Iain McGilchrist, a renowned psychiatrist and philosopher, joins Mark Vernon to discuss the profound insights of William Blake, whom McGilchrist praises as an exceptionally insightful poet. They dive into Blake's vision of imagination, highlighting quotes like 'To the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself.' The conversation explores the tensions of modern life, architecture, and even the implications of AI, advocating for a deeper, collective imagination as a vital force in understanding our existence and nurturing our faith in life's goodness.
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insights INSIGHT
Imagination as Divine Flow
Imagination is not something we produce, but something that flows through us and preexists us.\n- Blake saw nature as divine imagination inviting us to participate creatively.
insights INSIGHT
Imagination vs. Fantasy
Fantasy takes you away from reality, but imagination connects and deepens it.\n- Blake's imagination is alive and inclusive, not mere private possession or mental illness.
insights INSIGHT
Misenchantment of Modern Life
Our world today is not disenchanted but misenchanted by consumerism and misuse of money.\n- Certain modern architectures and spaces can misenchant, thinning our sense of life's richness.
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Awake, William Blake and the Power of the Imagination
Awake, William Blake and the Power of the Imagination
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Mark Vernon
The Enchantments of Mammon
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Eugene McCarrigan
Iain McGilchrist calls William Blake “the least cosy of poets and one of the most insightful that ever lived.” Blake is cited more often than most figures in Iain’s great book, "The Matter With Things".
So what did Blake express that might much matter now? How did he understand key features of our humanity such as the imagination and inspiration, as well as the character of our day?
In this conversation, prompted by the publication of "Awake!", Iain and Mark often land on wonderful quotes of Blake to unpack them. ”To the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself.” “As a man is, so he sees.” "If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is: infinite."
They explore Blakean imagery such as the spiral shape of Jacob’s Ladder. Contemporary concerns are central too, from architecture to AI.
Above all, they celebrate Blake as a figure who can guide our desires, aid us with the contraries of modern life, and sustain our faith that life is good, for all the ills that surround us.
For more on Iain’s work - https://channelmcgilchrist.com For more on Mark’s work - https://www.markvernon.com
Mark’s new book on William Blake is “Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination” - https://www.markvernon.com/books/awake-william-blake-and-the-power-of-the-imagination
0:00 No-one has imagination! 05:27 The narrowing of imagination 08:36 Fantasy and uncoupling 11:55 The misenchantment of the world 13:08 Place, space and architecture 16:26 Spiritually aware consumerism 19:43 The glowing presence of infinity 21:13 Cleansing the doors of perception 24:38 Speaking from the outside in 26:38 The failure of empathy and need for the sacred 31:24 Primary connection not separation 33:10 Blake’s orthodoxy 34:37 Jacob’s Ladder as a spiral 38:12 The good can hold the bad 39:55 Data, memory and AI 42:33 Memory that inspires 45:44 The enlivening of ritual 48:10 Blake on divine science 53:37 The character of things and insights 57:17 Distinctions without difference 59:28 Illuminating Blake and Dante
Inner Life, Talks and Thoughts 
