What is Greatness?
Groundbreaking explorations into the nature of human greatness, part 1 of 2 (TPL #7)
Welcome to episode 7 of TPL. This week, we dive into the third and climaxing of the three core values in Philosophical Liberalism: the value of Greatness. In this episode, co-founders Chris & Joia work to induce a new concept of greatness by considering several key historical examples. Listen in to the full discussion and video above as we explore this concept that isn’t well-studied or understood, but is critical to define and clarify in order to maximize human potential going forward. Some key takeaways from the chat include:
The Essence of Greatness
Greatness as the "highest heights" of human achievement
Built upon the foundation of flourishing
Character matters more than mere intelligence or ability
Potential for greatness open to everyone, not just the gifted few
Categories of Greatness
Expanders of human mind, understanding, and vision
Creators of groundbreaking ideas and technologies
Traders who excel and innovate within their fields
Champions who elevated our conception of greatness itself, &/or advanced the cause of human freedom
Some Historical Icons of Greatness
Ancient wisdom: Socrates, Aristotle, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Confucius
Renaissance polymaths: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo
Political visionaries: American founders, Frederick Douglass
Scientific revolutionaries: Galileo, Newton, Darwin, Einstein
Contemporary innovators: Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Peter Diamandis
See who else made Joia’s and Chris’s cut and why (including a tribute to Chris’ first boss (who also made the list), Larry Silverstein)…
Tips to Cultivate a Greatness Mindset
Balance authenticity with adaptability
Cultivate flow states for optimal performance
Exhibit polymathic abilities across domains
Maintain integrity to personal vision
Create transformative impact beyond oneself
The Evolution of Greatness
Acceleration of achievement in recent centuries
Connection between knowledge expansion and freedom
Entrepreneurship as a path to greatness available to all
The role of work in driving human progress
** Weekly Call to Action: Inducing Greatness**
Come up with your own list of greats. Then, start to induce some of your own themes or general principles of either your list or ours. How can you begin to apply one of these themes immediately?