Ep. 14 - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - Epicureans, Cynics, and Stoics

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Books in the Video:
• Paul Tillich - The Courage to Be
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Facebook: / vervaeke.john
Twitter: / vervaeke_john
Fourteenth episode of Dr. John Vervaeke's Awakening from the Meaning Crisis.

[@con_sci]

Every Friday is good Friday when you're awakening from the meaning crisis.

[@jbsweeney1077]

Happy Good Friday!

[@Rorschach120]

Listening to this series is like playing the most intense game of Civilization ever.

[@mubanganyambe5276]

This comment, a philosophy on its own

[@OfCourseICan]

Hours and hours of brilliant dialogue that flows so beautifully from the heart. I reiterate; this work is a masterpiece.

[@alexwright1061]

Dr. Vervaeke, I'd like to let you know that it was shortly after watching this episode a few years ago that I had my first "Resonant At Onement" experience, as you call it, which erased my grief about death and brought about the state of peace in which I currently live. Thank you for bringing about this invaluable milestone in my life. I hope I can live in such a way that my gratitude to you will shine through in all my deeds so that your work may live through me and whatever I bring about throughout the course of my existence. Warmest greetings from a young adult living 8 timezones east of Toronto.

[@BowlChamp]

I actually found this series from your video on Paul Tillich's wonderful book! And found Paul Tillich through Rollo May, and Rollo May through Eric Dodson's youtube lectures, and Eric Dodson from looking up Thus Spake Zarathustra lectures. Safe to say this journey has been a great ride, and seems to be just getting started!

[@matthewparlato5626]

Beautiful! Mine was science, street stoicism, alan watts, joe rogan, jbp, pageau, jv

[@lynnlavoy6778]

I find myself watching this... Again... 2 yrs later, thank you John. ❤. Foreshadowing 😪

[@mohameddiouf3123]

John probably doesn't read these comments anymore. But if you do, I wonder if you've changed your position on mind and consciousness being emergent from and dependent on brain. Always thank you for your invaluable work!

[@thedarkmikebass8530]

I wonder this as well. Last I heard him describe his metaphysical position, he was a non-reductionist physicalist. But his worldview is so close to modern analytic idealism, and he has engaged in multiple conversations with idealists like Kastrup and Hoffman, that I wonder if he's moving away from physicalism. Then again, metaphysics has never been his main area anyway, so it's rare that I hear him discuss it.

[@alexwr]

That's been the only comment of his I'm really not convinced on. The last I checked, everything was up in the air on the Materialism front, we still know next to nothing about how the brain actually operates and where consciousness truly lies.

[@joeking6972]

Indeed his view seems very mechanical and analogous to Newtonian physics. I believe the study of consciousness will undergo a kind of revolution one of these days like the field of physics did with the advent of relativity.

[@alexnewman8611]

Out of curiosity, what evidence do you believe lends credence to the idea that consciousness does not originate from the brain?

[@SilentlyContinue]

Listen to John's conversation with Donald Hoffman.

[@moodbox_no]

POWERFULLY PROVOKING AND BRILLIANTLY CONFRONTING 👏 ♥️

[@marktidmore2675]

A powerful journey through the human condition. Like a curious child, he overturns the cultural touchstones and reveals beneath, the simple structures that make up who, what and how we are. His uncanny insight, is matched only by his ability to communicate. A must see, for anyone that is still trying to be human.

[@eScooterRidesPerth]

This was phenomenal. Thanks so much for this series. Thanks to Rebel Wisdom for putting me onto John Vervaeke

[@Sliderx1]

An absolutely wonderful series even in 2020. Modern academia is (to be blunt) atrocious. I have found amazing value in education via youtube lectures and independent readings. Jordan Peterson, Alan Watts, Robert Sapolsky, and now your material (not to mention the book collection I have begun to acquire). The depth and connectivity you present helps me to tie so many ideas together. Thank you!

[@erickhill4287]

I would extend this to 2022 and likely beyond. I have found my classes *occasionally* to be interesting supplements to John's and Jordan's lectures and discussions

[@Kal-EL_Volta]

Other than Robert Sapolsky and Jordan peterson do you recommend anybody other professor's series?

[@Sliderx1]

@@Kal-EL_Volta They probably are out there, but I wouldn't know of them. AFTMC introduced so many historical ideas and figures, it made me focus more on associated readings rather than related lectures which are no where near the specificity I am trying to step into. Cheers.

