[Matthew]

I really enjoyed James talk. The idea of the social other brought to mind some of the ideas of Bakhtin. It also made me think about how neuroscience is showing us how dependent we are on others for our identity. For example research on Romanian orphans who were left in their cot all day with little human contact has showed virtually a black whole where their orbitofrontal cortex should be.

The idea that our desires are also given to us or that we acquire them through others is for me quite sobering. It certainly makes me question where my desires and values come from. I reflected on the helpful practices that I was inducted into (contemplative prayer for example) and it was interesting the extent to which it was through others that I acquired these practices. This was also the case about some very unhealthy habits as well!

[Matthew]

I found the first talk very interesting. What James has to say about habits and skills resonates with me. I work in the field of mental health and have found that there is a world of difference between understanding something in your head (such as why I have a unhelpful way of relating to another person for example) and feeling and experiencing it in my bones. Sometimes it takes a lot of time to develop more healthy habits and we often need someone to model that different way of being or induct us into it.

[Author]

Posts