You Tube Theology

In this episode, philosopher Dr. Esther Meek joins Dr. Dru Johnson to mark the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking book Longing to Know. The conversation explores what it truly means to “know” something, challenging modern notions that reduce knowledge to mere information. Drawing on the work of Michael Polanyi, Meek introduces listeners to the concept of “subsidiary-focal integration”—how we learn and trust knowledge the same way we learn to ride a bike, play sports, or speak a language.

Together, they explore how modernism—especially its demand for certainty—has shaped Christian attitudes toward truth, reality, and knowledge. Meek critiques this mindset and instead calls for a return to realism: a rich, relational, even risky trust in the reality outside ourselves. She argues that we don’t just discover truth intellectually; we invite it like a person, with wonder, humility, and artistry.

From engineering to parenting, scripture to science, this wide-ranging conversation encourages listeners to rethink the act of knowing as a personal, transformative process. With humor, depth, and decades of wisdom, Meek shares how her journey—from childhood skepticism to philosophical exuberance—can help all of us rediscover the joy of trusting the real.

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Chapters:
00:00 Exploring the Nature of Knowing
03:07 The Impact of Modernism and Postmodernism
06:01 The Role of Skill and Experience in Knowledge
09:04 Science and the Modernist Paradigm
12:06 Risky Confidence in Knowledge
15:03 Philosophical Foundations of Reality
18:10 The Journey into Philosophy
20:56 The Nature of Reality and Its Person-like Qualities
23:56 Christianity and the Real World
26:49 The Importance of Creation in Christian Thought
29:49 Exuberance in Reality and the Role of Metaphysics