The Spirit of Play: A Conversation with Professor Douglas Hedley and Dr Stephen Blackwood

The Ralston College Podcast

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