Ep. 4 - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - Socrates and the Quest for Wisdom

[@redheadedranger]

That moment when you realize John's lectures have you in a flow state

[@eliajahrenteria322]

Brilliant

[@tcbassify]

Hi sorry

[@clinthaugen375]

This comment made me aware of the flow state I was in and snapped me out of it 👎

[@currousity]

THAT REALIZATION LITERALLY JUST HAPPENED TO ME IN EP. 3 WOW

[@MathiasMNielsen]

I saw After Socrates episode 1, he suggested this series and now I'm 4 episodes in. I'm totally drawn in, amazed by the profound insights. Socrates is becoming a more interesting person than I ever imagined. Truly a state of flow, just wanting to go on the same path towards truth.

[@Hooz97]

This work is so important to me. I can't thank you enough John. You are what education is supposed to be and I am so grateful for you doing this and putting it out for free. This deserves way more recognition.

[@icekan733]

So true... Thank you John

[@sharpenedge]

Completely agree.

[@kjekelle96]

Yes

[@paulhardin9731]

"You can't lie to yourself, but you can bullshit yourself." So many pearls of wisdom in these lectures. As a mental health therapist, I'm tempted to just direct all my clients to these lectures and call it a day.

[@ibnkhaldun7373]

And who will collect the fees ?

[@michelebergman4336]

Good idea but it takes some patience… teach them meditation too🙏

[@ryanreyes3085]

That stunned me.

[@alexandercamlin8889]

If church was like this, I would go everyday.

[@ThePathOfEudaimonia]

Then let's create "churches" like this ourselves? For our communities of the religious and non-religious alike, to bind everyone together. What's stopping us?

[@gghostbird]

@@ThePathOfEudaimonia Money, which religious churches have learned how to manipulate in spades. And mindset; too few have the mindset of wanting to know themselves and the universe better. And who would make a congregation of mindfulness? Most are too consumed with day to day life and other rituals. And then even if you got a decent amount of people like this, you'll have to deal with whatever legal bullshit churches would throw your way, because they would get offended at something like this.

[@SnoozeTheRecluse]

Have you watched Paul VanderKlay?

[@alexandercamlin8889]

@@SnoozeTheRecluse Got the chance to chat with him a couple years back on his channel.

[@kjekelle96]

Dream it into being as well as you can. Enough small lights can illumine even great darkness.

[@christophekapuschenski7723]

Holy shit what is this? This is the MOST interesting educational content I have ever learned in my entire life, including all those years at school and those countless hours watching youtube videos about Quantum Physics, Engineering, Space, Psychology, Philosophy. I am so gratefull to have found this series. Thank you soooo much! ××××

[@iforget6940]

Hey bud I would like it if I can see those other channels you have

[@radscorpion8]

lol

[@laluna5548]

Seriously-which subjects would this fall under? Philosophy? Anthropology? Sociology? Psychology?

[@kostaa5665]

John Vervaeke is the man that our youth need.

[@JDG602]

I find it absolutely fascinating how relevant Plato and Socrates are even 2400 years later. I love reading Plato because it is a great way to realize what is truly important and even the tools to get there. His focus on wisdom, the sacredness of our universe, self-examination, and living a good and just life is exactly what our culture needs right now. But I think more than ever we need John Verveake to remind us that there is a profound body of writings througout history that can supplement our current knowledge to help us live more meaningful and good lives with the focus on cultivating wisdom and understanding. Philosophy changed my life there was a point when I did not want to live anymore and I come here when I lose sight of my true path. Your the man John! I appreciate that he not only provides the theory but also the practice. Very rare, everyone has the answers but no direction to get there. Thank you.

[@lizthor-larsen7618]

I absolutely love this guy. So fun to listen to too as well E

[@HigoWapsico]

3rd time I’m going through this, and I’m learning new things, it’s almost as if I didn’t listen the first and second time, but I think it’s more like I’ve integrated the parts that registered and now I’m able to level up more. Thanks again ❤

[@malcolmsmart5214]

I majored in Philosophy as an undergraduate 40 years ago and this was one of the best lectures I've ever heard on Socrates and some of the pre-Socratics. You wrapped up better in one hour what my professors weren't able to accomplish in an entire semester. Sure, they went over the names and the history, but none of them ever captured the relevance of these ideas to one's life the way you have. Looking forward to viewing the remainder of your series. Thanks again for the excellent work.

[@nugzarkapanadze6867]

Thank You, John!

[@kbeetles]

I never thought an ancient Greek Philosopher could be presented in such a vivid, human and relevant way. These lectures are little gems! Thank you!

