In the fourth Sophia Lecture, Professor Douglas Hedley explores the transformative power of play in art and human consciousness, examining its philosophical significance across various cultures and traditions. Hedley highlights play's role in fostering aesthetic appreciation and creativity, embarking on a historical and philosophical journey from ancient wisdom to modern interpretations. He scrutinizes the aesthetic crisis in contemporary art, noting its departure from traditional notions of beauty and creativity, and weaves together intriguing concepts from evolutionary psychology, post-structuralist theories, and sacred art dimensions. Central to his discussion are the contributions of Kant, Schiller, and Gadamer, which shed light on art's role in society and individual lives. The lecture culminates in a compelling argument to reignite beauty's appreciation, urging a re-embrace of art's transformative potential in contemporary discourse. By positioning art as a conduit for truth and moral reflection, Hedley calls for a rediscovery of the deep connections between art, beauty, and the human condition.   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   Aesthetics: The branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste.   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   Living Forms of the Imagination -Douglas Hedley https://www.amazon.com/Living-Forms-Imagination-Douglas-Hedley/dp/0567032957   Sacrifice Imagined: Violence, Atonement, and the Sacred - Douglas Hedley https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Imagined-Violence-Atonement-Sacred/dp/1441194452   The Iconic Imagination - Douglas Hedley https://www.amazon.com/Iconic-Imagination-Douglas-Hedley/dp/1441194630   Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture - Johan Huizinga  https://www.amazon.com/Homo-Ludens-Study-Play-Element-Culture/dp/1621389995   Truth and Method - Hans-Georg Gadamer  https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Method-Hans-Georg-Gadamer/dp/0826405851    Likeness and Presence: A History of the Image before the Era of Art - Hans Belting https://www.amazon.com/Likeness-Presence-History-Image-before/dp/0226042154 Quotes   "Friedrich Schiller observes that man only plays when he is in the fullest sense of the word a human being, and he is only fully a human being when he plays." - Douglas Hedley [00:15:49]   There has emerged a widely documented crisis of aesthetics. In the wake of Duchamp, or Warhol, it becomes more difficult to speak of the artwork, or indeed, aesthetic experience, more broadly." - Douglas Hedley [00:03:52]  Chapters    00:00:00] Introduction to the Aesthetics of Play [00:02:25] Philosophical Significance of Art, Beauty, and Aesthetics [00:17:00] Kant's Contribution to Aesthetics and the Concept of Genius [00:24:00] Schiller's Aesthetic Education of Man and the Concept of Play [00:33:40] Gadamer's Exploration of Art's Ontology and the Critical Role of Play [00:52:56] Audience Questions and Reflections  

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  

In this second episode of the Sophia Lectures, Professor Douglas Hedley from the University of Cambridge embarks on a deep exploration into the theme of "play" and its relationship to consciousness, language, and poetic expression. Drawing upon the intellectual legacies of Owen Barfield and Hans-Georg Gadamer, Hedley explores the philosophical and theological dimensions of language, highlighting its role in shaping our understanding of existence. He discusses the concept of the "inner word" as described by Augustine and how poetry serves as a bridge between the tangible and the abstract, allowing for playful exploration of meaning. Hedley critiques modern perspectives on consciousness, suggesting that they often overlook the importance of play in human experience. Through discussions on the significance of metaphor, the societal role of poetry, and the collective versus individual nature of consciousness, Hedley offers a comprehensive examination of how language and poetry are fundamental to our comprehension of the world and how play is a vital aspect of this process.  This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersections of language, consciousness, and the human condition, providing a rich tapestry of philosophical inquiry and reflection.   Douglas Hedley is a distinguished philosopher at the University of Cambridge, celebrated for his extensive research in the philosophy of religion and Platonism. He is the author of multiple influential works on imagination and religious experience.   Glossary of Terms   Language games: A concept introduced by Ludwig Wittgenstein that highlights the importance of usage and practice in shaping meaning   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   Philosophical Investigations - Ludwig Wittgenstein  https://www.amazon.com/Philosophical-Investigations-Ludwig-Wittgenstein/dp/0631205691   The Trinity (Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century) - Saint Augustine  https://www.amazon.com/Trinity-2nd-Works-Saint-Augustine/dp/1565484460   Saving the Appearances: A Study in Idolatry - Owen Barfield https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Appearances-Idolatry-Owen-Barfield/dp/081956205X   Truth and Method - Hans-Georg Gadamer https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Method-Hans-Georg-Gadamer/dp/0826405851   Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature - Richard Rorty https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Mirror-Nature-Richard-Rorty/dp/0691020167   Augustine-Confessions-vol-1.pdf - Augustine. (n.d.). Confessions, Vol. 1. https://wesleyscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Augustine-Confessions-vol-1.pdf   Plato. (n.d.). Alcibiades 1. https://www.platonicfoundation.org/platos-alcibiades-1/   Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture - Johan Huizinga  https://www.amazon.com/Homo-Ludens-Study-Play-Element-Culture/dp/1621389995   Quotes   "The great archetypal activities of human society are all permeated with play from the start." - Johann Huizinga, Homo Ludens [00:02:30]   “I think consciousness is fundamental to existence. In fact, it's the great philosophical question of our age.” - Douglas Hedley [01:01:24]   Chapters    [00:00:00] - Introduction to Sophia Lectures: Overview and Introduction of Professor Douglas Hedley   [00:02:00] - Exploring Play and Language: Merging Huizinga’s Play Concept with Wittgenstein’s Language Games and Investigations to Reveal Language’s Essence in Shaping Human Culture and Thought.   [00:20:00] - The Inner Word and the Play of Meaning: Exploring Augustine’s Inner Word and Poetry’s Power to Unveil Transcendent Truths.   [00:26:00] - Tradition, Interpretation, and the Essence of Language: Exploring the Intellectual Legacies of Barfield and Gadamer, Their Critique of Modernism, and the Philosophical Significance of Language's Transcendental Source.   [00:52:00] - Participation, Aesthetics, and the Divine Word: Navigating Gadamer's Concept of Participation through Platonic Light, Aesthetic Experience, and the Theological Depths of Language.   [01:00:00] - Audience Q&A and Concluding Reflections

