In this episode, I sit down with philosopher Esther Lightcap Meek to explore how our understanding of knowledge shapes everything, from faith to creativity to everyday life. Esther challenges the modernist assumption that knowledge is merely information gathering, arguing instead for a view of knowing that is personal, participatory, and artful.
Listen or watch as we discuss:
How the "knowledge as information" paradigm cuts us off from reality
Michael Polanyi's concept of subsidiary-focal integration
Why imagination is essential to all knowing (including science!)
The relationship between attention, love, and knowledge
How artful knowing can help us navigate crises of faith
The doctrine of creation and wonder in the ordinary
Re-enchantment vs. the “lively real”
Comparing Esther's work with Iain McGilchrist’s brain hemisphere approach
Whether you're wrestling with doubt, seeking deeper understanding, or simply curious about how we know what we know, this conversation offers profound insights into making contact with reality.
Also available to watch on YouTube:
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction & Opening Reflections
2:43 - Welcoming Esther Meek
4:23 - How did Esther come to philosophy?
8:35 - On navigating crises of faith
13:33 - How Polanyi helps us
17:32 - Subsidiary focal integration
20:57 - Attention, love and knowledge
29:23 - Is re-enchantment helpful?
42:15 - The creativity of logic
49:16 - Imagination and reason - one form of knowing?
53:33 - Imagination as a point of integration
57:02 - Practicing artful attention
1:02:09 - Concluding reflections
Books Mentioned
Doorway to Artistry - Esther Lightcap Meek
Longing to Know - Esther Lightcap Meek
Loving to Know - Esther Lightcap Meek
A Little Manual of Knowing - Esther Lightcap Meek
Personal Knowledge - Michael Polanyi
The Master and His Emissary - Iain McGilchrist
The Matter with Things - Iain McGilchrist
Sophie's World - Jostein Gaarder
Connect with Esther Meek
https://www.estherlightcapmeek.com
https://facebook.com/estherlightcapmeek
https://twitter.com/esther_l_meek
https://instagram.com/estherlightcapmeek
Also mentioned
Creativity and spiritual inspiration: Iain McGilchrist and C.S. Lewis on Reason and Imagination
How does creativity work? What’s going on in our brains when we exercise our imaginations? What’s the relationship between the creative imagination and our more deliberative reason?
