After Socrates: Episode 10b - Ecology of Practices
Apr 29, 2023
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Christopher Mastropietro and Guy Sengstock join the conversation, diving deep into the ecology of practices and their role in cultivating wisdom. They explore how self-identity is shaped within relationships, emphasizing the importance of virtues in communication. The discussion highlights the challenges of reconnecting with lost practices amidst life’s distractions. They also reflect on the balance of decision-making and virtue, likening collective dialogue to a jazz performance, showcasing the harmony achieved through shared understanding.
Virtue is experienced relationally, allowing individuals to intuitively engage with it without always defining or naming it.
The reciprocal relationship between love and spiritual awareness suggests that personal connections shape one's moral agency and understanding.
Embodying virtue involves active attention in navigating choices, where memory of past interactions enriches current relational dynamics.
Deep dives
Understanding Virtue through Relational Presence
The discussion emphasizes the notion of virtue as something that is experienced relationally rather than merely explained. It proposes that entering into the experience of virtue is akin to entering a home where the essence or 'virtue' has been inherently present, gradually becoming aware of it. Just as one becomes accustomed to the atmosphere of a space, participants are seen to already be engaging with virtues without necessarily naming or defining them. This establishes the idea that we are in ongoing relationships with virtues that shape our identities and moral understanding from the outset.
The Interplay of Spirit and Love
A key part of the dialogue explores the connection between the 'spirit' discussed by thinkers like Buber and the agapic relations we experience through love. It raises questions about whether it is love that engenders spiritual awareness or vice versa, suggesting a reciprocal relationship. This idea posits that our experiences of love and connection may bring about a greater understanding of the spirit, highlighting the integration of personal connections in shaping one's moral agency. The dynamic interplay suggests that both love and spiritual awareness are essential in forming cohesive relationships.
Dialectic and Dialogos as a Meta-Practice
The podcast distinguishes between dialectic, seen as a structured approach to discussion, and dialogos, which emerges naturally from genuine relationships between participants. This discussion emphasizes the importance of creating a conducive environment for dialogos wherein collective intelligence and deeper understanding can flourish. It draws upon historical philosophical frameworks, like those of Heraclitus and Plato, to contextualize these practices. The aim is to cultivate an ecology of practices that encourages ongoing engagement with virtue and a continuous dialogue, providing a normative guide for personal and collective growth.
Embodiment and Self-Organization
A significant insight is the concept of embodiment, where the body and attention work seamlessly to create a self-organizing awareness of virtue. This entails an intuitive grasp of how to orient oneself in a given situation, acknowledging the overwhelming array of choices or actions. As participants engage with concepts like Sofreson, they explore the balance between personal agency and collective experience. This balance becomes a continual process of being present and attentive to what is most important in each relational context.
The Role of Memory in Relational Dynamics
The dialogue highlights the interplay between memory and present relationships, suggesting that memory recalls the essence of past interactions and shapes current dialogues. By engaging in practices that allow for recollection, individuals can tap into deeper levels of understanding and empathy as they navigate their relational dynamics. This active engagement with memory adds depth to the discourse on virtues, as it requires participants to recognize and act upon their relational histories. Consequently, as relationships are revisited, they are not merely recalled but actively relived, enriching the communal experience.
Have you been doing your practices? If so, you should REALLY love today's episodes. We decided to release these two episodes back to back because the overall experience is quite unique! In these episodes, Dr. Vervaeke was joined by Christopher Mastropietro, Guy Sengstock, and Taylor Barratt in discussion, practice, and friendship.
Welcome back to After Socrates! Episode 11 releases next FRIDAY, February 24th, 2023. Please join our Patreon to support our work! https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke
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You are invited to join John, Guy, and Christopher live, online, at the next Circling & Dialogos Workshop where we discuss & practice the tools involved in both Philosophical Fellowship & Dialectic into Dialogos.
You can find more information, and register, here:
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.
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