Great conversation, lads. I like McGilchrist, too, and in fact think he's discovered a way forward, in a language and mythology we can use without pretending to be able to "wrench out of modernity some kind of pre-modern outcome" (well said) -- and without pretending that we'd even need to, or want to. That said, I found myself thinking that the light at the end of the tunnel that momentarily opened up, then vanished, in the conversation -- something like "maybe all we have to do is flip a switch," getting back to a more right hemisphere dominant mode of consciousness -- I found myself thinking: That's a very left hemisphere thought, isn't it? That the brain would be a mechanism which is currently malfunctioning, but could function normally again, if only we could find that switch! (After trying to be Eastern Orthodox for 13 years, I now have the same thought about Orthodoxy as the easy light at the end of the tunnel -- you can't just leap back to the fourth century, either, as JBP said of JP.) My little thought is, when some kind of inconceivable rupture with living spiritual tradition happens, no, you can't reconstruct anything, and no, you can't leap across. But the Earth itself holds the memories we need, and we can re-integrate ourselves as we re-member those memories, touching the Earth.
Apr 25·edited Apr 25Liked by John Carter, Michael Lindsey
very enjoyable. I came to similar conclusion by different route. the 2 brothers are in us all. and i have seen them harnessed all my life. the oldest stories of all are the 2 brothers. ancient people did not have the distractions we do, i believe the concept was known, although in a different way. the poet and the warrior are in a chariot, the poet must be the driver. in tolkein, boromir and faramir. power tempts one and not the other. Cain kills Abel, the rightful heir and favored by god. if all you have is a warrior, everything looks like war. war on poverty, war on terror, holy war. This brother is deliberately invoked on purpose, repeatedly. the 2 brothers exist in us all. we can invoke them. in ancient Ireland young people learning, were called poets. to invoke that brother to life within them. the triads, were taught to counter that dualistic reductionistic thinking of the warrior. the warrior is not bad, he is magnificent, we own him our life, but the poet, must be the driver of our life. In advertising they taught us there was a life impulse and a death impulse. the warrior, is just a bit excited by death. tends to addictions of poison , while the poet is life affirming. does not tend towards addiction. accepts pain and joy with grace.
“the warrior is not bad, he is magnificent, we own him our life, but the poet, must be the driver of our life. In advertising they taught us there was a life impulse and a death impulse. the warrior, is just a bit excited by death. tends to addictions of poison , while the poet is life affirming. does not tend towards addiction. accepts pain and joy with grace.”
Will get to listening to Michael and John on this, but I notice that the you're thinking about a chariot with the warrior and poet in there by themselves: other key classical notions of the best life, like the philosopher, the statesman, and the man of god, are nowhere to be seen, and you seem to reduce one key modern notion of the best life, the reductionistic scientist, to that of the warrior. You've got a good start , though, and I'll have to check out your stack.
didn't you ever find it weird, that every damn thing is a war? why , of why, this choice of words, all the time. there are lots of other words to choose from....but no.
Your thoughts on Venice reminded me of my visit to Bruges last year. The place has been beautifully restored/preserved (and the beer is exceptional), but at the same time I found it quite unsettling. It felt in some ways as though I was in an episode of 'Westworld'. Thanks for the superb conversation!
I did a pod with the Collins’ then stayed at their house in Pennsylvania.
They run a travel agency and have four kids, chickens and colonial house.
They’re politically conservative and their podcast is called BasedCamp. They call their “cultural religious group” (which I think is more or less just them) Secular Calvinism
Great conversation, lads. I like McGilchrist, too, and in fact think he's discovered a way forward, in a language and mythology we can use without pretending to be able to "wrench out of modernity some kind of pre-modern outcome" (well said) -- and without pretending that we'd even need to, or want to. That said, I found myself thinking that the light at the end of the tunnel that momentarily opened up, then vanished, in the conversation -- something like "maybe all we have to do is flip a switch," getting back to a more right hemisphere dominant mode of consciousness -- I found myself thinking: That's a very left hemisphere thought, isn't it? That the brain would be a mechanism which is currently malfunctioning, but could function normally again, if only we could find that switch! (After trying to be Eastern Orthodox for 13 years, I now have the same thought about Orthodoxy as the easy light at the end of the tunnel -- you can't just leap back to the fourth century, either, as JBP said of JP.) My little thought is, when some kind of inconceivable rupture with living spiritual tradition happens, no, you can't reconstruct anything, and no, you can't leap across. But the Earth itself holds the memories we need, and we can re-integrate ourselves as we re-member those memories, touching the Earth.
Very well said, friend
It's extremely difficult to separate ourselves from the left brain mechanical metaphors of our culture.
McGilchrist himself warns against easy solutions, for precisely the reason you suggest - that even looking for solutions puts us back in the LH mode.
this is nice comment and it's ultimately "touch grass"--I thought this funny as the lads talked about memes expressing "high level mythic truth"
very enjoyable. I came to similar conclusion by different route. the 2 brothers are in us all. and i have seen them harnessed all my life. the oldest stories of all are the 2 brothers. ancient people did not have the distractions we do, i believe the concept was known, although in a different way. the poet and the warrior are in a chariot, the poet must be the driver. in tolkein, boromir and faramir. power tempts one and not the other. Cain kills Abel, the rightful heir and favored by god. if all you have is a warrior, everything looks like war. war on poverty, war on terror, holy war. This brother is deliberately invoked on purpose, repeatedly. the 2 brothers exist in us all. we can invoke them. in ancient Ireland young people learning, were called poets. to invoke that brother to life within them. the triads, were taught to counter that dualistic reductionistic thinking of the warrior. the warrior is not bad, he is magnificent, we own him our life, but the poet, must be the driver of our life. In advertising they taught us there was a life impulse and a death impulse. the warrior, is just a bit excited by death. tends to addictions of poison , while the poet is life affirming. does not tend towards addiction. accepts pain and joy with grace.
“the warrior is not bad, he is magnificent, we own him our life, but the poet, must be the driver of our life. In advertising they taught us there was a life impulse and a death impulse. the warrior, is just a bit excited by death. tends to addictions of poison , while the poet is life affirming. does not tend towards addiction. accepts pain and joy with grace.”
Nice
Will get to listening to Michael and John on this, but I notice that the you're thinking about a chariot with the warrior and poet in there by themselves: other key classical notions of the best life, like the philosopher, the statesman, and the man of god, are nowhere to be seen, and you seem to reduce one key modern notion of the best life, the reductionistic scientist, to that of the warrior. You've got a good start , though, and I'll have to check out your stack.
I just discovered you two, and this was truly fascinating. Keep up the good work.
didn't you ever find it weird, that every damn thing is a war? why , of why, this choice of words, all the time. there are lots of other words to choose from....but no.
Thanks fellas, this was great.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Your thoughts on Venice reminded me of my visit to Bruges last year. The place has been beautifully restored/preserved (and the beer is exceptional), but at the same time I found it quite unsettling. It felt in some ways as though I was in an episode of 'Westworld'. Thanks for the superb conversation!
https://michaellindsey.substack.com/p/a-beaker-full-of-the-warm-south
Thanks very much. I'd encourage you to read my more complete thoughts in this article.
I did a pod with the Collins’ then stayed at their house in Pennsylvania.
They run a travel agency and have four kids, chickens and colonial house.
They’re politically conservative and their podcast is called BasedCamp. They call their “cultural religious group” (which I think is more or less just them) Secular Calvinism