Literature of the Meaning Crisis Live Q&A with John Vervaeke

SUMMARY

John Vervaeke and Christopher Master Petro discuss an upcoming course on literature and the meaning crisis hosted by the Veri Foundation.

IDEAS:

  • The course explores novels and poetry grappling with the meaning crisis.
  • Literature, not just philosophy, can apprehend the meaning crisis.
  • Works like “Moby Dick” and “Heart of Darkness” are pivotal books.
  • The course includes lectures and discussions, not comprehensive reviews.
  • Participants are encouraged to read the books alongside the course.
  • Two tiers offered: live attendance and self-directed versions.
  • The course aims to provoke nonpropositional knowing through art.
  • ”The Death of Ivan Ilyich” reveals different kinds of knowing.
  • Camu’s “The Plague” explores being a saint without God amid absurdity.
  • ”Death in Venice” reflects on platonic Eros in the meaning crisis.
  • ”Notes from Underground” by Dostoevsky is a fresh exploration for Vervaeke.
  • The course is a psychospiritual existential response to literature.
  • Non-theistic sacred texts can be inexhaustible fountains of intelligibility.
  • Sacred texts for non-theists transform readers and guide normative judgments.

INSIGHTS:

  • Artistic works can uniquely invoke existential and spiritual transformation.
  • Reading literature in a course can inspire deeper engagement with texts.
  • Non-theistic perspectives find sacredness in texts beyond divine revelation.
  • Courses outside academia offer freedom to explore learning intrinsically.
  • Fiction can serve as a vehicle for confronting life’s profound questions.

QUOTES:

  • “Literature and poetry are important aspects of… the meaning crisis."
  • "I will not be able to give you some comprehensive review of Moby Dick."
  • "I want to share that sense with them like why is he called Captain Ahab."
  • "The Heart of Darkness… is about human beings open to the call of transcendence."
  • "The plague… represents that sort of post nominalism postmodernity."
  • "Death in Venice… has this reflection on sort of Eros but in a philosophical sense."
  • "Notes from Underground… gives a lot of the important themes and motifs."
  • "These courses are meant to be psychospiritual existential responses."
  • "A non-theistic sacred text would be a text that is an inexhaustible Fountain of intelligibility."
  • "Books like Moby Dick are sacred texts for me.”

HABITS:

  • Reading pivotal literature to understand human existential crises.
  • Engaging with art to provoke deeper philosophical reflections.
  • Encouraging reading alongside courses for comprehensive understanding.
  • Offering tiered course structures to accommodate different learners.
  • Approaching teaching as a journey of joint exploration with students.
  • Emphasizing transformation over mere acquisition of knowledge in courses.
  • Considering non-theistic perspectives on what constitutes sacred texts.
  • Valuing literature for its capacity to transform and guide individuals.
  • Seeking to understand texts as vehicles for confronting the meaning crisis.
  • Embracing the role of Navigator in guiding students through complex ideas.

FACTS:

  • The Veri Foundation is hosting a course on literature and the meaning crisis.
  • The course will cover novels and poetry related to existential questions.
  • Live attendance and self-directed versions of the course are available.
  • The course aims to provide a psychospiritual response to literature.
  • Non-theistic sacred texts can profoundly transform readers’ lives.

REFERENCES:

RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • Read novels and poetry that grapple with existential and spiritual crises.
  • Engage with literature to deepen understanding of the meaning crisis.
  • Participate in courses that offer transformative learning experiences.
  • Explore non-theistic perspectives on what constitutes sacred texts.
  • Approach learning as an intrinsic pursuit rather than for credentials.