Uploaded September 2019 | Updated September 2026, 12 seconds ago
Xavier Le Pichon, one of the world’s leading geophysicists, helped create the field of plate tectonics. A devout Catholic and spiritual thinker, he raised his family in intentional communities centered around people with mental disabilities. He shares his perspective on the meaning of humanity — equally informed by his scientific and personal encounters with fragility as a fundament of vital, evolving systems. Le Pichon has come to think of caring attention to weakness as an essential quality that allowed humanity to evolve. (Original Air Date: June 25, 2009)
About the guest:
Xavier le Pichon is Honorary Professor at Collège de France in Paris. He founded La Maison Thomas Philippe, which provides retreats for families, including those struggling with mental illness.
Visit our website to read the transcript, download the episode, or listen to the unedited interview: onbeing.org/programs/xavier-le-pichon-the-fragility-at-the-heart-of-humanity
Visit our On Being Classics Library where this episode is featured:
onbeing.org/libraries/classics
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Xavier Le Pichon, one of the world’s leading geophysicists, helped create the field of plate tectonics. A devout Catholic and spiritual thinker, he raised his family in intentional communities centered around people with mental disabilities. He shares his perspective on the meaning of humanity — equally informed by his scientific and personal encounters with fragility as a fundament of vital, evolving systems. Le Pichon has come to think of caring attention to weakness as an essential quality that allowed humanity to evolve. (Original Air Date: June 25, 2009)
About the guest:
Xavier le Pichon is Honorary Professor at Collège de France in Paris. He founded La Maison Thomas Philippe, which provides retreats for families, including those struggling with mental illness.
Visit our website to read the transcript, download the episode, or listen to the unedited interview: onbeing.org/programs/xavier-le-pichon-the-fragility-at-the-heart-of-humanity
Visit our On Being Classics Library where this episode is featured:
onbeing.org/libraries/classics
STAY IN TOUCH
Facebook: facebook.com/onbeing
Twitter: twitter.com/onbeing
Instagram: instagram.com/onbeing
The Pause newsletter: onbeing.org/newsletter
OUR PODCASTS
On Being with Krista Tippett: onbeing.org/series/podcast
This Movie Changed Me: onbeing.org/series/this-movie-changed-me
Becoming Wise: onbeing.org/series/becoming-wise
