Willliams - Plato III: All that Matters

My family recently had dinner with a former student from Miami University who is now married and lives in Chicago. Her husband’s father is Ieuan Williams, author of All That Matters: PLATO III (2013). As I was leaving dinner, I was offered a copy of the book and invited to meet Williams when he visits the U.S.A. later this year.

The book (only 150 pages) offered a tight overview of Plato’s views and their relevance to the modern day. Most of those who have bachelor’s degrees have some familiarity with Plato but it was very useful to have the core of his philosophy boiled down to essential points. Plato’s view of the world derived from his mentor, Socrates. Concerns about the state of Athens and the growing influence of money, greater inequality and unfairness, compelled Socrates to challenge his fellow citizens, a challenge which resulted in his being sentenced to death, a sentence he enforced upon himself by taking hemlock. Much of Plato’s early writing reflected on Socrates’ teaching and life.

Socrates was dedicated to learning and believed that it was critical for citizens to give up confusing or false ideas, thereby contributing to a better life for the individual and broader community. The essence of this view was that all wisdom amounted to one central assumption – ‘that I do not think that I know what I do not know’ (p. 14). The problem of knowing what we do not know was and continues to be complicated. Plato believed that the Sophists of ancient Athens muddied our understanding by relying on oratory, a process of investigating the relationship between language and speakers. By contrast, Plato believed that seeking understanding should focus on the relationship between language and the real world in which we live. Oratory, as practiced in ancient Athens, often resulted in injustice and unhappiness due to the selfish pursuit of benefit for those able to persuade others. Another important point Plato asserted was that to improve the quality of thinking, information (disputable, practical, and transient) needed to be distinguished from knowledge (real, permanent, and true). And, because of the close associations among human beings, the condition of individual souls is inextricably linked to the “moral, cultural and political ethos of the society” (p. 62).

Plato believed in the creation of a just society where all citizens dedicated themselves to pursuing the single purpose for which they were most suited. Again, the importance of education (and knowledge acquisition) was reiterated. “Plato’s theory is this: education can only succeed in fostering good citizenship, and thus promote a just society, by bringing about moral unity and order in individual souls, and it can only do this by ensuring that the virtues of moderation, courage, and wisdom, in both the soul and the state, prevail over the vices of excess cowardice and folly” (p. 86). Williams recognized that some criticize Plato for advocating a hierarchical and rigid society where individuals are directed into niche roles, educated to perform the role, and possess little awareness of the needs and contributions of others. In response, Williams proposed that individual citizens perform their roles, engage in real community discourse and rely on “public servants” as experts in community governance. Indeed, Plato asserted in The Republicthat these “public servants” should have no family, receive no salary, and would thereby be separated from any special interest that might contaminate their commitment to serving others. 

Williams’ summary of Plato provided an important grounding in philosophy, a discipline that is essential for the discernment of wisdom that serves the greater good of all. Especially in an era of human striving where acquisition of wealth has become preeminent and where the neglect of justice for all has become commonplace, Plato’s core views have stood the course of time. In ancient Athens as well as today, Plato would have advised that, “the economic life of a society can and ought to be made subject to human decision and control and should be made to work for justice rather than for feeding the avarice of private individuals and institutions” (p. 26).

Suchet - Beethoven: The Man Revealed

Beethoven is recognized as one of the great, if not the greatest, composers of all time. He was prolific and his compositions span a mind-boggling array of styles and forms. He is typically portrayed as a troubled, enigmatic genius, and this view of him is reinforced by John Suchet in Beethoven: The Man Revealed (2012). However, Suchet adds a more personal dimension to Beethoven that stirs empathy and compassion for a man whose life experiences were challenging. He was a survivor and persevered against incredible obstacles and the difficulty of his life likely contributed much to the great art he contributed to humanity.

This book isn’t a definitive biography. In fact, Suchet frequently notes other researchers and authors who have documented Beethoven’s life. What the book does is provide a chronology of Beethoven’s life and the personal context behind many of his compositions. Although never married, Suchet recounts relationships Beethoven had with women he hoped to marry and he quotes from correspondence back and forth with those who were the object of his affection. Because he never married, he had no children of his own but more or less forced himself into the life of his deceased brother’s son, Karl. Beethoven was deeply dedicated to Karl’s care and sought to disallow any contact with Karl’s natural mother because Beethoven believed she was unfit to parent him.

One of Beethoven’s most notable works is the Symphony #9, a monumental work in symphonic form but concluding with solo voices and chorus. The description of the conclusion of the first full performance of the ninth conveyed by Suchet sent chills down my spine as I read:

            The bass singer was soon on his feet, and the words ‘O Freunde, nicht diese Tone!’ rang out over the audience.

            Umlauf (a conductor assisting Beethoven due to his complete deafness), knowing now he and the musicians were creating something extraordinary, drove the pace on, players and singers performing as if somehow knowing this was a defining moment in the history of music.

            Suddenly, it all stops, total silence. A small beat on bass drum and deep wind. Syncopated dotted rhythm. Martial music. Tenor summons all forces.

            In unison, in harmony, faultlessly, the music drives to its conclusion. Umlauf held it all perfectly together, singers, chorus and orchestra giving the performance of their lives.

            Again, just before the end, a tremendous slowing down, almost to a stop, before full forces drive to the final flourish.

            Umlauf brought his arms down for the final great chord. It was over. The audience erupted, rose to their feet, cheered and shouted, handkerchiefs and hats waved in the air. Beethoven! Beethoven! Beethoven! 

