The Thomistic Institute
The Depths and the Heights: The Comedy As Pilgrimage | Dr. Robert Royal
Oct 1, 2019
Dr. Robert Royal, an expert in comedy and pilgrimage, explores the ideas of pilgrimage and ultimate purposes drawing from Dante's Divine Comedy. They discuss Bernard of Clairvaux's beliefs, Dante's concept of moving beyond human experiences, discussing Aristotle's four causes. The podcast delves into modern science dismissing final causes and the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment in life through differing perspectives on existence. They examine happiness, transcendence, and pilgrimage through Aristotle's eudaimonia and Dante's Beatitude, analyzing themes of love, redemption, and spiritual growth in Dante's Divine Comedy.
56:44
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Quick takeaways
- Dante's journey explores the limitations of human reason in understanding divine experiences.
- The pursuit of virtues and contemplation leads to earthly happiness and spiritual enlightenment.
Deep dives
Dante's Pilgrimage to Beatitude
Dante's journey through pilgrimage, influenced by Aristotle and medieval thinkers, questions the possibility of transcending human understanding through a spiritual ascent. He explores the complexity of memory and intellect's interaction, contemplating the limitations of human reason in grasping divine experiences. Dante draws on religious and philosophical authorities to affirm the potential for such spiritual elevation.
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