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

New videos released every Friday.
Books in the Video:
•Harry Frankfurt - On Bullshit
•Harry Frankfurt - The Reasons of Love
Series Playlist: kzbin.info?list...
Facebook: / vervaeke.john
Twitter: / vervaeke_john
Fourth episode of Dr. John Vervaeke's Awakening from the Meaning Crisis.

[@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

[@alexandercamlin8889]

If church was like this, I would go everyday.

[@SapientEudaimonia]

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?

[@adenfayt5433]

@@SapientEudaimonia 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.

[@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.

[@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?

[@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.

[@kostaa5665]

John Vervaeke is the man that our youth need.

[@joshuabuckingham3571]

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

[@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

[@Augass]

@@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]

@@Augass 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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 ;) 🔷️🧘🏻‍♂️♾️

[@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.

[@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.

[@kevin4680]

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

[@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.

[@Krasbin]

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

[@armir_ko]

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

[@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

[@StolenHandel]

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

[@goyo0620]

What a salient lecture lol. My heart is racing from the passion. No bs my resting heart rate is around 48 to 50 and its way past that after this. The word that comes to mind is, invigorating. His passion and energy really invigorate me and this topic in general. Imagine being in one of his classes!

[@OmegaGodBahamut]

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

[@gabedepaul5407]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@antoniobarbalau1107]

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

[@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.

[@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.”

[@jordybpeterson9046]

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

[@rathulolee6596]

Know thyself=Understanding how you operate🙌🙌

[@nugzarkapanadze6867]

Thank You, John!

[@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!

[@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!

[@arvinsilberman804]

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

[@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!❤

[@lizthor-larsen7618]

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

[@rejuve50plus59]

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

[@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

[@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 ❤

[@1993HBh]

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

[@jonsprivatelife]

Thank you for these!

[@we3kbb]

Man.... this is good stuff! Really enjoying it.

[@nozellot]

Again, in pure love! Your work is truly inspiring

[@saturncomes]

this series is awesome!

[@KairoSage]

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

[@conner3323]

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

[@alodera]

Thanks for your work! On one hand I want to know what's next, and on the other - some episodes I watch again to catch more details and understanding. It is very exiting!

[@lockedfn-subpls]

Love this series, eye opener for me. Appreciate the improvements in audio over earlier episodes, I mostly listen in while commuting.

[@leedufour]

Thanks John.

[@Autuxm]

Amazing.. John always delivers. I love this style of eclectic lessons.

[@benmcconaghy3313]

Rick Roderick would smile wryly at this presentation

[@juan89801]

Thank you for making this series. This provides a lot of answers to what im searching for!

[@chriskenney4377]

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

[@ronyeahwiggie729]

This indeed is powerful stuff!

[@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….

[@Chris_Preese]

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

[@lilialbi1784]

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

[@EskeAndersen]

"What you have to pay attention to with Thales is not what he is saying, but what he is not saying, which - admittedly - is quite a lot." That's what I hoped John would say.

[@hreedwork]

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

[@binthem7997]

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

[@huitian177]

Wow, so powerful and passionate, as always!

[@edwardfosterart3848]

This talk is beyond brilliant!

[@starnejme6902]

Just incredible. Thank you.

[@SimplyH7]

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

[@arvinsilberman804]

Amazing lecture!

[@souadtounsi9738]

thank you for this epical lecture on wisdom!!!

[@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.

[@TheTHe0DB]

Loving these! Truth with relevance.

[@tracywilliamsliterature]

Absolutely Brilliant. Just Brilliant. Brilliant.

[@user-jl7xw1oq5v]

Amazing!

[@ip6289]

Beyond excellent!

[@phoenixfreewalkeroreilly2212]

So brilliant 👏

[@geoffreygraham4523]

Thank you very much for these lectures John.

[@Yamahaxsr900_hawaii]

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

[@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.)

[@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.

[@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!

[@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 . ❤

[@markywildstone77]

Thanks John! This is completly mind blowing!❤

[@latneyparker5702]

Thanks for putting the words onscreen.

[@mosesgarcia9443]

FANTASTIC.... my Nut was cracked when you talked about the defintion of psyche... thank you

[@d.r.m.m.]

Thank you, John. This is profoundly beautiful teaching.

[@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!

[@antonyliberopoulos933]

Thank you John.

[@sajadtorkamani9399]

Thanks for this

[@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!

[@NelyNelyNely]

Mind blown as always, thank you.

[@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.

[@SureshKumar-kh5tj]

Absolutely Brilliant !! real path to wisdom.

[@tomythekid]

This series is fu*king fabulous!!!

[@simonsaysroyal4590]

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

[@JakeRoque]

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

[@johncerdena]

Thank you John. That's profound.

[@shanemason4815]

Excellent lecture

[@PsychoSk8r4bg]

Thank you John. And thank you Socrates!

[@artolapvetelainen3703]

Thank you very much.

[@anthonykrkovski650]

Wow got so much knowledge from this lecture TYVM!!! :)

[@alexanderhaynes]

Thanks John :)