[@Joeoi]

Cause you did not read them maybe..they can be really clear and easy to read themselves..like for the Symposium

[@AugustasKunc]

@@Joeoi false, the Symposium is not clear and easy to read, you still need the cultural context of the book, otherwise you will be left with way more questions than answers.

[@Joeoi]

@@AugustasKunc I don't know about U.S. educational system but we have read the Symposium at 15 years old once a week in my lyceum and was really easy : each convivial shares his idea and thought on who is Love and where is 'he' from until Socrates in the end gives his opinion saying that Love was born when Poros ( Expedient) met an asleep " Poverty" and so detached the physical aspect and much of mythological like in the others' opinion. I don't know but Plato also with his cave myth are pretty clear in Greek - we studied Ancient greek in highschool - German philosophers are way tougher than Greek for repetitive language and constant paraphrasing

[@joshuabuckingham3571]

Marvelling at the way you tell the etymology of these words! Each word is a story within itself.

[@juliawest4880]

I have been listening on Spotify but there's no way for me to express gratitude there. I came here to say - thank you John. I have been listening while I drive and the amount of "WOAH" moments that have happened have been invaluable. We are so privileged to be able to receive all of this carefully synthesized work. It's clear how much you have invested in this body of work and we are so lucky to have it shared in such a meaningful and enriching way.

[@ip6289]

Beyond excellent!

[@juneack5848]

I’m only half way through and I’m in tears that wisdom and education like this can be treated to us. It makes me feel less alone and more willing to continue the journey. My spirit can’t unfeel what’s it’s been through. Thank you for shedding light and sharing this with us.

[@lucasbergman5150]

I am also having an "ahw". The lectures dont just catch me intellectualy but also emotionally. Too much info in each to bingewatch for sure. Thanks a lot.

[@matfar100]

Lucas, I had a similar experience and made a comment like this on a later episode ~#30. It’s extraordinary that Johns work could continue to do that over so many episodes. Perhaps a learning from the series helps explain the emotional impact. Insight leading to self transcendence leading to self agape with the corresponding emotional response. What do you think?

[@accadia1983]

Great spot! You are doing it right, if it is slow and painful. We are touching the core of our being, which is deep within our circuits, and will require several repetitions to even become aware of it. No one can liberate in one hour, one way to catch the false prophets ;) 🔷️🧘🏻‍♂️♾️

[@lynn1959]

THANK YOU so much for putting your amazing series of lectures on KZbin. ❤🙏

[@lysechrist1947]

This is some of the best education I've ever got from the internet. It's explaining evolution of the brain! Just wish the algorithm would catch on to the things I'm watching and quit giving me all the "junk" suggestions! Thank you John for offering this content for free. Your students must LOVE you!

[@frozenriverbell]

Not another cliffhanger!, now I have to excruciatingly wait for the next episode to come out…..oh here it is sitting right underneath…..click!❤

[@mattgumbley6080]

Good enough quality for me to watch in my living room on the telly like the one dimensional man that I am. God bless you Vervaeke. Live long and prosper.

[@jessewest2109]

It's 630 am. I started listening at 330 on my way to work. 3 hours that stood still at the speed of light. Bravo john. It's not so much that the info is new. But all the themes are shown as congruent. Many thanks and blessings, John.

[@kevin4680]

"The truth(wisdom?) will set you free, but first it will piss you off"

[@peterrosqvist2480]

48:27 The Socratic Method! This is the experience I've had with several friends. I wasn't judging them, I was asking questions and being honest with them. I didn't understand their negative reactions at the time. Thank you!

[@PsychoSk8r4bg]

Me too! I’m gonna have to dive in and up my game of communication!

[@gabedepaul5407]

Incredible value in having an unreasonably educated man tell us all the things he feels are important.

[@StolenHandel]

Absolutely loved this lecture! Thank you for making us smarter without leaving us in debt. You are a hero!

[@sagarzon]

And a Socratic thing he does by that!

[@billburwood7047]

As a westerner this series is vital in helping me get in touch and understand my own tradition and culture. Without your culture life will feel meaningless and empty.

[@danielfisher1360]

Wow. So informative and current, even three years later. Proves that ancient knowledge are keys to your own being. Thank you so much for your telling

[@buddhaofthebasin5600]

V.S. Ramachandran demonstrated in “A Brief Tour of Consciousness” that sometimes we do remain intentionally blind to threatening ideas like one of our arms is gone (admittedly this is a tragic instance and that’s why the self deception is possible.) Under hypnosis, the patients would admit that they had lost an arm. It’s like the left hemisphere (Broca & Wernicke’s area) can help keep the autobiographical self intact by keeping out non salient info. However sometimes the ego keeps out information that would cause negative emotion and necessitate a reformulation of the self vis a vis the world and reality, as it were. Thanks for this series. Priceless value for free

[@masonart4950]

Absolutely tremendous. All glory to God for Christ's return in humankind.

