Applying ancient divination to modern intuition | Peter Struck | TEDxPenn

Summary

In 480 B.C., facing an overwhelming Persian army, the Athenians sought guidance from the Oracle of Delphi, receiving a cryptic message about a 'wooden wall.' This led to a pivotal decision to build a navy, which ultimately saved Athens. The speaker explores the ancient practice of divination as a form of non-discursive thinking, suggesting that it was not superstition but a culturally sanctioned method to tap into our unconscious cognitive abilities. Drawing parallels to modern practices like intuition and 'thinking without thinking,' the talk posits that our capacity to know often exceeds our understanding, and that ancient techniques may still hold wisdom for us today.

Takeaways

• 🛡️ In 480 B.C., the Persians assembled an enormous army of 300,000 men, the largest in history at that time, to attack Athens.
• 👑 Xerxes, the Persian leader, was a figure of such prominence that he was simply referred to as 'The King' by other nations.
• 🤔 The Athenians, known for their ingenuity and rational intellect, faced a serious threat and sought solutions through deliberation and logic.
• 🔮 In desperation, the Athenians consulted the Pythia, the most authoritative oracle of the day, who provided a riddle about a 'wooden wall'.
• 🚢 The Athenians interpreted the riddle as a guidance to build a navy, which ultimately led to their survival and prosperity.
• 📚 The Greeks, and many ancient cultures, often turned to divination and other non-rational techniques when rational thinking reached its limits.
• 🧠 The speaker's research suggests that our ability to know often exceeds our capacity to understand how we know, leading to the concept of 'surplus knowledge'.
• 🌐 The practice of divination was not limited to the Greeks but was widespread across ancient cultures, indicating a universal human cognitive pattern.
• 🔄 The speaker's experience with cognitive scientists revealed parallels between ancient divination practices and modern non-discursive thinking techniques.
• 💭 Non-discursive thinking, such as intuition, can be as effective as, or more effective than, conscious deliberation in certain complex situations.
• 🌟 The speaker proposes an axiom: 'Our ability to know exceeds our capacity to understand that ability,' suggesting that we remain somewhat mysterious to ourselves.

Q & A

What was the size of the Persian army in 480 B.C.?

The Persian army in 480 B.C. was the largest in history at that time, consisting of 300,000 men.

Who was the leader of the Persians during this period?

The leader of the Persians was Xerxes, a figure of significant stature during his time.

What was the situation in Athens when the Persians decided to attack?

The situation in Athens was serious, as they faced the threat of the massive Persian army led by Xerxes.

How did the Athenians approach the problem of the Persian invasion?

The Athenians approached the problem by gathering information, using logic to draw inferences, and engaging in public debate to consider their courses of action.

What did the Pythia, the oracle at Delphi, tell the Athenians?

The Pythia told the Athenians that only a wooden wall would remain unconquered, which was interpreted as a riddle.

What were the two options the Athenians considered based on the Pythia's riddle?

The Athenians considered either fortifying the Acropolis with a wooden fence or building a navy to confront Xerxes at sea and cut off his supply lines.

Why did the Athenians consult an oracle despite their rational thinking?

The Athenians consulted an oracle because they believed in reaching beyond the limits of their rational thinking to access non-discursive thinking, which could provide insights in complex situations.

What is the term for the study of divine signs or divination?

The study of divine signs or divination is referred to as divination.

How did the ancient Greeks view divination in relation to rational thinking?

The ancient Greeks viewed divination as a complement to rational thinking, using it to access non-discursive thinking when rational thinking reached its limits.

What is the speaker's main argument about divination and rational thinking?

The speaker argues that divination was not a strange or superstitious practice but a culturally authorized technique for engaging non-discursive thinking, which is a part of human cognitive history and remains relevant even today.

What is the speaker's proposed axiom regarding our ability to know?

The speaker's proposed axiom is that our ability to know exceeds our capacity to understand that ability, suggesting that there is surplus knowledge that we can access but may not fully comprehend.