15. Search for America - Man’s Cosmic Status with William Ernest Hocking and Paul Tillich

Huston Smith interviews William Ernest Hocking professor emeritus of philosophy at Harvard University and Paul Tillich university professor at Harvard on man’s place in the universe. Is man the highest spirit the universe contains? Is the universe hostile, friendly, or neutral to man’s deepest aspirations? Is this the best of all possible worlds?
In this series, the inquiry turns from descriptive to normative values, from the 'is' to the ‘ought'. Focusing on fifteen crucial problems confronting the American people, from foreign policy decisions to matters of personal faith, it asks: What values should guide us toward the solution of these problems? Featured Personality: Huston Smith, a pioneer in Educational Television, Huston Smith is known to the television public for his two previous series: The Religions of Man and Science and Human Responsibility. For eleven years Professor of Philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis, he moved in 1959 to become the first Professor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, since the early days of that institution. An authority in comparative philosophy, Dr. Smith is the author of The Religions of Man and The Purposes of Higher Education.
For more videos featuring Huston Smith, please visit www,HustonSmith.org

[@spacultures]

Classical conversations, especially for anyone searching the deeper realms of consciousness, self & soul ... !

[@joefloine2000]

I really do feel honoured being the first to comment on this very insightful conversation... Thank you. Abayomi from Nigeria

[@nationalallianceforprogres3136]

Long live democratic socialism and freedom

[@stanleykubrick8786]

While these talking heads were philosophizing , China was in the midst of a 30 million + famine and death under Mao. The world was not yet a global village and dialogue was more often than not detached from reality.

[@BlantonDelbert]

I first discovered Professor Hocking in John Kaag's great book, "American Philosophy: A Love Story." Great book. A wealth of knowledge in 245 pages. However!! It sounds like here that the German is....but the American Hocking is...I really wish he would not have mentioned Nietzsche!!!! Can't say that I was really impressed with what Hocking said. Was that a portrait of his wife Agnus behind him. Please show the Hocking Library if you can. If Will to Power is the greatest and man/woman can create knowledge that is not inside God, then there is not God. God is Dead, like Nietzsche said. Hocking sounded circular. Nevertheless, Professor Kaag's book is great, much better than this video.