emphasizing the dangers of both excessive rigidity and complete removal of order. It warns against the extreme of dismantling all cultural order, as it leads to the uncontrollable eruption of chaos. This cautionary tale highlights the necessity of a flexible and appropriate structure that can adapt to changing circumstances while preventing the emergence of chaos and destruction.
The emergence of the hero and the role of future generations
Marduk, the hero of the myth, represents the consciousness that arises to confront the consequences of destroying cultural order. He is characterized by his exaggerated sensory capabilities and creative-destructive power. As the son of Ea, who killed Absoo, Marduk symbolizes the importance of future generations in addressing the problems of the past. The myth suggests that it is through the efforts of the younger generation that the challenges caused by the destruction of cultural order can be overcome and a new balance can be restored.
The Mythology of the Hero and the Creation of Order
The podcast episode explores the mythology of the hero and the creation of order. It delves into the significance of mythology in human cognition and the need for guiding stories in society. The episode discusses the archetypal characters of the great mother, great father, and the sun, representing the unknown, the known, and the knower respectively. It highlights the role of the hero in facing uncertainty and converting it into something useful, drawing parallels to entrepreneurs. The podcast also examines the story of Marduk in the Ennuma Elish myth, where Marduk defeats chaos and constructs a new order, symbolizing the importance of individuals who create order out of the unknown.
The Importance of Mediation and Moral Action
The second part of the episode emphasizes the importance of mediation and moral action in mythology. It discusses the role of Marduk as a mediator between chaos and order and his influence on the Mesopotamian emperor. The podcast highlights the concept of the logos in Judeo-Christian tradition and its role in creating order from chaos. It explores the idea of constant navigation between too much order and too much chaos, requiring vigilant mediation. The episode also emphasizes the significance of role models and imitation, both in imitating real-life individuals and mythological figures, to crystallize proper patterns of moral action and transmit them across time.
Luke de Wolf joins me for a multi-episode conversation exploring the excellent book "Maps of Meaning" by Jordan Peterson. In this episode, we discuss the realm of the unknown and femininity, the impact of cultural memories, the story of Enuma Elish, and the balance between order and chaos.
Luke de Wolf is the co-host of the Freedom Footprint Show.
// OUTLINE // 00:00:00 - Coming up 00:00:31 - Intro 00:02:04 - Helping Lightning Startups with In Wolf's Clothing 00:02:51 - Introducing Luke de Wolf 00:03:05 - Mythology and Praxeology 00:04:54 - The Territory of Unknown and Uncontrolled 00:06:50 - The Precosmogonic Chaos 00:10:08 - The Realm of Unknown and Femininity 00:13:28 - The Beginning of Wisdom 00:16:23 - Individual Action and Cultural Memory 00:21:00 - Memories, Meta Stories and Action 00:25:42 - The Embodiment of Culture and the State 00:27:54 - Run Your Business from Anywhere with NetSuite 00:28:59 - Secure Your Bitcoin Stash with the iCoin Hardware Wallet 00:30:09 - The Known, the Unknown, and the Knower 00:35:34 - The Significance of Heroes and Entrepreneurs 00:38:35 - The Figurative vs. Literal Meaning of the Stories 00:43:47 - Enhance Your Brain Power with Mind Lab Pro 00:44:54 - Take Control of Your Healthcare with CrowdHealth 00:46:01 - The Election of Metaphors 00:49:15 - The Story of Enuma Elish 00:56:08 - Cultural Degradation of the West 00:57:25 - Marduk: the Hero of Enuma Elish 01:04:17 - Building Order Out of Chaos 01:10:22 - Balancing Order and Chaos 01:13:03 - Imitation of a Hero