University of Cambridge philosopher, Professor Douglas Hedley, delves into the concept of play and its vital role in understanding the human condition. Drawing on Johann Huizinga, Hermann Hesse, and Josef Pieper's ideas, Hedley links play to the divine act of creation, asserting it as an essential element of our existence associated with freedom, creativity, and spirituality. He considers various viewpoints from Christian and Eastern traditions, addressing criticisms and underscoring play's civilizing role. Through Hermann Hesse's "The Glass Bead Game," Hedley probes into play's societal function, its ties to leisure and festivals, and its life-enriching effects. The lecture's Q&A session offers additional insights, marking it as a significant resource for those intrigued by play's profound meanings. Douglas Hedley is a distinguished philosopher at the University of Cambridge, celebrated for his extensive research in the philosophy of religion and Platonism. He is the author of multiple influential works on imagination and religious experience. Glossary of Terms Sophia: Greek word for wisdom, used in the context of the lecture series to signify the exploration of wisdom through philosophy. The Delphic Oracle: The ancient Greek oracle at Delphi, famous for its cryptic predictions and guidance, including the maxim 'know thyself.' Resources Website:  https://www.ralston.ac/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RalstonCollegeSavannah X: https://twitter.com/RalstonCollege Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ralstoncollege/ Douglas Hedley https://www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/directory/douglas-hedley https://www.ralston.ac/people/douglas-hedley Living Forms of the Imagination -Douglas Hedley Sacrifice Imagined: Violence, Atonement, and the Sacred - Douglas Hedley The Iconic Imagination - Douglas Hedley The History of Religious Imagination in Christian Platonism,  Exploring the Philosophy of Douglas Hedley - Christian Hengstermann Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture - Johan Huizinga  In the Shadow of Tomorrow: A Diagnosis of the Modern Distemper - Johan Huizinga  Leisure: The Basis of Culture - Josef Pieper  The Glass Bead Game (Magister Ludi) -  Hermann Hesse  The Journey to the East - Hermann Hesse Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse  Religion in Human Evolution: From the Paleolithic to the Axial Age - Robert N. Bellah  Tertullian. (n.d.). De Spectaculis. De Ludo Globi: The Game of Spheres - Nicholas de Cusa   Plato. (n.d.). Symposium.  https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/symposium.html Plato. (n.d.). Phaedo. https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/phaedo.html Plato. (n.d.). Laws.  https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/laws.1.i.html Quotes "Platonic games and jokes are much more serious than the serious things of the Stoics." - Marsilio Ficino [00:09:20] "Play may well be a key to understanding something about ourselves." - Douglas Hedley [00:09:00] Chapters  [00:00:00] - Introduction [00:01:00] - Welcome and introduction of Sophia lectures series  [00:06:40] - Topic introduction: The Spirit of Play [00:08:13] - Guest speaker introduction: Professor Douglas Hedley [00:09:40] - Distinguishing play and game [00:15:00] - Play as an intimation of the sacred [00:20:40] - The link between play and freedom [00:26:40] - Essentialism and play as an essential part of human condition [00:31:20] - Critique of play within the Christian tradition [00:36:50] - The glass bead game by Hermann Hesse [00:45:00] - Critique of Mandarin culture in the glass bead game [00:51:00] - Religious aspect of play [01:02:00] - Suspicion of leisure in Anglo-American culture [01:04:00] - Q&A session [01:37:19] - Conclusion of Q&A session and end of the lecture

