Dear Friends,
Here is the latest episode of Paradoxically Speaking — a podcast with my good friend Brandon Tumblin (from The Strong Stoic Newsletter). For anyone new to Paradoxically Speaking, these are casual conversations attempting to explore the complexities and nuances of living our highest good in the modern world.
What is Paradoxically Speaking?
Paradoxes exist nearly everywhere — even in the area of self-improvement. In the classic On Becoming a Person, psychologist Carl Rogers wrote, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” When you encounter a paradox — there is potential and opportunity within the tension.
As the nineteenth-century Danish physicist Niels Bohr put it, “How wonderful that we have met with a paradox. Now we have some hope of making progress.”
Paradoxically Speaking explores principles and practices from multiple sides. For example, we are interested in human goodness (virtue) and our capacity for evil (vice). The wisdom of connection and the power of solitude. The importance of structure and the need for flexibility. Although we intentionally explore life's complexities, we strive to keep things practical.
Here’s a short clip of the conversation:
Youth, Beauty, and Mortality
In this episode of Paradoxically Speaking, Brandon and I explore the themes of beauty, youth, aging, and mortality. We discuss the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray and its exploration of the consequences of eternal youth and beauty. We also delve into the concept of the soul and how it’s shaped by habit and character. The subjective nature of ideals and preferences, the impact of experience and changing priorities, and much more.
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