[@leomiri1]

@@Kal-EL_Volta i recommend adam rosenfeld's lectures on history of ancient philosophers

[@matthewparlato5626]

@@leomiri1 arthur holmes philosophy and dr michael sugrue Both wildly brilliant.

[@Beederda]

I really wish I could have done school as a kid with the ability to stop, rewind, and have captions turned on to assist in my way of learning so i can go look words up and understand in a more deeper way. Reading along with your speech and use of the whiteboard is the trifecta i need to retain information. This series is so beautiful and I absolutely appreciate YOUR time JV ❤️🍄

[@mdeshmane]

John, you have an unparalleled ability to explain such deep profound concepts so clearly. thank you

[@dalibofurnell]

In 2022, even, still such an amazing series.

[@zachmorgan6982]

Listening in 2023 and beyond!

[@VeritableVagabond]

Stoicism along with samatha/vipassana meditation is my bread and butter.

[@SapientEudaimonia]

I know vipassana meditation, but could you explain to me what samatha meditation is? :-)

[@VeritableVagabond]

@@SapientEudaimonia Samatha is tranquility/calm abiding meditation. It's meditation that fosters joy, ease, collectedness, and unification of mind. Examples of this meditation: watching the breath, body scanning, metta, jhana, kasina, etc. Samatha meditation is a powerful way to boost your vipassana practice. I recommend The Mind Illuminated highly. I also recommend a Heavy and Honed Axe, a free pdf you can find online.

[@SapientEudaimonia]

@@VeritableVagabond Thanks for the quick and enlightening reply! I have some experience with metta meditation, but I was unaware of the term samatha. Thanks for the explanation and the recommendations. I am excited to dive into these practices and learn more about them.

[@VeritableVagabond]

@@SapientEudaimonia if you have any questions feel free. I also recommend checking out r/streamentry on Reddit. Enjoy your journey.

[@Hooz97]

@@VeritableVagabond funny I also come from streamentry, great community. Also picked up Mind illuminated, discouraged by not being able to move up the stages, but wanting to read more of the book.

[@cynicviper]

Well, I'm glad I'm part of this journey.

[@nimrodgeva9629]

This lecture series is absolutely phenomenal. We need a sense-making paradigm-shift in our systems too. We totally MARD (Mindlessly, Automatically, and Reactively Designed) them

[@futureshocked]

It's exactly why we have no answer for automation. Capitalism was just as reactionary as communism. It was already happening and Adam Smith just codified it. But it's not like it was some planned out thing.

[@SapientEudaimonia]

❤

[@karlajohnson5113]

I like Brene Brown’s definitions for shame and guilt. Shame = I am bad. Guilt = I did something bad. Thanks, John! Lovin’ these lectures.

[@charlesallen4802]

Thank you for sharing. I find great value in your lectures.

[@accadia1983]

What a privilege to be here with you all! 29:45 fear of death. enter stoicism

[@longpham8699]

such a blessing to be here with you too.

[@therealOG2023]

Thank you mister vervaeke for this. As a psychology student and as a human being I find your lectures to be a great educator. It’s like my all degree is just a preparation in order to truly realize and soak your teachings. Greeting from Israel! Looking forward but carefully and mindfully completing your series.

[@rufusdark]

Thanks, John. I've been really enjoying this series. I appreciate the amount of thought and effort it must take to build such a thick descriptions of these things.

[@juliawest4880]

As you were finishing up the saliva story I took a BIG swig of water. Then you said, "and then I swallow it". The big sip got stuck in my mouth as I snorted, gagged, and marveled all at the same time. I had to spit it out. I couldn't swallow it. Thanks for the laugh.

[@d.r.m.m.]

An absolutely delightful lecture to listen to/watch. Thank you, John, for offering the historic overview and Greek philosophical lineage, and it’s relation to our present time.

[@bermeriz]

I really appreciate the discussion on Diogenes, and the Cynics’, distinction between morality and socially established purity, and their relationship between guilt and shame.

[@DheeraPrabhakar]

The world leaders need to listen to this podcast series, specifically this episode and interpret it the right away.

[@MetricsOfMeaning]

Domicide is an interesting word to me, and I believe is the heart of frustration for so many people in western countries today...especially America. Thank you for the lectures John.

[@narelle4526]

Yes and Australia where our non- native heritage is so short. And our indiginous ripped out of their country.

