The Discovery of the Heart

Physicists tell us that perhaps there are parallel universes. Is there a parallel universe of the heart, where we might find the real values that make us tick? Maybe it's not law and government that makes a Good Society, maybe it's something far deeper. Featuring former Governor General and CBC Massey Lecturer Adrienne Clarkson, with mathematician and playwright John Mighton and former street kid and United Church minister-turned-politician, Cheri DiNovo. **This episode originally aired April 13, 2016.

Ideas1:05We think we make important decisions with our heads, but mathematician John Mighton argues that its the logic of the heart that drives our actions

We think we make important decisions with our heads, but mathematician John Mighton argues that its the logic of the heart that drives our actions

What makes the world go round? What makes society function?

For thousands of years, we've asked ourselves that question, and we've tried a lot of different political systems, monarchies and despotism, democracy communism anarchism, and various blends of all of these. All work to some degree, and some better than others, but human nature seems to subvert all the systems we create to govern ourselves. We don't move to the beat of politics, but of something else entirely.

Guests in the program:

• Adrienne Clarkson,  former Governor General of Canada and CBC Massey Lecturer
  
• John Mighton, award-winning mathematician and playwright 
  
• Cheri DiNovo, former United Church minister and Ontario NDP MLA

This episode is one of a series recorded at the 2015 Stratford Festival.

Thanks to Melissa Renaud, Robin Cheesman and David Campbell, with special thanks to Ann Swerdfayger and Antoni Cimolino at the Stratford Festival. The Discovery series consultant is Adrienne Clarkson.