The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

168. A Brain Divided | Iain McGilchrist

May 13, 2021

Iain McGilchrist, a psychiatrist and author renowned for exploring the divided brain, shares fascinating insights on how our cognitive processes shape reality. He discusses the crucial roles of the brain's left and right hemispheres, highlighting their contrasting approaches to perception and attention. McGilchrist critiques the modern obsession with materialism, urging listeners to seek deeper meaning in life. He emphasizes the importance of community, nature, and belief for well-being, advocating for a holistic blend of science and human experience.

01:48:49

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Episode guests

Iain Mcgilchrist

Highlights

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Episode notes

What Objective and Subjective Mean?

03:59

All Creatures Need to Eat and Not Be Eaten

05:15

Intro

4min

The Interplay of Attention and Perception

7min

The Brain's Dual Roles: Hemispheric Specialization

25min

The Duality of Perception and Consciousness

20min

Balancing Brain Functions for a Richer Reality

28min

Beyond Material Comfort: The Quest for Meaning

6min

The Healing Power of Community, Nature, and Belief

2min

Bridging Science and Humanity

13min

Reflecting on Conversation and Community Engagement

2min

Iain McGilchrist is a psychiatrist, author, thinker, and lecturer. He is maybe best known for his book The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

Dr. Iain McGilchrist and I discussed a variety of topics relating to the bifurcated brain, how we process reality as human beings, and the downfalls of the views that have shaped western culture according to McGilchrist.

Find more Iain McGilchrist on his new website channelmcgilchrist.com, and check out his new book “The Master and his Emissary”, and look for Iain's new book The Matter of Things coming in the near future.

This episode was recorded on February 15th, 2021.

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