[@aryanz66]

You are an examplar of the opposite of addiction Thank you Doctor

[@orlandosalazar9295]

Great as always Professor. Endless Thanks!

[@jasekiely9761]

Each episode is different so it's hard to compare them, as it's building toward a greater synthesis of ideas; I really enjoyed this episode, especially the distinction between fear and anxiety. Man, that is so helpful and explains so much about our current sociopolitical landscapes! As was the distinction between argumentation and provocation, which I can't help but frame in terms of Plato's "reason vs the passions".

[@TheTenThousandThings]

THank you John!

[@leedufour]

Thanks John.

[@dr.redphdleasurestudies.5399]

John, Thank you for this series.

[@antonyliberopoulos933]

Superb series. Thank you

[@TheGabrielPT]

Oh wow, I've been listening to this series for a couple weeks since ep. 1 and this one is my favorite so far

[@KiraKroger]

I really deeply appreciated listening to this lecture in particular. Thank you. I really am interested In the pulling apart the moral code from the purity code.

[@MrMarktrumble]

Once again, good lecture.Thank you.

[@kindenebeker8250]

Thank you John.

[@juliogadelhaparente]

love the caspar david frederich paintig, the erik satie, and the lecture...very good conteeeent

[@marivn8156]

Thank you John

[@Heraclit33]

I love you John!

[@nugzarkapanadze6867]

Thank You!

[@lebenergy247]

Terrific

[@johncerdena]

Very good!

[@charlesporsbjer2416]

Genius!

[@sueamero3778]

This one made me laugh though, for the life of me, I can't remember why, now! An insight, too, into having co-identified with someone who has left our (once shared) arena and I am still struggling with adjusting my identity and altered arena, years later. Very grateful to have found this series.

[@moodbox_no]

Eagerly awaiting "After Socrates"

[@nightsquid2925]

If I took this class in college it would have been the best class I ever took

[@anthonykrkovski650]

Leant alot cheers!

[@badreddine.elfejer]

This is a pivotal episode

[@WaylonFlinn]

Not all disgust reactions are culturally constructed.

[@user-dj7nl2ct3q]

Impressive. I would like to learn about stoicism more.

[@notmyrealpseudonym6702]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWGwq4SQlMp5e7s Good channel for quick videos around stoicism etc

[@user-dj7nl2ct3q]

@@notmyrealpseudonym6702 , thank you for the link!

[@RH-wv4dx]

Brilliant. Especially like the 'John should not fart' action coming out the mouth. on 47 mins. Farting from the mouth really breaks a purity code.

[@tuberklz]

concept of domicide explains much about behaviour of socrates, and also maybe projected on first diaspora too.

[@timursulaimanov2550]

My whole life is one long unending meaning crisis. Time to embrace it as normalcy.

[@bradrandel1408]

Man this was a good one thank you so much

[@Mevlinous]

Thanks for the guilt shame distinction, it clears things up a bit.

[@RickDelmonico]

The possibility for immortality is not zero. Also; we have not explained the origin of space, time, energy and the laws that govern the universe, nor have we explained the origin of life properly.

[@gggftgggft1635]

We explained particle physics well enough to make a nuclear bomb though. Pretty solid supporting evidence imo lol

[@RickDelmonico]

@@gggftgggft1635 not proof of particles. It is something like a wave packet or a harmonic structure.in a stream of energy.

[@gggftgggft1635]

@@RickDelmonico I said it was supporting evidence, not proof. I've never heard a physics professor explain particles as a "harmonic structure in a stream of energy". I've heard of ELECTRONS being described as a "kink in the electromagnetic field" that exhibits properties of both a wave and a particle (wave-particle duality), but I can't tell if that's what you were getting at.

[@christopherhamilton3621]

It may not be zero: a very low probability is close enough to zero as to be trivial.

[@gggftgggft1635]

I'm playing a video game while listening to these (or at least I tried to), but I keep getting pulled into actively listening and taking notes. I took Oxford's free online course in philosophy, and was bored to death- couldn't get past the third lecture. Mr. Vervaeke, you do an incredible job at relaying information in a way that is conducive to learning.

[@markemad1986]

You can't just say the evidence is overwhelming for consciousness being emergent and not elaborate! What evidence this is the first time i hear of it!

[@jasetheacity]

Anyone know of any facebook groups or other social media, discussing this series? I feel like I need a better forum to discuss & explore these ideas; hoping some others feel the same way!

