After Socrates: Episode 9 - Metanoia

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Apr 28, 2023

Discover the transformative concept of metanoia through Antisthenes and the Cynic tradition. Explore differentiation, integration, and the importance of practical wisdom over theoretical wisdom. Delve into the significance of communication and co-orientation in philosophy, challenging societal norms along the way.

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INSIGHT

Plato's Dialogical Self

Plato's tripartite model of the psyche involves different centers of the self (head, heart, and gut).
Achieving inner justice requires dialogue and proper proportioning between these centers, mitigating distortions in our perception of reality.

INSIGHT

Collecting and Dividing

Plato's concept of "collecting and dividing" likely refers to the processes of differentiation and integration in relevance realization, not taxonomy.
These processes drive complexification of cognition, enabling us to grasp deeper realities and enhancing our emergent abilities.

ANECDOTE

Antisthenes' Emphasis on Self-Conversation

Antisthenes, another prominent disciple of Socrates, emphasized conversing with oneself as the key lesson learned.
He critiqued Plato's emphasis on propositional argumentation.

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In this episode, John explores the concept of metanoia, a transformative change of heart, through the lens of Antisthenes and the Cynic tradition. He begins by discussing the processes of differentiation and integration, referencing J.A. Scot Kelso's work on understanding dynamic coordination in the brain. The conversation then turns to Antisthenes' teachings and his emphasis on conversation as a means to redirect and reorient attention.

John delves into the Cynic philosophy, which seeks to challenge conventions and societal norms, and he explains the distinction between purity codes and moral codes. He then discusses the importance of practical wisdom (phronesis) as opposed to theoretical wisdom (sophia), highlighting the role of improvisation in honing this practical wisdom. As the conversation comes to a close, John introduces the idea of metanoia and its relevance to communication, pointing to the works of George J. Thompson, Luke A. Archer, and Marshall Rosenberg as resources for further exploration.

Throughout the episode, John also references the work of several other thinkers, including Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Heraclitus, Cratylus, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, shedding light on the historical context and development of the ideas discussed.

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After Socrates is a series about how to create the theory, the practice, and the ecology of practices such that we can live and grow and develop through a Socratic way of life. The core argument is; the combination of the theoretical framework and the pedagogical program of practices can properly conduct us into the Socratic way of life. We believe that the Socratic way of life is what is most needed today because it is the one that can most help us cultivate wisdom in a way that is simultaneously respectful to spiritual tradition and to current scientific work.