The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast Ep. 380: Josiah Royce on Community (Part Two)
Dec 1, 2025
Explore how communities shape individual identities through shared memories, even from historical events not directly experienced. Delve into the debate on whether foundational beliefs must be literal for coherence. Discover the distinction between genuine communities and mere cooperation in settings like markets. The discussion highlights the psychological pull of genealogy and the role of love, loyalty, and inspiring leadership in forming true communities. Royce's insights offer a rich perspective on our connections and the essence of belonging.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Self As Interpreted Temporal Project
- Royce compares personal identity to an interpretation of one's past and future hopes rather than a continuous inner object.
- Memory and interpreted tendencies give a self coherence across time, not mere present awareness.
Communities Mirror Personal Memory
- Royce argues communities gain identity the same way individuals do: by sharing interpreted past events.
- Shared memories and narrated deeds bind people into a collective self across time.
Canoe Origin Story Example
- Wes gives tribal examples where people identify by ancestral voyages they never experienced, like arriving in a named canoe.
- Such founding stories act as personal history for tribe members and ground communal identity.
