Platonism, Mysticism & Mysteries with Arthur Versluis

About this episode

The episode explores the intersection of Platonism, mysticism, and art through a discussion with Arthur Versluis.

Arthur Versluis is the author of Platonic Mysticism: Contemplative Science, Philosophy, Literature, and Art and a Professor of Religious Studies at Michigan State University. His work bridges the gap between rigorous scholarship and the experiential reality of spiritual traditions. We examine the transformative power of art and its ability to mediate between the material and the transcendent. Versluis highlights the Hudson River School and the concept of "Luminism," explaining how the visual representation of light in nature mirrors the internal experience of mystical illumination. The discussion navigates the complex relationship between the "forms" of Plato and the direct experience of the divine, moving beyond the common accusations of dualism often leveled at the Platonic tradition. We explore the "apophatic" or negative theological tradition, comparing the insights of Western mystics like Meister Eckhart with the emptiness found in the Heart Sutra. Finally, Versluis shares how his background in agriculture informs his work ethic and how Western philosophy can be complemented by the precise "maps" of consciousness found in Vajrayana Buddhism. 0:00 - Introduction: Teaching…

People in this episode

Host: Tiago Vasconcelos

Guest: Arthur Versluis

Topics covered

• Platonism
• Mysticism
• Art and spirituality
• Negative theology
• Vajrayana Buddhism

Keywords

• Platonism
• mysticism
• art
• Luminism
• negative theology
• Vajrayana Buddhism
• spiritual traditions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Michigan State University

Books & works: Platonic Mysticism: Contemplative Science, Philosophy, Literature, and Art, Heart Sutra

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