In the inaugural episode of the Sophia Lecture Series, Ralston College President Stephen Blackwood and distinguished Cambridge Professor Douglas Hedley explore "The Spirit of Play", delving into the enigmatic nature of play, its historical and philosophical significance, and its intricate connection with human culture and imagination. This discussion highlights that concept's relevance in today's society, its role in fostering a comprehensive understanding of human experience, and its importance in addressing fundamental questions of human existence. By examining the playful foundations of philosophical inquiry and the significance of imagination, this conversation encourages listeners to embrace a richer, more nuanced view of the world, ultimately challenging our understanding of human culture and intellectual pursuits. Douglas Hedley is a distinguished philosopher at the University of Cambridge, celebrated for his extensive research in the philosophy of religion and Platonism. He is the author of multiple influential works on imagination and religious experience. Resources Ralston College  Website:  https://www.ralston.ac/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RalstonCollegeSavannah X: https://twitter.com/RalstonCollege Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ralstoncollege/ Douglas Hedley https://www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/directory/douglas-hedley https://www.ralston.ac/people/douglas-hedley Living Forms of the Imagination -Douglas Hedley  Sacrifice Imagined: Violence, Atonement, and the Sacred - Douglas Hedley  The Iconic Imagination - Douglas Hedley  Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture - Johan Huizinga Truth and Method - Hans-Georg Gadamer  Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Praise of Folly. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Quotes "The concept of play...straddles evolutionary history, psychology, ethics, aesthetics, even religion." - Douglas Hedley [00:01:24] "Play, perhaps surprisingly, has quite a significant role in the history of philosophy." - Douglas Hedley [00:02:53]  "Metaphysics is our spiritual oxygen." - Douglas Hedley [00:17:35]  Chapters  [00:00:00] - Introduction to Professor Douglas Hedley and the Sophia Lecture Series   [00:01:20] - Discussion on the choice of “The Spirit of Play” as the lectures' topic [00:02:00] - Explanation of play's multifaceted nature [00:04:40] - Importance of play in understanding human experience [00:05:00] - Recommendation of Johan Huizinga's Homo Ludens [00:07:00] - Connection between play and the history of philosophy [00:08:20] - Kant, Schiller, and Gadamer's perspectives on play [00:09:20] - Ralston College as a vision of Christian humanism [00:10:40] - Philosophy as a way of life and the importance of friendship [00:11:20] - Learning through imitation and the educational experience [00:12:40] - Joy from immersion in the philosophical tradition [00:13:20] - Challenges to traditional humanities in contemporary culture [00:14:20] - The richness of the Christian Platonic tradition [00:15:20] - Discussion on ultimate questions independent of social constructs [00:16:40] - The significance of beauty in the cosmos [00:18:00] - Conclusion and appreciation for Hedley's contributions

Ralston College presents a lecture by University of Cambridge Professor Douglas Hedley on the influential and mysterious pre-Socratic philosopher Pythagoras. Given in the very cave in Samos in which Pythagoras taught, this brief lecture touches on the philosopher’s influence on the Western tradition and the importance of the cave as an imaginative motif. Professor Hedley explores this recurring symbol as a place of birth and rebirth, of contemplation and illumination, and of tremendous inspiration to later figures such as Plato and many early Christian thinkers.   The lecture took place during the first term of Ralston College's inaugural MA in the Humanities in autumn of 2022. Authors, Ideas, and Works Mentioned in this Episode Eusebius Werner Jaeger Ralph Cudworth Kabbalah Pythagoras The Lyceum Lloyd P. Gerson St Ambrose Johannes Reuchlin St Augustine Metempsychosis Orphism Empedocles Plato’s Cave Socrates Mithraism Cave of the Apocalypse in Patmos Parmenides Aristotle Pindar Immanuel Kant Gottlob Frege Links of Possible Interest Douglas Hedley’s Cambridge Profile https://www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/directory/douglas-hedley  Living Forms of the Imagination https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0567032957/breviaryinfo-21 Dr Stephen Blackwood  https://www.stephenjblackwood.com Dr James Bryson  https://www.ralston.ac/people/james-bryson Ralston College (including newsletter) https://ralston.ac    Ralston College Short Courses  https://www.ralston.ac/humanities-short-courses