[@SapientEudaimonia]

Me too! :-)

[@jasetheacity]

@@SapientEudaimonia We started a facebook group few weeks back if you are interested

[@SapientEudaimonia]

@@jasetheacity Yes, I am interested in joining as well. Thanks for the reply!

[@jasetheacity]

@@SapientEudaimonia here is the link facebook.com/groups/451730882297281/

[@uij8439]

@@jasetheacity Hi Jase, I would like to join this group. I have had a request to join the group remain as “pending” for a while. Do I need to message somebody to get into the group?

[@r3fus32d13]

why go to school to study philosophy when you have these lectures by Prof Vervaeke for free on youtube! just wow

[@Gongchime]

I want a marble bust of Vervaeke next to busts of Plato and Aristotle with a metal sculpture of Buddha Vervaeke next to a sculpture of Buddha Shakyamuni.

[@andrewternet8370]

The fear of death is similar to the move up the mountain in St. Gregory of Nyssa's Life of Moses. People are terrified of loss of identity, but identity includes consciousness- the very source of identity. So, when Moses moves up the mountain, stripping himself of his identity- first of the laypeople, then the priests, then Joshua, then his garnments, he loses parts of his identity. But at the top of the mountain, when he's completely lost his identity (he's martyred himself), he gains it all back in the pattern of the tabernacle- the pattern includes his garnments, the laypeople, the priests, etc.. And God tells him to go down the mountain. It's as if Moses loses his ego in his ascent up the mountain, then gains pure consciousness(correct me if I'm wrong here) at the top, then goes back down (doesn't try to cling to the mystical experience). So, similar to the Epicureans, you need to let go of the fear of death to ascend the mountain, then accept your death at the top of the mountain, then I guess you ressurect in the way down.

[@BassamAbusamra]

if you please include notes of key points in the lecture so I can review while listening or afterwards.. please do.. thanks for your work

[@stephen-torrence]

See @Redient's comments on the videos. Very comprehensive notes!

[@russellmason5095]

I'm enjoying the lectures very much. You said that the evidence that mind and consciousness emerges from the brain is overwhelming (at 20:22). Is this actually true? What about the hard problem of consciousness? How is it possible to determine whether consciousness emerges from the brain, whether the brain emerges from consciousness or whether they are co-emergent?

[@hakayma7560]

the way he expresses himself sometimes, I am expecting him to say: 'because this is Sparta'

[@marktidmore2675]

Abandon all hype, ye who enter here !!

[@sb9512]

god bless you for your non-theism ;)

[@MHAFOOTBALL]

40:20 when we set our hearts on the wrong things, that will cause us to suffer.... are you accepting “Amens”, or do I only give those to Vanderklay?

[@sdenheyer]

My favourite Diogenes story was the one about the chicken - which I think qualifies as "world's first troll". Would love - at some future time - to hear John's thoughts on the *technological* quest for immorality (or a life long enough as makes no practical difference) - transhumanism, Aubrey de Grey & so on. Is it just a coping mechanism for anxiety?

[@SapientEudaimonia]

I find the immortality --> immorality typo to be very interesting. ;-)

[@natskii7026]

Haha Freudian slip?

[@WaylonFlinn]

My primary problem with justifying all morality with rational argument is precisely because it usually fails to adequately represent the embodied knowing. Furthermore, I know of no way to ensure that this failure is avoided. In some sense they are orthogonal methods.

[@marklefebvre5758]

Could use some slides here for sure - overview of this evolution from Socrates onwards with some nice arrows... :) Fridays are so awesome it is hardly bearable - but twice a week lectures would be better. Not that I'm a two trick pony, but oh, wait, maybe I am.

[@davidfost5777]

I'm always looking for new interesting lectures on Psychology/Philosophy, please let me know if you guys have any recommendations, would be highly appreciated

[@forceboxed]

