13 Comments
User's avatar
T.S. Fowler's avatar

Thanks for writing. I am glad to see other folks drawing from Barfield's work. Although he often gets overlooked in conversations about the Inklings or their influences, he perhaps had the deepest intellect of all the people in and around Oxford at that time.

Have you ever interacted with his ideas around Logomorphisms? I wrote a quick reflection on that last year. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic. I'll link it here:https://tsfowler.substack.com/p/an-introduction-to-the-logomorphic

Expand full comment
Ross Byrd's avatar

Thanks T. S.! Agreed, Barfield is awesome. Yes, I think I'm familiar--it's kinda like anachronism--misinterpreting ancient texts through the lens of subsequent thought? I actually posted a quote from Poetic Diction about that sort of things recently! It's a picture of my book, which apparently I can't share in a comment, so I'll DM you. But yes, thanks for this. I will definitely take a look at your piece. Glad to know a fellows Barfield appreciator.

Expand full comment
T.S. Fowler's avatar

Sweet, thanks for sharing! And yes, it is like an anachronism except through the lens of consciousness. So, essentially, applying post-enlightenment thought to the pre-enlightenment age without taking into account how perceptions of consciousness would have radically differed.

Expand full comment
Ross Byrd's avatar

Yes, so good.

Expand full comment
Sheila Hollinghead's avatar

Thanks for sharing although I had to read it twice to understand. It's a lot to digest.

Expand full comment
Ross Byrd's avatar

Well thank you for reading it twice! Yes, I know. It's a bit much.

Expand full comment
Sheila Hollinghead's avatar

But worth it. And it does give us a good idea of how and why Lewis developed his ideas, especially The Abolition of Man.

Expand full comment
Ross Byrd's avatar

Agreed!

Expand full comment
O.G. Rose's avatar

Outstanding work, Ross: a new Substack from you is always an event.

Expand full comment
Ross Byrd's avatar

Thanks man. You're the best. Shoot, this reminds me...I need to share our conversation! Still very grateful for it. Still thinking about it.

Expand full comment
O.G. Rose's avatar

That discussion was awesome, and I've been referencing you in conversations regularly ever since. I certainly hope we have a chance to speak again soon!

Expand full comment
Christopher D Finn's avatar

Thank you Mr. Byrd for introducing me to some wonderful new friends in this post. It's a bit of a survey of Barfield and indeed, Malcolm Guite is a splendid guide (Guite?). Cheers to you. CDF

Expand full comment
Ross Byrd's avatar

Anytime!

Expand full comment