[@shanemason4815]

Excellent lecture

[@OmegaGodBahamut]

Socrates was a bad ass! Excellent episode. Thanks for all you put into your delivery.

[@MrCman321]

Best lecture series I’ve ever seen, unimaginably invaluable. One small criticism though, I wish you talked more about Socrates sentencing. He had the chance to escape, and was allowed to live if he just fled to another city, but instead chose to stay and die. I was really hoping you would talk about this and it’s significance (if it had any, which I think it did) to the meaning crisis and how Socrates was such a pivotal figure because of living up to what he preached. Still, fantastic series.

[@042Ghostmaker]

I was impressed by his bravery. It struck me that if your life has been valuable to you, and you are willing to defend your life's works, you should be willing to die to preserve them. We see this in activists and those who resist tyranny. I'm no Socratian scholar, but I see that aspect of it.

[@raquellima1617]

Thank you for bringing that up! I feel like this comment session would have made a great post-classroom discussion on the lecture, and can be used precisely to share what the lecture hasn't covered.

[@matthewparlato5626]

Hes doing an entire series on Socrates. He mentions he can only go so deep on each ep in this series often.

[@antoniobarbalau1107]

This lecture series helped me answer some questions I did not even know I had, and it's only been 4 lectures

[@nozellot]

Again, in pure love! Your work is truly inspiring

[@1993HBh]

Jordan Peterson brought me here. I'm so thankful 🙏

[@ConsciousKosmos]

God I wish I had just one professor like this in college. Took 5 years of philosophy courses and ended up dropping out because of my frustration with academic philosophy.

[@tensevo]

I know, philosophy by rote learning, is not philosophy.

[@dwifred472]

Just curious, what made you frustrated with it?

[@SoloSeason]

KZbin taught me to tie a Windsor Knot and so much more I couldn’t get from humans Struggling with “the meaning crisis” this is the new college 🎉

[@room_threeothree]

Philosophy cannot be lectured but discovered. Professors nowadays are just zombies who have nothing to discover but in demand to teach. No enthusiasm, no creativity, just dread and death in their eyes.

[@ConsciousKosmos]

@@dwifred472 In my last year there I was taking metaphysics from a Darwinian atheistic professor, existentialism and phenomenology from a severely depressed professor (who quit the next year), and philosophy of edu. from a lovely woman who was opening my eyes to just how bad education was in public schools as well as the education I was receiving there.

[@rathulolee6596]

Know thyself=Understanding how you operate🙌🙌

[@jordybpeterson9046]

I am barely finding out how amazing Socrates really was. My life is changed forever

[@rejuve50plus59]

Thank You John, you are so generous sharing this series: priceless!

[@joshgarrison7779]

I've been asking "what do you mean by that?".... Jordan Peterson's maps of meaning, Paul VanDerKlay & now this?! Pure BLISS! THANK YOU!

[@danielb9355]

This is gold. First heard of John when he appeared on the Intellectual Explorers Club podcast.

[@bulwarkjm2]

I'm watching because of this month's Stoicism Toronto, philosophy cafe, meetup (same guy runs it). Glad they introduced me to this. Great stuff.

[@markywildstone77]

Thanks John! This is completly mind blowing!❤

[@viktorkorol477]

"Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the more often and steadily we reflect upon them: the starry heavens above me and Jungian archetypes within me.”

[@maciejtedeque8096]

Last time i watched this series i stoped at episode 15. Now i am going back to better understand evrything John is talking about. Thank you John for your work, the wrold needs it!

[@conner3323]

This is simply amazing. These need many more views! Thank you sir. Wonderful content.

[@latneyparker5702]

Thanks for putting the words onscreen.

[@FuzzyAnkles]

great lecture especially after 30:00 . so much good stuff on sophism, rethoric, language, On Bullshit, belief, lying, advertising.... as well as talking about greek philosophers.

[@armir_ko]

When John says "liar" at 36:59, the subtitles show "lawyer." 🤣

[@SimplyH7]

Thank you Mr. Vervaeke. Your work is incredibly important and appreciated!

[@starnejme6902]

Just incredible. Thank you.

[@lukephillips7239]

this. THIS. This is what philosophy is about. These lectures are downright genius and I feel like I am learning some of the core lessons about being human and about life.

[@zerosum6669]

What a wonderful series. Amazing that this is free for anyone to view at their leisure.

