234. The Golden Mean for Understanding Objective and Subjective Reality

234. The Golden Mean for Understanding Objective and Subjective Reality

Author: Nick Jamell July 13, 2021 Duration: 24:59

I've discussed the Golden Mean a number of times on the podcast and in various ways. Today, I want to reiterate what the Mean is and how we use practical wisdom to seek it. But, I'll be discussing that in reference to objective and subjective reality. Where are the excesses and defects in our understandings of these two ideas? That's what I'll dive into today.

Here are some of the excesses and defects I think take us away from the mean. You can listen to the episode above to dive deeper into the why and how.

Find out more: The Golden Mean for Understanding Objective and Subjective Reality

Excesses in Understandings of Objective Reality

  • Belief that only the physical world exists
  • Believing only in what the senses observe
  • Denial of abstract truths or moral truths

Defects in Understandings of Objective Reality

  • Doubting the external world
  • Disbelief in natural law
  • Lack of belief in truth

Excesses in Understandings of Subjective Experience

  • Radical relativism
  • Critical theory
  • Attacks on beauty and art

Defects in Understandings of Subjective Experience

  • Denial of free will
  • Attributing human consciousness to natural phenomenon
  • Not allowing for tastes, preferences, or opinions

Other episodes in this series:


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
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