My unfiltered unreviewed notes: * Return to talking about what happens after the axial revolution in the west * Socrates disciple plato disciple aristotle disciple Alexander-the-great * Alex: not a philosopher. Brings Greek way to the known world. Between human and god; godman; like pharoahs (was welcome by egyptians) * dies in Babylon at 33. Young child killed * Major/generals carve his empire into pieces; fight each pther for ~300 years; period called _Helenistic Era_. * In ancient (during the time of Socrates, Aristotle i.e. before Alex) greek Polis' (like Sparta), ostricization worse than emprisonment due to.. * ..very tight coupling between agent-arena (same societal religion, allegiances, language, etc) * Alex smashes all of that. _Domicide_ (destruction of home): * Greek culture is now distributed into Africa, Levant, asias, etc. Even to edges of India! * Even greek kingdoms like Baktria (modern Afghanistan) integrating greek culture with Buddhist philosophy and religion. * So, people moved and shuffled around in far flung empires, hundreds/thousands miles away from seat of gov, no participation. * People dont know each other personally. Lineages blurred. A might be living in Asia minor with ancestors from Athens. * Languages, religion different. Connections lost - polis, history, ancestory, religion, language. * Domicide related to current meaning crisis: people say we dont feel at home in the city, anxiety around insufficiency. * This Helenistic Period known as Age of Anxiety. * Art changes: becomes frenetic, tragic, realistic. Confidence gone. Greek Peloponnesian civil war. * _Syncretism_ (amalgamation) in religion. Merging of gods. * Emphasis on mother goddesses (like Isis) across culture as domicide requires 'feeling of home'. And mother makes us feel at home. * How does philosophy respond to all this? Transformation of greek philosophy in the face of Hellenistic meaning crisis. * Until now, Wisdom was addressing foolishness. Now more was needed. A therapeutic aspect. * Epicurus was a Hellenistic philosopher who said "call no man a philosopher who has not alleviated suffering of others" * Both Epicureans and Stoics seek to exemplify Socrates. * Epicureans suggest a secular solution in the midst of a very religious world: Fear. * Fear/anxiety are distinct. fear: direct threat, we know what to do. anxiety: nebulous threat, not sure what to do. * _Stoicism_: better understanding of Hellenistic crisis problem and gives better answers. * Very relevant because its a direct ancestor to some modern psychotherapy techniques like CBT, etc. * Stoicism boils socrates down to a systematic set of psychotechnologies that you internalise into your meta-congnition. * Socrates disciples: Plato and Antisthenes. Antisthenes -> diogenes. * Diogenes was a controversial figure. One of the _Cynics_. * Roamed around in marketplace with a lamp looking for an honest man. * Masturbated in public square. * Insulted Alex to his face. * Cynics: different from contemporary meaning. It means living like a dog. (He lived outside of Athens, in a barrel) * Cynics: "many things we take for granted in reality are not in fact real, they are man-made, they are not permanent,.. * ..they are historically and culturally dependent. When we set ourselves on these things, the current of events.. * ..can wash them away and we are left bereft. That is how we feel domicide" * Learn how to set your heart on things not man-made or contingent on events, etc. Eg: laws of natural world. * In addition to natural, there are moral laws: proper way to be a good human being. Of course, its culturally relative. * Cynics tried to distinguish bw purity code that are culturally and historically based and moral codes that are not. * Eg: diff between guilt and shame. Guilt is after breaking a _moral principle_; shame is after breaking _purity code_. * Eg: having clothes torn in public accidentally causes shame, not guilt. * Of course, due to being relative one can be made to feel shame even though personally they feel not guilty. * eg: supporting blacks in US civil rights movement. * Purity codes are designed to preserve the boundaries that make a culture in a particular historical period run the way its running. * They are highly tied up with the invested power structures that are invested in keeping things running the way they are running. * Diogenes was trying to get people to strip apart purity codes from moral codes; to try and distinguish them. * Masturbating in public was breaking of purity code, while at the same people doing immoral things in the marketplace. * Alex offers him power and fame (immoral), cynics refuse saying they are man-made. * Another eg: gay sex is breaking purity code but not moral code. * My own thoughts: thats why its culturally relative: same act being judged differently in diff countries, for example. * and rightly so: because each is wanting the continuation of their status quo: keeping things running the way they are. * Now. Diogenes -> crates -> _zeno_ * Cynics were in general hostile to plato due to his emphasis on argumentation. But zeno liked both cynics and plato. * He wanted to integrate both rational argumentation and reasoning of plato with the provocative aspects of cynics. * He taught this integration while walking up and down in a [[www.google.com/search?q=stoa&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiy3p33t6zzAhU9G7cAHc3vCjkQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=stoa&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIICAAQgAQQsQMyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgAEEM6CAgAELEDEIMBOgsIABCABBCxAxCDAVDvmwRYsp8EYMOgBGgAcAB4AIABfIgB2gOSAQMwLjSYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=sq9YYbK9Br223LUPzd-ryAM&bih=787&biw=1440&client=safari][stoa]]. * This is where the word stoic comes from. Not the current meaning of strong-silent type, or whatever.

