Podcasts about neoplatonic

The mighty Alex Rivera arrives at the Virtual Alexandria to shake up Gnostic and Platonic studies with groundbreaking research the world has never seen. We'll quest into the heart of Gnosticism and its essence and purpose. We'll also cover the Gnostic Melchizedek, a figure far more fascinating than orthodoxy has told us. And we'll encounter many other figures, Neoplatonic exemplars, the machinations of the Archons, Hekate, and the role of Baphomet, much of it based on his game-changing book, The Sun Lady Unveiled. Get the book: https://amzn.to/4oAKVVz More on Alex: https://themegasaeon.substack.com/ Get The Occult Elvis: https://amzn.to/4jnTjE4 Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/ Gnostic Tarot Readings: https://thegodabovegod.com/gnostic-tarot-reading/ The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasis Homepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyte AB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Support with donation: https://buy.stripe.com/00g16Q8RK8D93mw288 Merch store: https://aeonbyte.creator-spring.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Frank Grabowski and Dr. Alex Petkas (host of the Cost of Glory) for a rich discussion of Odyssey Books 13 and 14. Check out all our resources on the great books!Check out the Cost of Glory!Check our the Porch and Altar, Dr. Grabowski's Substack.Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca—sleeping peacefully through the voyage as the Phaeacians carry him ashore—only to awaken uncertain and disguised by Athena as a beggar. The conversation explores his strategic plotting with the goddess, the symbolic Cave of the Nymphs (including a fascinating Neoplatonic reading from Porphyry), the poignant encounter with the loyal swineherd Eumaeus, and Odysseus's layered “lies” that reveal deep truths about his character. The guests delve into themes of homecoming, the restoration of patriarchal order, xenia (guest-friendship), internal moral growth, and the slowing narrative pace as Homer shifts focus from external adventures to the subtle work of reclaiming one's house.This episode offers fresh, layered insights perfect for both first-time readers and Odyssey veterans, blending literary analysis, philosophy, and practical wisdom on loyalty, cunning, and self-mastery. Whether you're drawn to the theological depth of the cave, the psychological realism of Odysseus' deceptions, or the timeless lessons on rebuilding order amid chaos, Dcn. Garlick, Dr. Grabowski, and Dr. Petkas make these often-overlooked books come alive with warmth, humor, and profound appreciation. Tune in for an engaging, accessible conversation that will deepen your love for Homer and leave you eager for the next leg of the journey.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Odyssey and Guests08:38 The Slow Pace of the Odyssey13:15 Themes of Homecoming and Restoration18:07 The Significance of Sleep and Rebirth23:22 Divine Intervention and the Phaeacians28:24 Odysseus' Identity and the Role of Athena36:26 The Art of Deception: Odysseus and Athena's Intrigue37:19 The Mist of Disguise: Odysseus' Identity Crisis39:46 Inner Odyssey: The Journey of Self-Discovery42:34 The Goddess of Trickery: Athena's Role in Odysseus' Return44:39 The Cave of the Nymphs: Symbolism and Allegory51:03 Depositing Treasures: Spiritual Growth and Cooperation with the Divine59:13 The Loyal Swineherd: Eumaeus and the Theme of Hospitality01:02:39 The Encounter with the Dogs01:03:44 Loyalty and the Commoner's Perspective01:05:11 The Swineherd's Knowledge and Loyalty01:06:16 Odysseus's Tests and Coalition Building01:07:59 Reflections on War and Leadership01:11:35 Odysseus's Crafty Storytelling01:14:58 The Nature of Lies and Truth01:18:12 Piety and Character in the Odyssey01:22:06 The Art of Storytelling and Requests01:25:20 Final Thoughts and Future EncountersBe sure to check out our website for more resources on the great books!

