The Problem of Modernity – A Spiritual Crisis in Essence

Speaker: Dr Brendan O’Byrne, Trinity College, Dublin

Brought to you by Integral Wisdom

There seems to be a broad and growing consensus that something has gone very wrong with Western civilisation, and we are all more or less familiar with the differing (and sometimes conflicting) accounts of what that might be. In my talk I propose to run through what I believe is at the very root of this crisis. At the philosophical level, the crisis originates in the Middle Ages in a difference over how Aristotle is to be understood.

Having set out what is at stake in this dispute, I will move on to address some of the marks of modernisation, for example, the dominance of technical and scientific rationality and its concomitants; the disenchantment of the world, uprootedness, and alienation.

While I do not propose a solution, I do want to make the point that no solution is possible unless and until we have correct analyses of the problem. However, and if time permits, I will have something to say about what we might be able to do as individuals.

Brendan studied for his PhD under the renowned Platonic scholar Professor John M. Dillon and began teaching at Trinity College Dublin in the mid-1990s. His area of speciality is ancient philosophy, particularly the Platonic tradition, but his areas of interest are wide, including German Idealism, Philosophy of Technology, Philosophy of Religion, and Political Philosophy. He is currently researching a work on political philosophy and writing his first novel. He has been very active in a number of outreach projects since the late 2000s.

Cover image: Amanda Reid

Tickets: £12 for an invitation on Zoom. Book using the link below.