[@waynemcmillan5970]

Unreal Fear or misplaced fear is the greatest threat to humanity.

[@desfurria6232]

The thing that makes me emergent is the immortal thing, all my parts were before but not participating together yet will be separate again into unities as a whole.

[@laluna5548]

Please elaborate!

[@desfurria6232]

@@laluna5548 Things without parts also have no wholes and does not decay(Numbers are a good example to see, as long as you ignore the images representing them) or have an opposite properties that like iron, if rust gets it, the metal rust into nothing, if it was whole already it would have self power and already be. Like the motion of stillness, it is self powered, and is always.

[@iolap3244]

Does anyone know how I can get all the episodes on DVD? to Include in my psychology library as a. reference because the wisdom is powerful . I am an upcoming psychologist!

[@gomino14]

Any updates on the release date for the AFTMC book?

[@thetaeater]

Immortality! We are and we aren't.. huh? From a vendantic perspective there isn't really a me or a we. The thing we call "self" is just all the experiences and conditions our bit of consciousness are exposed to. I'm sure you've heard that Crystal analogy... so this anxiety and clinging are the ego's desire to hold on to what it knows. Maybe?? Could you imagine if Tillich and Vivakanda could have made a KZbin series where they just chat?!

[@Sockwise]

Is this series not available on itunes?

[@realsushrey]

48:00 The only time in this series that I have disagreed with the Professor. The relationship between purity codes and moral codes, as per my understanding, is more complicated than as described here.

[@billtimmons7071]

The commentary on super-natural and the afterlife was interesting. You basically said these notions were "wrong" based on the lack of evidence from cognitive science. Is this statement along the lines of the 9 dot problem? You state these concepts (beliefs) are wrong because you're actually projecting your own scientist pattern on after-life concepts and beliefs? Super-natural and after-life systems provide meaning to a majority of the world's population for all of our species' history. I'm not sure "wrong" is the correct term to be used for these systems. Science has not provided us after-life detection technology - yet, and the after-life may or may not exist, but the universe is so complex and full of potential, should we be stating things are "wrong" because there is no evidence? Can we in fact state that cognitive science is really a 9 dot problem and super-natural/after-life are outside the dots and that our species is simply connecting the dots using 4 lines by going outside the dots? I can't get enough of your videos. Your presenting a feast for our food for thought project. Thank you.

[@SapientEudaimonia]

I think belief in an afterlife is an example of an implausible, but highly salient form of self-deception.

[@brunischling9680]

bill timmons I think you are putting your finger on something very important here. John Vervaeke’s approach from the cognitive sciences is both his strength and shortcomings. While I find the scientific light he shines on the problems illuminating, it imposes severe limitations. Statements like his exclusion of the existence of spirits in the lecture about shamans are made from a dogmatic point of view. He precludes any other method but the scientific one which by nature of its definition of evidence precludes and excludes phenomena that cannot be bent into numbers. Thus even the psycho technologies he propounds may not lead us to the super rational understanding of reality. I cringe at a term like psycho technology and machinery of the mind. I would prefer an organic awakening and not one that is product of mental engineering. . Having said this I really benefit hugely from the lectures, they have afforded me many new insights and-deepening of pre-existing understanding. A huge enterprise with equally huge flaws.

[@andyk2181]

This seems like another case of the recurring atheist - theist argument where a simple and wrong interpretation of theism has become common and it then is rational to reject it; Without realising the more sophisticated meaning that also gets thrown out. In Buddhism there is a core concept of non-self. I would argue, therefore, that any interpretation that calls for a rebirth of the self is flawed - and I think this is what John is pointing to. However, if you accept, and realise, non-self does an immortality become possible? If what makes you *you* is your desires, how you wish the world to be, then this essence can continue beyond your mortal self. How you act, what you do, the relationships you have with others 'echo in eternity', to borrow a phrase from Gladiator. Rebirth should not be confused with reincarnation - they are *fundamentally different* in the concept of the continuing self.

[@cedcob]

What I think John is saying is that their is a ton of evidence that consciousness comes from the brain. That does not proove there's no afterlife/god but it would be VERY redundant to have a brain capable of all this + a second system doing the same thing. Ex: If I can explain that pistons and gasoline make the engine spin I can stop my search for an explanation to why the car moves. I COULD keep looking for reasons, but god damn.....

