The Spirit of Play: The Sophia Lectures

3 West Gordon Street,Savannah GA 31401

10 April, 2023

Description

While the lecture series aims to make sense of our contemporary moment, it does so through the study of Western culture’s foundational texts, ideas, and spiritual insights. The first lecturer in this series, Dr Douglas Hedley, is an internationally recognized scholar and Professor of the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Cambridge.  His five lectures will explore the underlying philosophical dimension of play in all of its forms. The subject of his lectures will be The Spirit of Play.  Engaging with a wide array of sources —from Greek philosophy to Patristic and medieval theology, Indian metaphysics and contemporary ludic studies—Professor Hedley will explore the underlying philosophical dimension of play in all of its forms.  Is there a principle that unites the play of animals, the simple games of children, the intricacy of fine art, or the paraphernalia of professional athletics?  And what connection obtains between the free play of the imagination and the Divine act of creation?  Professor Hedley will take up these questions, among many others, in conversation with interlocutors like Schiller, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Johan Huizinga, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.  Please join us for one or all of these lectures, which will also be recorded: Monday, April 3rd, 5:30-7 p.m.Monday, April 10th, 5:30-7 p.m.Monday, April 17th, 5:30-7 p.m.Monday, April 24th, 5:30-7 p.m.Monday, May 1st, 5:30-7 p.m. Free and open to the public.