Hermitix The Philosophy of Owen Barfield with Mark Vernon
33 snips
Jan 21, 2026 
Mark Vernon, a British psychotherapist and writer, dives deep into the philosophy of Owen Barfield, who influenced literary giants like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Vernon highlights Barfield's idea of 'original participation' versus modern objectivity, explaining how the evolution of consciousness has shifted our understanding of meaning. He also explores how Barfield's insights relate to modernity's decline in coherent meaning and the importance of imagination. The discussion includes practical implications of Barfield's thoughts on spirituality and transformation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Words Carry Lost Worlds
- Owen Barfield argued that reading Plato without grasping his participative sense misses the point.
- Language and worldview shift over time so words like 'theory' once implied pilgrimage, not just testable propositions.
Camera Versus Aeolian Harp
- Barfield diagnoses a cultural shift from participative knowing to objective truth-seeking as modernity's core change.
- He contrasts the camera (snapshot, possessive) with the aeolian harp (resonant, participative).
Fossils Of Consciousness
- Barfield reads etymology as 'fossils of consciousness' to map shifts in collective perception.
- He frames history as a U-shape: original participation, withdrawal (the 'fall'), then a possible return to renewed participation.
