S5E3 The Philosophy of Hope: On Immanence and Transcendence with R.J. Snell

Written in 1978, 'The Power of the Powerless' is a seminal essay by Václav Havel that critiques the post-totalitarian systems of Eastern Europe. The essay, which was circulated in samizdat form, argues that individuals living within such systems must 'live in truth' to challenge the pervasive lies and ideological control of the state. Havel uses the example of a greengrocer displaying a communist slogan to illustrate the mechanisms of compliance and the potential for resistance. The book, edited by John Keane, includes responses from various contributors and provides a broad spectrum of democratic opinions on freedom, power, and civil liberty under totalitarian conditions.

Czesław Miłosz's Second Space collects essays and poetic reflections addressing the modern spiritual condition, exile, and the moral duties of individuals in turbulent times. Miłosz explores the consequences of losing a 'second space'—a spiritual or transcendent dimension beyond material existence—and laments the hollowing of meaning in modernity. The work blends literary criticism, personal memoir, and philosophical insight, drawing on Miłosz's experience under totalitarian regimes and in exile. It is notable for its lyrical prose, moral seriousness, and engagement with questions of faith and human dignity.

In 'A Secular Age', Charles Taylor explores the transformation of Western society from a pre-modern world where belief in God was inescapable to a modern secular age where believing in God is just one option among many. Taylor argues against the 'subtraction story' of secularization, which posits that religion has been removed from society. Instead, he describes a complex historical process involving the Reform movement in Christianity, the rise of disciplinary society, and the emergence of exclusive humanism. The book examines how these changes have affected the conditions of belief and unbelief, and how they have shaped modern social forms, moral orders, and spiritual experiences.

R. J. Snell's 'Lost in the Chaos: Immanence, Despair, Hope' examines philosophical and cultural disorientation in the modern world from a Catholic intellectual perspective. The book explores how currents of immanent thinking and despair have shaped contemporary attitudes and institutions, arguing for a recovery of transcendent frameworks. Snell proposes philosophical and theological resources for hope and renewal, drawing on classical and Christian traditions to diagnose present disorders. He engages with questions about human flourishing, moral order, and the role of reason and revelation in public life. The work aims to offer both critique and constructive pathways for reinvigorating intellectual and civic culture.

This book, based on Tillich's Terry Foundation lectures at Yale University, discusses the concept of courage in various philosophical and theological contexts. It presents courage as the strength to affirm one's own life in spite of its inevitable end and the lack of purpose. Tillich analyzes courage in relation to fortitude, wisdom, self-affirmation, and existence itself, drawing on thinkers such as Plato, Aquinas, the Stoics, Spinoza, and Nietzsche. The book is a sophisticated discussion of human ontology, anthropology, and theology, introducing these concepts to a lay readership.

Lost in the Cosmos is a unique blend of satire, philosophy, and self-help. The book mocks conventional self-help texts while engaging readers in thoughtful contemplation of their existential situations. It uses multiple-choice questions, essays, and 'thought experiments' to explore the complexities of human identity and the search for meaning in a society plagued by moral and social ills. Percy argues that human consciousness is uniquely triadic, involving interactions between the sign user, the sign, and what the sign stands for, leading to a profound sense of alienation and the quest for transcendence.