The Emperor Julian with Jeremy SwistWe are thrilled to welcome Assistant Professor Jeremy Swist back to the show to discuss all things emperor Julian! Julian's rule as Roman emperor was short, but it also created quite a stir because Julian was keen to turn Rome away from Christianity and to bring back the paganism. How did he do it? Why did he do it? And what's the legacy that he left behind? We consider the details.Jeremy Swist has a PhD in Classics from the University of Iowa, and his research interests include imperial Greek and Roman historiography and rhetoric, late antiquity, classical reception in heavy metal music. He is currently Assistant Professor of Classical Studies at Michigan State University. Jeremy has published and presented extensively, and he has a particular interest in the intersection of heavy metal music and the classical world - we suggest you check out his blog, Heavy Metal Classicist, or our previous episode with him to find out more. In 2024, he translated and produced a dramatic reading of the Emperor Julian's Symposium of the Caesars, which starred some of the finest podcasters and actors in the WORLD! (Maybe us)The Emperor Julian, who ruled Rome between 361 and 363 CE, is one of Jeremy's great passions, and we are thrilled to talk to him about his new volume on this unusual ruler. The book is published by Oxford University Press and is entitled Julian Augustus: Platonism, Myth, and the Refounding of Rome.Abstract from Oxford University Press“The Roman emperor Julian employed both words and deeds to return the empire to paganism and reverse Christianization, inspired by his conversion to the Neoplatonic philosophy and radical pagan Hellenism of Iamblichus, and promoted by his own production of Greek literature. These works present a coherent vision of the providentially guided history and destiny of Rome as a series of (re)foundations enacted by rulers such as Romulus, Numa, and Augustus. Julian offers an Iamblichean approach to interpreting Roman legends, Platonic allegories, and myths of his own creation to articulate his own role in the refounding of the empire. Approaching the wider examination of Julian's imperial self-image on these terms ends up nuancing and challenging common assumptions influenced by the rhetoric of his contemporary proponents. In his reverence for the gods and for philosophy, the emperor's self-construction embraces the identities of a statesman and solider more than philosopher, Roman more than Greek, and mere human rather than semi-divine being. Julian's unique positionality as emperor let him invert the conventions of panegyric whereby rulers equal and surpass the demigods and heroes of myth and history. While distancing himself from the ideal models of virtue and founding that inspire him, he adopts a different set of exemplary figures as mirrors of himself. Statesmen such as Pericles and Scipio, and especially Augustus, serve as precedents for Julian's more realistic conception of his role in refounding the empire, as student and champion of philosophers, guardian of law and tradition, and servant of the gods.”The return to the old godsJulian's rule was short but it left quite an impact. We chat with Jeremy about some of the ideas Julian put forward about Rome, the foundation stories that underpinned its self-definition, and what might have been if weren't for an unfortunate spear that wounded Julian and ended his life just two years into his reign.Sound CreditsOur music is by the superb Bettina Joy de Guzman.For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/Support the showPatreonKo-FiRead our booksRex: The Seven Kings of RomeYour Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Work-in-Progress talks with Hessam Abedini, PhD candidate, Comparative Literature and 2025–26 OHC Dissertation Fellow. This project examines how to translate the Persian epic Shahnameh (AD 1010) without imposing Western literary conventions on it. Previous English translations have compared the Persian poet Firdausi to Homer, distorting the epic's unique cosmological framework that blends pre-Islamic Iranian traditions, Islamic theology, and Neoplatonic philosophy. The research proposes translation methods that preserve Iranian concepts like divine glory and cosmic order, allowing readers to encounter this masterwork on its own cultural terms rather than through Western frameworks. 025–26 OHC Dissertation Fellow. This project examines how to translate the Persian epic Shahnameh (AD 1010) without imposing Western literary conventions on it. Previous English translations have compared the Persian poet Firdausi to Homer, distorting the epic's unique cosmological framework that blends pre-Islamic Iranian traditions, Islamic theology, and Neoplatonic philosophy. The research proposes translation methods that preserve Iranian concepts like divine glory and cosmic order, allowing readers to encounter this masterwork on its own cultural terms rather than through Western frameworks.

Ep. 233 | In the last episode of the Path of Love Series with A. H. Almaas, Hameed explores the themes he introduced in the later chapters of his new book, The Inner Beloved. Hameed clarifies the role of mind on the path of heart (the mind is bedazzled and awed; the heart open), and details what happens when we reach the beloved, like “falling in love with everything” and experiencing the absolute as a “coming home” (even though there's no one there!). We learn that, on the path of love, no matter what we do or don't do, a heart-driven force beyond the mind is pulling us onward. Once we arrive, we realize the beloved has always been there—which is why our heart has been longing for the beloved all along.Hameed explains that on the path of love, nonduality becomes intimacy—reality itself is pure intimacy, he says—and in fact, the nonbeingness of the beloved is the ultimate truth of reality. In a state of mystical poverty, we discover that all we are and have ever been has been borrowed from the beloved. The culmination of this Path of Love Series ends very beautifully, the love and intimacy of the beloved pervading Hameed's words and the images he conjures for us. “The world is simply the luminosity of the beloved,” Hameed says. In listening to him, we share in some of the wonderful sense of coming home he experienced, a little of the radiant luminosity, too, and his own ongoing excitement over the ever unfolding mystery of the divine. Recorded April 9, 2026.