Ralston College presents a lecture by Marie Kawthar Daouda on the infamous French poet, Charles Baudelaire. Baudelaire published one collection of poems in his lifetime, 'Les Fleurs du mal,' which was met by outrage and led to a scandalous lawsuit because of some poems’ graphic content. The problem with Baudelaire was not so much that he was writing about sex, drunkenness, and violence; it was that he wrote about ugly things—at times horrible things—while using the classical perfection of the French verse, and merged the longing for a lost ideal with the modernity of Haussmanian Paris. As such, Baudelaire's art is not about gruesome indecency, but about acknowledging horror as a non-negotiable part both of the human condition and of the creation of the self. Dr Daouda’s lecture focuses on two particular sonnets, 'À une passante' and 'Recueillement,' which offer emblematic examples of Baudelaire’s poetic technique and his philosophical heritage, and help to explain why, although he died in utter misery, he was one of the most influential artistic figures of the century that followed.   This lecture and discussion were recorded with a live online audience on June 23rd, 2022.   Authors, Ideas, and Works Mentioned in this Episode Charles Baudelaire Eugene Delacroix, 'La Liberté guidant le peuple' Chateaubriand Benjamin Constant Alphonse de Lamartine Victor Hugo, 'Les Miserables' George Sand Jean-Jacques Rousseau Voltaire Victor Hugo, 'Les Chansons des rues et des bois' Édouard Manet Blaise Pascal Joseph de Maistre Edgar Allan Poe Platonism Neo-Platonism Edgar Allan Poe, 'The Imp of the Perverse' Charles Baudelaire, 'L’art romantique' Charles Baudelaire, 'Les Fleurs du mal' Carlos Schwabe, 'Spleen et idéal' Oscar Wilde Charles Baudelaire, 'À une passante' Petrus Borel, 'Champavert' Charles Baudelaire, 'Recueillement' Charles Baudelaire, 'Le Spleen de Paris' Michael Edwards, 'Bible et poésie' Vladimir Jankélévitch, 'La Mort' Carlos Schwabe, 'Les Noces du poete et de la Muse ou L’Ideal' Gustav Maureau Lord Byron Links of Possible Interest Dr Marie Kawthar Daouda's biography https://www.ralston.ac/people/marie-k... Dr Stephen Blackwood https://www.stephenjblackwood.com Ralston College https://ralston.ac Ralston College Short Courses https://www.ralston.ac/humanities-sho... Ralston College Humanities MA https://www.ralston.ac/humanities-ma

Ralston College presents a lecture by Arif Ahmed on David Hume’s conception of self in Book I of his ‘Treatise of Human Nature.’ The idea of ‘the self’ or ‘soul’ as an enduring subject of experience seems very natural, indeed almost inevitable. Hume, however, argues that it is a mistake; and he gives a novel account of what it means for you or me to exist at any one time or across different times. In his lecture, Dr Ahmed assesses Hume's central argument and discusses whether it sheds any light on related questions concerning responsibility, the morality of life and death, and the nature and rationality of 'self-interest.' This lecture and discussion were recorded with a live online audience on May 19th, 2022.

Ralston College presents a lecture by Alan Charles Kors on Voltaire's great work 'The Philosophical Letters.' Profoundly impressed by the English scientific and philosophical revolutions of the seventeenth century, Voltaire sought to explain and to popularize new British thinking to his French readers. He argued that sound and innovative thinkers were more important to humanity than its political or military heroes and that preferring the philosophers of one’s native land over those of another nation was a barrier to truth and knowledge. In this second part of a broader lecture on Voltaire's thought, Professor Kors expands upon Voltaire’s observations of the relative political and economic freedom in England at the time and its connection to an underlying philosophical worldview. This lecture and discussion were recorded with a live online audience on April 28th, 2022.

Ralston College presents a two-part series of lectures by Alan Charles Kors on Voltaire's great work 'The Philosophical Letters.' Profoundly impressed by the English scientific and philosophical revolutions of the seventeenth century, Voltaire sought to explain and to popularize new British thinking to his French readers. He argued that sound and innovative thinkers were more important to humanity than its political or military heroes and that preferring the philosophers of one’s native land over those of another nation was a barrier to the advance of truth and knowledge. In this first lecture, Professor Kors explores the reasons for Voltaire's fascination with the English empirical tradition, which is exemplified by Francis Bacon, John Locke, and Isaac Newton. This lecture and discussion were recorded with a live online audience on April 21st, 2022.