            Umlauf looked to his side. Beethoven, oblivious to what was happening, continued to wave his arms, conducting the orchestra he was hearing in his head. Karoline Unger, the contralto who had so berated him in rehearsal, stepped forward. Gently she touched Beethoven on the shoulder, nodded encouragingly at the bewildered face, and turned him to face the cheering audience.

            At that moment Beethoven knew the gift he had given to the world.

After a lengthy decline in his health, Beethoven died on March 23, 1827. After signing his will which would leave all that he had to nephew Karl, Beethoven turned to the small group gathered around him and said, “Plaudite, amici, comedia finite est” which means “Applaud, my friends, the comedy is over.” Irony and humor at the end of a tumultuous, brilliant, and difficult life…

Hopcke - There Are No Accidents in Love and Relationships

I picked up Hopcke’s book, There are No Accidents In Love and Relationships (2018), because Nancy Schlossberg recommended it in her book that I recently reviewed. Hopcke noted the origin of the way he views synchronicity as coming from Carl Jung’s Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle (1950). Many stories are woven throughout Hopcke’s book, including clients with whom he worked in counseling and his own life experience.

Jung and Hopcke view synchronicity as a principle of psychological connection. Synchronicity occurs when we strive to connect our unconscious and conscious lives, when our present informs our future, and when our deepest internal reflections reach up and out to bond with others. Deeper awareness of our present circumstances then surfaces the opportunity to connect with family and loved ones at a deeper level, and by doing this we discover the ways our experiences relate and mirror those who are closest to us. Four important aspects of synchronistic experiences include acausality, emotional impact, symbolic nature, and transitional times around which synchronistic occurrences tend to cluster (locator 294 in Kindle version). In simplest terms, synchronistic events are coincidences that are beyond the ordinary and therefore have a dimension of subjective meaningfulness to those involved.

Some may describe synchronous experiences as uncanny. What is meant by this is that the event brings to our awareness something that we may have already known unconsciously. Two examples in my life occurred in anticipation of job changes that I would eventually make; in both cases I spoke with colleagues who could not have known, and I myself did not know, that I would be drawn to a job change. Yet, the conversations seemed to anticipate rather dramatic changes in my career. Hopcke indicated that uncanny circumstances occur more often among family and I have found this as well.

One of the possibilities that captivated me about synchronicity is that being more aware of our experiences opens a window to a larger self, one previously hidden as a result of inattention or unconsciousness. This larger self emerges unintentionally, without really trying, and offers the possibility of achieving a “Supra-ordinate Self, as Jung put it, that capacity for wholeness – to see how all is connected in the universe around us and to see how we ourselves fit into that infinity of completion” (locator 849 in Kindle version). Hopcke noted that this fuller self and resulting deeper meaning in life often occurs during times of transition and may occur “when we are pulling away from one way of being and have not yet found our way forward to the next” (locator 2158 in Kindle version).

Reading There are no accidents in love and relationships felt somewhat like reading a memoir but in other cases it felt like a psychology textbook. The essential message, whether personal or intellectual, is that striving to be more aware, watching for connections, and seeking meaning in life’s experiences deepens our life’s work and is likely to foster more meaningfully relationships with others.

Schlossberg - To Young to Be Old

Nancy Schlossberg is a former colleague from University of Maryland days and it was exciting to see that she was still writing at age 90 and still pushing the envelop on ideas that are helpful in negotiating life transitions. The essence of her book, Too Young to Be Old (2017), is that we should move from a deficit perspective of all that is going wrong for us as we age to “positive aging” perspective.

Research has found that many people actually become happier as they age. One’s emotional state, life circumstances, and intentional activity impact this sense of happiness. But the bottom line is that we can’t control the ups and downs we will face but we can control the way we deal with it, and our resilience in coping with it.

Managing change and transition is key to cultivating resilience and Schlossberg has literally researched and written about every generation from adolescents through seniors in this area. Without understanding the changes we face and without the ability to know how to manage them, we are all vulnerable. She found three key factors that impact the outcome of any given transition; the degree of change we face (they can be major or minor), the timing of the transition (they can be on, off, out-of-time, or nonevents in relation to what is typical), and the transition process itself  (preparedness and supports available during the transition). These dynamics are explained in greater detail in Chapter 3 but four questions that are relevant in assessing the challenges we face are: 1) Can I change the situation? 2) Can I change the meaning of the situation? 3) Can I relax? 4) Or should I do nothing?

Specific to retirement, Schlossberg indicates that there are six major paths which are followed; continuers who modify but continue down the same path, adventurers who pursue unrealized dreams, easy gliders who just back off and relax, involved spectators who still engage in their previous work, searchers who are still looking for their niche, and retreaters who disengage or just become couch potatoes. Although there are some value loadings to these different approaches, what is important is being intentional about the type of retirement one seeks, where it will take place, and the social supports available in the retirement setting.

Individual experiences vary so much across the aging spectrum when it comes to health and that makes it one of the most complicated aspects of aging. Positive aging can be achieved here by taking charge of our perceptions of the health challenges we face and then examining and mobilizing the resources to help us cope.  Schlossberg notes several poignant examples, including the loss of her husband and facing debilitating physical problems herself at the same time. The keys of perception and marshaling resources were essential in all these examples.

Schlossberg concludes with a familiar reminder – how important it is to maintain old, reach out to new, and to welcome the transition of key friendships as we age. Acquaintances can fall into intimate (family, life-long colleagues), associates and neighbors, and institutional support systems. Although the weight of each is different, each level is important to maintaining a sense that we matter to someone else, that we love and are loved, and that we are appreciated. And, beyond the relationships, it’s important to have something to hope for and that has meaning for us and gives our lives purpose.