232. Unity of Subject and Object

232. Unity of Subject and Object

Author: Nick Jamell June 29, 2021 Duration: 34:05

In today's episode, I want to talk more about the marriage of object and subject in the human person, and what that means.

Find out more here: Unity of Subject and Object

We are Body & Soul Composites

We experience the objective world and we have a subjective lens. In order to understand that, we must remember what I discussed in the last two episodes on objective reality and our subjective experience. We have bodies that are objects in the world, but we also have a mind and soul that allows us to relate to one another, think abstractly, communicate ideas, and create art.

We can influence the world around us

It is possible to influence the world around us. Here are some of the ways we do that. We can:

  1. create, destroy, move, and manipulate objects
  2. persuade people logically
  3. influence people’s emotions
  4. have relationships with a whole person

But we can't dictate reality

This doesn't mean we can dictate everything around us. The laws of nature are beyond our control, although we can use them to our advantage. There are many things we cannot change or influence, and there are some that we have some sway over, but many are out of our control. That is something many subjectivists cannot admit: that our  feelings about the world don't necessarily change it.

Related episodes: 

147. Book Review | Fools, Frauds, and Firebrands by Roger Scruton

124. Our Pornographic Culture

What is Objective Reality?

What is Subjective Reality?


Nick Jamell hosts Conversation of Our Generation, a space where urgent contemporary questions meet enduring ideas from history and philosophy. Rather than reacting to the noise of daily headlines, this podcast deliberately steps back to examine the deeper currents shaping our society and culture. Each episode is a long-form dialogue that treats topics like politics, religion, and social change not as fodder for debate, but as puzzles to be understood with patience and intellectual humility. The aim is to move beneath entrenched partisanship and surface-level takes, searching instead for clearer perspectives and foundational truths. What you’ll hear are thoughtful explorations that connect modern dilemmas to the wisdom of ancient and modern thinkers, asking how we might navigate today’s complexities with a more grounded sense of principle. This isn’t about quick answers; it’s about cultivating a more meaningful and less reactive way of engaging with the world. For anyone feeling adrift in a polarized age, this podcast offers a sustained, earnest conversation that values depth over speed, and understanding over winning an argument. Tune in for a respite from the frantic news cycle and a chance to consider what it means to be part of this particular moment in time, armed with the best ideas from across the ages.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 245

Conversation of Our Generation
Podcast Episodes
150. Unplug To Recharge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:18
We're so plugged into the internet all the time that we rarely see how much of our attention it requires - and how much energy that zaps from us. I've been trying to pull back on the amount of TV and internet I use, and…
149. Book Review | The Screwtape Letters By C.S. Lewis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:05
We all can fall to temptation, normally without even realizing it. The Screwtape Letters are a riveting series of story-like letters that show how people can be tempted to turn away from God. Whether or not you believe i…
148. Justice of the Ancient World and Today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:29
What is justice? It is something that we feel intuitively, but often have trouble pinning down. We know very often when a particular action is unjust, but rarely are fully able to articulate why. Today, we'll dive into t…
147. Book Review | Fools, Frauds, and Firebrands by Roger Scruton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:12
With leaders of the influential BLM movement claiming to be avowed Marxists, I think it's good we look at what Marx and his followers believe. This book is a travel through the development of Marxist thought from simply…
146. Observing Politics Without Going Crazy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:19
The important thing in observing politics is to maintain objectivity and ability to discuss politics in a disassociated manner. This allows one to evaluate the actions of politicians based on the outcomes rather than one…
145. Book Review | Win Bigly by Scott Adams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:00
I read Scott Adam's Win Bigly a couple years after the election of Donald Trump, and it was then that I realized what happened in that election. Up until then, I thought it was a bit lucky with some skill combined with t…
144. How To See Through The Media's Lies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:48
We recently looked at how much faster lies spread than the truth. But, I want to dive deeper to see how we're being lied to and help you identify lies in headlines, articles, and assertions being put forward regularly. I…
143. Book Review | Empire of Lies by Andrew Klavan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:05
Play the episode below, and once you like it, subscribe to the podcast. This is the second book I've reviewed from Andrew Klavan, and the first book of his that I've read. He offers a riveting story that has you question…
Bonus Episode 3 | Conversation With Joe Rigi At Our Warpath [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:37
Play the episode below, and once you like it, subscribe to the podcast. The Catholic Church has a term called the "Church Militant," which is the body of living Christians - those who are still fighting the spiritual fig…
142. Don't Attribute To Stupidity That Which Is Proven To Be Malice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:02
Stupidity doesn't explain everything. And, in our culture, it seems like too many sensible people deny evidence that points to malice in favor of the stupidity explanation. Listen below or subscribe to the podcast here.…