“We can be in the lap of the beloved and still enjoy life—loving everything from that place.”Topics & Time StampsIntroducing the 4th dialogue in the Path of Love Series with A. H. Almaas, focusing on the role of mind and the culmination of the path (00:49)On the path of love you are heart-driven by forces that mind cannot fathom (01:39)Hameed's experience of falling in love with everything and experiencing the absolute as if “coming home” (03:00)The mind is bedazzled by the Mystery and recognizes its limitation in relation to the heart (08:20)When you get there, you realize the beloved has always been there (11:46)Emptiness beyond normal emptiness: Hameed calls this “absence” (13:05)The great liberation: where there's nothing more to dissolve (17:18)As we are pulled, the love deepens & intensifies; we drown in the passion (22:06)Mystical poverty: the soul recognizes all of its qualities are borrowed from the beloved (25:05)What is right relationship between the realized heart and a healthy mind? (25:51)Krishnamurti would talk about no mind—but he was always using mind (28:40)Cutting through illusion & Hameed's transmission from Manjushri (30:29)True mind: knowing in the moment (38:43)Dissolving dichotomies into wholeness: the world is simply the luminosity of the beloved (43:31)The ultimate truth of reality: the nonbeingness of the beloved (50:21)When tantra is enhanced by real love, then you can dissolve into the vastness (53:30)Stabilizing the realization is the second stage, actualizing the realization and not going back to the “doer” is the third stage (58:51)The dissolution of self doesn't necessarily last: humility is an important step towards making the realization more constant (01:00:46) Nonbeing is the essence of intimacy: being completely one with the inner beloved (01:03:43)On the path of love, nonduality becomes intimacy; reality itself is pure intimacy (01:06:22)For fans of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, the Wisdom Series, based on Hameed's book The Inner Journey Home, will be continued in June 2026.Resources & ReferencesA. H. Almaas, The Inner Beloved: The Heart's Journey to Divine UnityPrevious Deep Transformation Path of Love dialogues: Entering the Path of Heart, Emptying the Heart of All that Obscures the Inner Beloved & Dissolving into Bliss: The Ecstasy of Ego DeathKabir, Indian mystic and poet, Songs of KabirRumi, The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and LongingFakhr al-Din Iraqi, Persian Sufi poet, Divine FlashesSt. John of the Cross, The Dark Night of the SoulKrishnamurti, Indian spiritual figure, speaker, and writerManjushri, bodhisattva of discriminating wisdom, wielding the sword of discriminationAvalokiteśvara, principle bodhisattva in Buddhism, associated with Great CompassionVajrapāṇi, principal bodhisattva in Mahayana & Vajrayana Buddhism, embodying the condensed power, energy, and strength of all the BuddhasJigme Lingpa, a central figure in the Nyingma School of Tibetan BuddhismProclus, Neoplatonic philosopher who hierarchically structures all levels of reality, including the complex subdivisions of the intellectHuston Smith, “The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder,” from Beyond the Post-Modern Mind---Deep Transformation's Path of Love Series with A. H. AlmaasDeep Transformation's Path of Love Series with A. H. Almaas begins with an overview of Hameed Ali's Love Trilogy — Love Unveiled, Nondual Love, and The Inner Beloved — to orient us on the spiritual path of love unique to Hameed Ali and the Diamond Approach, then delves into the profound and deeply touching topics Hameed addresses in his most recent book, The Inner Beloved, published in February 2026. Listeners may want to get a copy of this book, to study and follow along on this extraordinary path of awakening. Also, if you are interested in taking a course on The Inner Beloved in the fall of 2026, you can register your interest here: https://da.pages.ontraport.net/inner-beloved-interest.---Special Diamond Approach Course Discount...

Before demons became “demons,” there were daimons.In ancient Greek thought, the daimon was not automatically evil. It could be a guide, a warning voice, an intermediary, a presence between gods and humans, or something strangely close to the inner life.Socrates spoke of his daimonion as a kind of inner sign — not exactly a voice telling him what to do, but something that stopped him when he was about to move in the wrong direction.And the deeper you go, the stranger the pattern gets.This episode explores:• Socrates and the daimonion• Plato, Diotima, and intermediary beings• daimons in Greek and Neoplatonic thought• how Christianity transformed daimons into demons• Augustine, Iamblichus, and Pseudo-Dionysius• jinn, qareen, shedim, daēvas, and other unseen counterparts• Jung's Philemon and the idea of the inner guide• Holy Guardian Angel traditions• and why modern NHI conversations may be circling an ancient questionYeah… I know.First Mothman.Then fairies.Now daimons.But that's kind of the point.The more you look at these traditions, the more they start to feel connected by one recurring question:What if human beings have always felt accompanied?Not just watched from the sky.Not just haunted from the outside.But guided, warned, tempted, interrupted, and inspired from somewhere much closer.This isn't about proving daimons exist.It's about asking why so many cultures have imagined some kind of unseen presence near the human soul.Maybe the inner voice is not always only “you.”Maybe that's what makes it worth listening to carefully.