[@ernesthood2647]

The very fact that there is a universe that is not man made points to a creator that was the cause. As to what purpose more will be reveled. That's what I choose to believe.

[@jamieyoung9392]

Jonathan Haidt might have a thing or two to say about John's comments on disgust and morality.

[@christopherhamilton3621]

And they’d discuss it and agree. No biggie… Disgust sensitivity is still there. John is talking about the implicit conflation & judgement & issues deriving therefrom.

[@GuildOfTheBlackCrow]

'Polis' is also present is the word 'Policeman'. Meaning 'Man of The City'.

[@trudywretched]

🙏

[@kadergreen]

Dear Prof. Vervaeke: I am checking on the evidence that my death is the end of my consciousness. How can we scientifically verify if my awareness ends when my brain is dead?

[@alangaypaulk]

These videos are so wonderful. Are they available on any other website? I do not want to support youtube any more,

[@jonyspinoza3310]

🌞

[@samar1462]

What is the intro music?

[@tensevo]

Domicide is so relevant today, yet almost nobody is framing that way, It is often framed as, the person who is the victim of Domicide as "the bad guy".

[@azarak34]

The example of anxiety transformed into eagerness is interesting one. I am not a native speaker, but it seems to me that to say eager in somewhat too eager (pun intended). Anglo-saxons have this need to be cool and rational, so eagerness might be too active emotion to spoke of it in conversation in terms of I. Anxiety is cooler emotion, plus allow speaker to stay more ambiguous of their opinion about the person they meet with.

[@MIbra96]

To the distinction between purity and moral codes: I think that you can not separate all purity codes from all moral codes because at least some of the purity codes are linked to moral codes (for example sneezing without covering your mouth can be understood purely as a purity code or as something that endangers other people because of possible infections and thus covering your mouth is protecting them, i.e. it is something moral) . Breaking some purity codes can be immoral but at the same time following some purity codes can be immoral as well. To the Cynical claim that we should set our hearts only to the permanent things: This would make any loving relationship impossible because there you inevitably are emotionally attached to another person and you will absolutely be hurt when that person is hurt or dies. Avoiding that would outright end our human species. Easy example: mother child relationship.

[@sb9512]

Stoicism precisely teaches that you should not put your heart into your relationships and train yourself to accept even the death of a child. Not saying it’s what I would preach but that is precisely what they where on about

[@toonalfrink8318]

One correction: it's not indisputable in the current age that your brain dies. A lot of progress is being made in anti aging research. Eventually we will be able to make people live to a 1000 and beyond through ongoing rejuvenative therapies. The probability that the first person that will live to a 1000 has already been born is quite high, definitely not 0

[@bankiey]

Do you have a 5-10 years prospective on that? I want to see that

[@SisypheanRoller]

Source?

[@hanskung3278]

Is meaning having a connection?

[@hanskung3278]

Oh yes it is, non-existence is terrifying.

[@Human_Evolution-]

30:25 = The Section on the Stoics

[@stevemaggs6322]

Love this series but John’s comment - the evidence for consciousness surviving physical death is overwhelming. Is it?

[@marktomasetti8642]

Interesting that Prof. V. seems to define the "meaning crisis" as the loss or lack of being embedded with (roughly) people of your kind. People with whom you share culture, heritage, history, governing system, relatives, land & other resources. It’s not that we lack meaning, per se, it’s that we lack shared meaning with an extended clan in this rich, multidimensional way. I don’t know if he is going to continue redefining the term (or refining it), but if he sticks with this view of it, the term "meaning" crisis seems ill fitting. It seems more like a problem of a badly integrated society in which the people who inhabit it do not constitute a coherently functioning group with deeply shared values and perspectives. But this would be true of any sufficiently cosmopolitan area, unless the entire world had one culture. In nature, that degree of similarity (one world culture) would be a huge disadvantage. Evolution requires diversity so that when the environment changes, some cultures will "live-on" while others die-off. When western culture destroys its ability to produce food, the Amish will still be around, farming as they have for hundreds of years. That’s good. Humans will carry-on. Maybe he’s saying this is just part of the human condition. Or maybe he sees the disintegration as worse now. He hasn’t spoken to that yet, although it’s implied in his description of the times described in this lecture.