[@simonsaysroyal4590]

I love it when I stumble on good content! Thank you for posting.

[@gianlucacastro5281]

I have been caught up in this self deception bullshit spiral of meaningless salience my entire life. You just gave me a lifelong needed insight. Your content is surreal, John, simply amazing. 4 episodes in and I can say that I have never encountered a more important series to watch. Massive respect

[@binthem7997]

This lecture series puts me in a state of flow and bombards me with epiphanies

[@thewalkingthinker6561]

Outstanding! I’m an acting teacher from Mexico City. What you said about not bothering belief, but work with our concentration, really helps to have insight in what an actor does

[@huitian177]

Wow, so powerful and passionate, as always!

[@JakeRoque]

Absolutely brilliant series, John. Loving it so far, thank you for sharing.

[@ThaNewDealer723]

Was introduced to John Vervaeke through Beyond The Fundamentals KZbin Channel. Amazing stuff on both channels. Thank you John, if I may! I share in the sentiment of others when they say "I cannot believe this is free".

[@theohuioiesin6519]

Very thankful to JP for brining me here. This is to me the essence of great thinking and great teaching: Being able to look at established accounts and narratives and point out a revelatory key point. The Points on Socrates were truly profound. Thank you sir!

[@TheMrAbsolute]

Has nobody else made the connection between Adam knowing his wife, and John's know thyself tattoo? No? Was I the only one that laughed out loud when he revealed his tattoo?

[@kobaltapollodorus8922]

Gave me a good chuckle, thanks for pointing that out

[@d.r.m.m.]

Thank you, John. This is profoundly beautiful teaching.

[@kofuller]

Oh how I wish I’d found this content 3 years ago… Then again the things I’ve learned on the journey to get here have been well worth it. Because now I “get it,” whereas I probably wouldn’t have back then… Thank You for this work. 🙏🏽

[@Beederda]

I appreciate YOUR time JV ❤️🍄

[@chriskenney4377]

Thanks John. I am always in awe in which that which I am struggling comes a wisdom. Keep the faith.

[@Krasbin]

In discussing the Oracle of Delphi, you say that there isn't a way to predict the future. But there is a way to make some future more likely to occur than another. You can envision the future, form an insight, offer a perspective. And if the others pick up on it (and agree with it), they will act out this vision. And so in a way, you can predict the future. Not exactly what will happen, but the myth/boundaries/framing within which things will happen. (Relistening/rewatching now the 4th time, and I am still struck by how good of a lecturer you are. As I understand you prefer dialogues, but your monologues are very skillfully put together.)

[@intrograted792]

My alternative interpretation (just for fun, don't take too seriously); Everything flows. (All is the moist) Everything attracts/repels. (The loadstone has psyche) Everything is Consciousness. (Everything is filled with gods)

[@danielb9355]

I too thought of the hermetic principle here. Everything flows, out and in; Everything has its tides; All things rise and fall

[@intrograted792]

Another rabbit hole to dive into. Thanks! I wasn't aware of hermetic philosophy but it sounds like something I'd be interested in.

[@themettatronus3028]

@@intrograted792 You're in for a trip.

[@Hitlerbaddaringood]

Sepher Yetzirah. For those who seek rabbit holes..

[@ThePathOfEudaimonia]

@@themettatronus3028 and others, Hermetic philosophy... Where to start?

[@Krasbin]

The Sophists sound like an ancient precursor to lawyers. Rethoric is quite important to both. And they both worry less about bullshit.

[@lizellevanwyk5927]

Preparing for my meeting with Sarah later today; watching this again but this time I was in tears by the end, when you mentioned Plato and Socrates' death. That's how deep the love you caused for these two philosophers has grown . ❤

[@michaeldimatteo8290]

I find when I reflect on the year that has been at work I can write 5 pages or so for an hour in a state of flow. Prompts like "What were your higlights this year?" I list a number of projects and the lessons learned and highlights. This is one of those moments where the content is salient (as you are re-living your experiences) and true (trying to find the lessons learned and general principles to apply next time). Helps me undsrstand the "examined life" and salience/truth messages in this lecture. Also, the "changing me as I change it" dynamic may help induce this flow state. Each year when others (team leads at work) read the content they often comment on how great it is to read (salient and true).

[@speckle416]

this is just so damn good

[@amandalouise9046]

thank you this was both interesting and informative, although complex your argument regarding Socrates I think I grasp it...a replay may be needed with no complaint!

[@arvinsilberman804]

“This is the notion of bullshit” - that was fun to hear..