An Interview with Dr. Benjamin DeVos This episode reexamines Simon Magus, a controversial figure from the book of Acts, and his evolving role in early Christian tradition. Moving beyond the familiar story, it explores how later texts—especially the Pseudo-Clementines—transform Simon into a complex philosophical rival to Peter. Along the way, the discussion uncovers themes of truth, rhetoric, power, and moral ambiguity, challenging simple labels of heresy and revealing a far more nuanced picture of early Christianity. Dr. Benjamin De Vos is a researcher and teacher within the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy at Ghent University in Belgium and is affiliated with the University of Regensburg and the Beyond Canon project. His particular research interest is in the figure of Simon Magus. This involves Neoplatonic philosophy, concepts of truth, and important forms of communication, such as myth and dialogue. He is the author of a volume with Cambridge University Press, as well as several articles and book chapters and edited volumes (with Mohr Siebeck en Groningen University/Barkhuis (on Truth-dynamics in Early Christianity)).

Episode Description In this episode, Austin Bridges (co-director of L/L Research) and Doug Scott present the first half of a structured introduction to the Ra Contact for process philosopher Matt Segall, whose work on Whitehead's process philosophy has been a central inspiration for Doug's book Raian Process Metaphysics. The conversation moves from the historical origins of the Ra Contact through Ra's cosmological framework—intelligent infinity, the primal distortions, and the nested hierarchy of Logoi—to Doug's concept of teleopotentiation: the creative principle by which genuine novelty enters existence through the interplay of Affirming, Denying, and Reconciling forces. Matt responds with immediate recognition of Neoplatonic resonances, and the group engages a candid discussion of Don Elkins's death and the psychic risks inherent in this kind of work. Part one of two. Opening Invocation — Doug Scott Topics Covered I. Who Is Austin Bridges? Co-director of L/L Research, steward of the Ra Contact material and its community for over thirteen years. Austin frames his relationship to the material through epistemic humility—holding it as the backbone of his spiritual seeking without claiming it as ultimate truth. His excitement about Doug's process-philosophical synthesis as a new avenue for the material to serve the world. II. The Three Principals: Don, Carla, and Jim The unique trio whose convergence made the Ra Contact possible. Don Elkins — UFO investigator, pilot, physics professor at the University of Louisville. His journey began with the death of Captain Thomas Mantell in pursuit of a UFO and moved through hypnotic regression, past-life regression, and eventually channeling experiments with his physics students. Designated by Ra as "the questioner." Carla Rueckert — Christian mystic, cradle Episcopalian, library scientist. A direct mystical experience of Jesus at age two shaped her lifelong devotion. Became Don's research partner in 1968 and began channeling in 1974, discovering an extraordinary aptitude. Designated by Ra as "the instrument." Jim McCarty — Wilderness school graduate turned off-grid educator in rural Kentucky. Heard Don and Carla on the radio, joined their work, and moved in with them in 1980. Two weeks later, the Ra Contact began. Designated by Ra as "the scribe," his deeper role was sustained energetic focus and protection during sessions. III. The Nature of the Ra Contact (1981–1984) 106 sessions of trance channeling—completely distinct from the conscious channeling that preceded it. Carla was fully unconscious during sessions, her spirit displaced while Ra directly used her vocal cords. Three microphones and three tape recorders were required because equipment consistently failed. The ritual setup included a virgin chalice, incense, a virgin candle, and a Bible opened to the Gospel of John, chapter one. The material's language, rigor, and depth were unlike anything channeled before or since. IV. Who Is Ra? A sixth-density social memory complex originally evolved on Venus. Member of the Confederation of Planets in Service to the One Infinite Creator. The same Ra known to the ancient Egyptians—though their intended teaching of spiritual philosophy was distorted into deity worship by Egyptian politics and power structures. Ra responds to a "calling" generated by Earth's suffering, offering guidance exclusively through Q&A format to protect free will. V. The Density Structure Seven densities as bandwidths of conscious awareness—not physical locations but vibrational spectra through which consciousness evolves. Humanity occupies third density (self-awareness and choice). Fourth density (love and understanding) is dawning, but the transition is chaotic because the incoming energy must manifest through beings still enmeshed in third-density separation. An eighth density serves as the first density of a new octave—the pattern is cyclical. VI. Social Memory Complex as Whiteheadian Society (Doug) Doug translates Ra's concept into process terms: a social memory complex is a singular plurality—"the many become one, and are increased by one." Its formation is a fourth-density achievement prefigured in third