Wisdom in Paradox: The Seriousness of Play | Sophia Lectures 2023 Part 3/5

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Jun 13, 2024

Douglas Hedley, a Professor in the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Cambridge, explores the profound relationship between play and life's deeper questions. He draws on ancient philosophies from Heraclitus and Plato, revealing how play can guide us to the divine. Hedley discusses mental health, urging the importance of embracing our 'child's soul' for meaning. He also highlights the transformative power of poetry and creativity, and how play can help us navigate modern complexities with a greater sense of purpose.

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INSIGHT

Play As Serious Human Telos

Play and seriousness coexist: for Plato and Heraclitus play can be the highest human telos rather than mere frivolity.
Poetic language and childhood imagination disclose meanings that purely utilitarian reason misses.

INSIGHT

Mental Health Versus Sophrosyne

Modern mental-health discourse often medicalizes spiritual and moral states once discussed as sophrosyne.
Hedley argues the humanities return meaning and cultivate resilience better than therapeutic coddling alone.

ADVICE

Don’t Shield Universities From Challenge

Protecting students from offensive ideas undermines the Socratic role of the university and hinders intellectual growth.
Universities should expose students to challenging views to provoke thought and resilience.

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In the third lecture of the Sophia Lecture series, Professor Douglas Hedley embarks on an intellectual journey that explores the enigmatic nature of play and its profound impact on human life, drawing from ancient philosophies and modern psychological theories. Delving into the works of Heraclitus and Plato, Hedley examines the paradoxical relationship between play and seriousness and how this dynamic shapes our understanding of life's deepest questions. He discusses the transformative power of poetic language, the importance of embracing the child's soul, and the role of play as a bridge between our inner realities and the external world. Furthermore, Hedley reflects on mental health, cultural shifts, and the significance of the humanities in providing a sense of purpose and meaning, ultimately arguing that engaging with foundational texts and embracing play can help us navigate the complexities of modern life and contribute to our overall well-being.

Douglas Hedley is a Professor in the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow at Clare College. His work spans the fields of philosophy, theology, and psychology, focusing on the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern thought.

Glossary of Terms

Ion: Time period, sometimes interpreted as "lifetime" or "eternity."

Sophrosyne: Excellence in character; moderation; self-control; leading to well-being.

Resources

Ralston College

Website: https://www.ralston.ac/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RalstonCollegeSavannah

X: https://twitter.com/RalstonCollege

Douglas Hedley

https://www.ralston.ac/people/douglas-hedley

Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture - Johan Huizinga

https://www.amazon.com/Homo-Ludens-Study-Play-Element-Culture/dp/1621389995

The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure - Greg Lukianoff Jonathan Haidt https://www.amazon.com/Coddling-American-Mind-Intentions-Generation/dp/0735224897

Playing and Reality - D. W. Winnicott https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Reality-Routledge-Classics-86/dp/0415345464

Civilization and Its Discontents - Sigmund Freud https://www.amazon.com/Civilization-Its-Discontents-Sigmund-Freud/dp/0393304515

Modern Man in Search of a Soul - C. G. Jung https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Man-Search-Soul-Jung/dp/1684220904

The Red Book - C. G. Jung https://www.amazon.com/Red-Book-Philemon-C-Jung/dp/0393065677

Poetic Diction: A Study in Meaning - Owen Barfield https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Diction-Meaning-Wesleyan-Paperback/dp/081956026X

Plato. "Laws." Translated by Benjamin Jowett, The Internet Classics Archive. https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/laws.html

Homer. "The Iliad." Translated by Samuel Butler, The Internet Classics Archive. https://classics.mit.edu/Homer/iliad.html

Quotes

"Does it mean a lifetime, time, or eternity is nothing but a child playing? Playing checkers or draughts. Kingship belonging to the child. Does this mean that living like a child is somehow to live like a king? Or is it a claim about the universe that all is chance?" - Douglas Hedley (on the enigmatic utterance of the ancient philosopher Heraclitus) [00:03:34]

“Meaning cannot be generated by human conventions… but only on the assumption that meaning is grounded in the logos and indeed the transformation of consciousness through poetic language." - Douglas Hedley [00:08:29]

Chapters

[00:00:00] - Introduction to the Sophia Lecture Series and Professor Hedley

[00:02:00] - The Enigma of Heraclitus' Riddles on Time and Play

[00:05:00] - Plato's Laws on Play and its Role in Life

[00:08:00] - The Transformation of Consciousness Through Language

[00:10:00] - The Significance of Mental Health and Play in Contemporary Society

[00:19:00] - Exploring Donald Winnicott's Theory of Play

[00:29:00] - Carl Jung and the Concept of the Daimon

[00:54:00] - The Legacy of Play in Philosophical and Psychological Thought

[00:58:00] - Q&A Session: Academia, Play, Suffering, and Self-Understanding

[01:12:00] - Concluding Reflections