[@sanntosss]

Thank you, Professor John. I offer one more perspective... "everythings is made out of water" - Nothing exists at an extreme; everything rests in balance, everything is a window, a fraction of something greater. Neither completely wet nor completely dry-just a spectrum of light, a band of sound... "Lodestone has a psyche" - Everything is connected, everything carries energy. Electrons are present in all things. The forces of attraction and repulsion are real, and thought is far more powerful than we can imagine. "Everything is filled with GOD" - Everything carries meaning, and there will always be a mystery. Nothing is ever definitive; mystery will always remain, truth will never be absolute, and "GOD" will always be present.

[@SureshKumar-kh5tj]

Absolutely Brilliant !! real path to wisdom.

[@lilialbi1784]

Brilliant! Thank you John Vervaeke. I feel like having received a gift after each episode

[@psgrenier]

I can think of no higher praise than to say that this is not bullshit. This is a crucially needed renaissance of philosophy. Thank you.

[@KairoSage]

Thank you for this series, I’m so enthralled.

[@ChrisOgunlowo]

A beautiful delineation of the quest for knowledge. With such clarity, you've succeeded in presenting the relationship between Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. And, indeed, Pythagoras. These are typically familiar names but we're mostly limited in our knowledge of the connecting dynamics around them. I see how the series is building up to the central premise on Meaning. Thanks, John.

[@geoffreygraham4523]

Thank you very much for these lectures John.

[@PsychoSk8r4bg]

Thank you John. And thank you Socrates!

[@jessetyler3004]

I wish my University lecturers had this much passion, I’d learn a lot more! So thankful these are available

[@What-he5pr]

I was happy when I could even understand a word they tried to say.

[@AnthonyHaas-c3p]

Captivating and captured are not the same.

[@acuriousperson21]

Well after so many years I've finally discovered the term that explains my problem, I'm in a state of APORIA. I've realized that the goals that I was pursuing didn't mean anything. Using your words, I only enjoy bullshit and I'm aware of that fact. I feel that I have two options: accepting the bullshit and stop trying to live an examined life, or force me into a path that may lead to self-destruction. If I don't have any Socrates to get me out of the hole I suppose I'll have to keep watching.

[@johncerdena]

Thank you John. That's profound.

[@keithwins]

15:00 know thyself does not reflect a stroking of one's autobiographical ego but an understanding of how one operates, a direct participatory knowing Not your autobiography but your owners manual, how do you operate

[@NelyNelyNely]

Mind blown as always, thank you.

[@Chris_Preese]

You sound almost exactly like Tom Hanks, especially when I close my eyes. Great video series, I'm binging them all.

[@SmultronsyltNatha]

~40:00-44:00 (For my own notes, to remember later) Bullshitting oneself by _directing attention_ away from something and towards something else. You can’t directly lie to yourself, but you can steer attention.

[@SmultronsyltNatha]

~45:00 Socrates wanted people to learn truth and direct attention to find truth.

[@Yamahaxsr900_hawaii]

Thank you for your commitment. It makes a difference. at least for me it does. Aloha

[@souadtounsi9738]

thank you for this epical lecture on wisdom!!!

[@lucasschmaus3667]

Thanks, John. Really appreciate this work. I'm a university student and I find this work a necessary complement to my formal studies, it speaks directly to the work, stories and meaning that animates what is closest to my heart in a way that studies inside the formal academy are unable to. And its just so god damn fun and interesting! Hope you are well and engaged with whatever is closest to your heart as well.

[@rhyscollier]

I'm loving this! Any help to understanding and breaking up my thought patterns is humbly appreciated. What I don't understand is the seven thumbs down that are haunting his lectures... Does he have seven ex-wifes???

[@amylee9]

1% of the population are psychos and a much bigger percentage is mentally/cognitively ill. No matter how amazing a video is, if you have enough viewers, you’ll always have people thumbing things down. Even the most wholesome puppy videos have thumbs down….

[@thomaskatsinis8083]

Excellent very enlightening

[@Ihopeitsnottoobig]

Your instincts are fundamental to your behaviors. They shape everything downstream of them. Including your cognition. The historical ark and connections made here are truly fascinating, but if we want to get deeper to ground zero. Everything is an exaptation off of our primary instincts; physiologically, socially, and psychologically. It all serves the necessity of instinctual progression and the teleological ends to justify the means.

[@masonart4950]

As far as thales goes, remember he is a thousand times more brilliant than we are. We are not the advanced ones. We are the ones that have fallen away from perfection

[@hreedwork]

Found you through Rebel Wisdom and Benjamin Boyce. Great content, thanks! Making my way through your video series... 😎

[@keithwins]

37:30 when someone is bulls****ing you they're not trying to convince you with the truth but with the salience, how catchy it is, how much it grabs your attention