11 episodes
Athens and Jerusalem (in Education) Knut Ove Æsøy, Steven Phelps, Kamran Namdar
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- Society & Culture
In this podcast we explore the relationship between a scientifically rational and a spiritual approach to reality. That is the relationship of Athens and Jerusalem. Our currently prevalent Western worldview is supposed to be based on rationality. If production of weapons of mass destruction, degradation of the natural environment, and increasing deterioration of mental well-being are signs of rationality, the term is to be considered a dangerous one. In all these, one can detect lack of ethical and existential considerations which renders this worldview essentially an irrational one.
On the other hand, various forms of religious dogmatism and fundamentalism lack true spirituality, as they fail to create both a personal experience of serenity and upliftment and a social practice of empathy, solidarity, and equality.
Essentially, both scientific and religious dogmatism seem to fail due to their disregard for a true and holistic view of human nature. Neither traditional Athens nor historical Jerusalem, alone, have been able to help our deepest human potential flourish, which we consider the task of our modern school system.
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Abolishing school?
In this episode we discuss the idea of abolishing school. Is this a good idea or is it a dangerous one? Maybe we need that dangerous idea to keep the meaning of school alive and not turning the school into a factory to produce children as cogs in the society machinery?
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Music, science and metaphysics - a conversation with Lasse Thoresen
In this episode we have the pleasure to listen to our guest Lasse Thoresen. He is a composer and a researcher in the field of music. In our podcast he connects the creation and listening to music both to Athens and Jerusalem. Please, check out his music!
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Religiosity and conscience
In this episode we explore the religious dimension of conscience. We show the different between the human mind and what we are able to know for sure and how experiences could have a transformative effects of human mind.
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Scientific discoveries and religious possibilities
In this episode we discuss different scientific discoveries and what influence this had on religious thoughts and what possibilities still exist of religious thinking according to a scientific worldview
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Ibn Rushd part II
In this episode we discuss Ibn Rushd's thoughts further and connect it more to education.
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Ibn Rushd
In this episode we introduce Ibn Rushd work and thoughts to the listeners. We understand him as a great thinker and an example of how to integrate Athens and Jerusalem.