Searching for Meaning in a Secular Age

Host Harry Kreisler welcomes philosophy professors Hubert Dreyfus and Sean Kelly to discuss their book, "All Things Shining." Drawing on their reading of Western classics, Dreyfus and Kelly analyze how different epochs offered unique answers to the question of what is sacred and what can provide meaning for human existence. They explore the examples of Homer, Jesus, and Melville to highlight differing paradigms of culture practice. Dreyfus and Kelly then trace the transition to the secular age in which nihilism prevails. They conclude by identifying how a sense of meaning emerges from heroism, athletics, and craftsmanship. Series: "Conversations with History" [5/2011] [Humanities] [Show ID: 21338]

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Hubert Dreyfus
• Sean Kelly
• secular
• nihilism

[quarkonium]

@ham33d it's Zhuang Zi ;)

[ham33d]

anyone got the name of the chinese philosopher mentioned at 55:40?

[dexter21380]

Really really reallyyyyyyyyyy good stuff. This reminds me of poetry (the movie), zazen, and a whole lot of other stuff that are just wonderful. :) ...and i'm an Atheist, which means nothing in relation to what they're trying to say, so please stop rating it without actually viewing it.

[nsl7857]

celal. before telling everyone else what to think, you might actually watch the video and hear what they're saying. if you did that, I'm sorry, you missed the point and I'm not sure why you'd listen if you aren't prepared to learn. and its 'epoch' not 'epic'

[celal777]

@celal777 (continued) but what these guys are proposing as a solution is essentially turning their students into a bunch of idolaters by encouraging them to take on Homeric and other idols. To escape Nihilism, what needs to happen is to give your life to Jesus -- He is real , these idols are not. Besides Western society has no better "epic" or even anything that comes close outside the Bible.

[celal777]

Man is a worshipping being. Kelly starts out the lecture by noticing that today there are many religious people but basically he says they don't really take their religion seriously because it doesn't affect their day to day decisions. He's right about this. American Evangelicalism worships "personal peace and prosperity" just like the rest of the culture instead of being true worshippers of Christ. Christ demands all. But folk refuse to give all, hence the nihilism (continued)

[SamNoble89]

@KC101X sec·u·lar adj 1. Worldly rather than spiritual. 2. Not specifically relating to religion or to a religious body: secular music. 3. Relating to or advocating secularism. 4. Not bound by monastic restrictions, especially not belonging to a religious order. Used of the clergy. 5. Occurring or observed once in an age or century. 6. Lasting from century to century. n. 1. A member of the secular clergy. 2. A layperson.

[Aaberg123]

@Charles33333

Lol what? Yeah, atheists are usually the ones that shy away from discussion and debate. Right....

[Aaberg123]

@KC101X

... try again. Greeks did more than Jesus.

[bdeaner]

@Mahoivlich

Rape is a violation of something sacred. You don't see that?