density through the ecclesia, the gathered community. The noosphere coming online. The collective unconscious becoming collective conscious. In Whiteheadian terms: a higher-grade society sheltered by the third-density framework until a metaphysical threshold of wholeheartedness is reached. VII. Intelligent Infinity and the Primal Distortions (Austin) The One Infinite Creator as undistorted unity—"the macrocosm of the mystery-clad being." Ra's two uses of "intelligent infinity": (1) absolute non-dual reality, and (2) the potential aspect of creation paired with intelligent energy as the kinetic aspect. The three primal distortions as the logical structure giving birth to creation: Free Will (awareness awakening within infinity), Love/Logos (focusing of intelligent energy into creative form), and Light (the first manifestation—all that exists, organized by love). VIII. Ra's Use of Logos (Austin) The Logos as a nested, fractal hierarchy: Primal Logos → Galactic Logoi → Solar Logoi → Planetary Logoi → individual mind/body/spirit complexes. Each level receives intelligent energy from its parent Logos and has the free will to further refine its own creation. The engagement is participatory—creation gives experience back to the Logos, and the Logos iterates. "Each Logos desires to create a more eloquent expression of experience of the Creator by the Creator." IX. Teleopotentiation: The Engine of Creative Advance (Doug) Doug's central contribution: teleopotentiation names the universal creative principle underlying both Ra's cosmology and Whitehead's process thought. Drawing from Gurdjieff's Law of Three (via Cynthia Bourgeault): Affirming Force meets Denying Force, and through a Reconciling Force, a New Higher Arising is generated—genuine novelty, not compromise or rearrangement. Doug defines intelligence as "awareness in motion towards more—awareness as desire for gnosis." The will's focusing act by which infinite possibility becomes potentiated probability, becomes manifested actuality. X. The Torus and the Ankh (Doug) Teleopotentiation has a geometry: the torus—the shape of continuous self-referential flow, the shape that self-knowing takes. The Ankh is the two-dimensional cross-section of this toric reality. The circle is the eternal; the cross is manifestation; the eternal experiences itself through extended embrace. The primal rhythm carries three affects: yearning (outward flow), longing (the turn toward return), and rejoicing (coalescence at the center). Rhythm itself necessitates three—and this triadic structure is "the rhythms clothed in mystery, for they are being itself." XI. Matt Segall Responds Matt identifies immediate Neoplatonic resonances—Plotinus's emanation from the One, the levels of density recalling the hypostases. He suggests this resonance may itself trace back to Ra's Egyptian teaching seeding Plato's philosophical understanding. His assessment: "None of this feels foreign to me. The concepts and the deep pattern of creation and manifestation feel intimately familiar." He affirms that Whiteheadian language could have helped Ra express what the noun-based structure of English made difficult. XII. The Death of Don Elkins Matt asks about Don's suicide and its relationship to the channeling project. Austin explains: the positive magical charge of the contact attracted a fifth-density service-to-self entity that could not create distortion but could energize distortions already present. Don's pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities became inroads for this influence. A diagnosis of depressive psychosis with schizophrenic tendencies. The mental health system's failure. A tragic standoff with police ending in Don's death by his own hand. The trio's unique synergy was irreplaceable; the Ra Contact ended permanently. Doug adds: fifth density is the ceiling for negative polarity—in sixth density, one can no longer ignore one's unity with the other, and the negative path collapses. But at fifth density, extraordinary black magic is possible, though negative beings cannot create—they can only amplify what is already there. Closing Benediction — Tim Merrill "Out and within to all that is beautiful and noble, virtuous, all that is worthy of our best selves. And we express gratitude for this experience, for the catalyst that has brought us here together, and for the iron that we are forging. May it become gold, and the athanor of love. Amen." Key Terms in This Episode Density — Bandwidth of conscious awareness through which consciousness evolves; seven densities within an octave of experience Social Memory Complex — Collective consciousness where individual beings achieve sufficient harmony that memories and experiences become mutually accessible; Ra is a sixth-density social memory complex Intelligent Infinity — Pure undifferentiated potential; the ground of all being before focus or manifestation Intelligent Energy — Intelligent infinity focused as creative force; the Logos Logos / Logoi — Creative consciousness at various scales: Primal, Galactic, Solar, Planetary, Individual Primal Distortions — The three fundamental "distortions" (complexifications) from unity: Free Will, Love/Logos, Light Teleopotentiation — Purposive bringing-forth of genuine novelty through the Law of Three: Affirming meets Denying, Reconciling generates New Higher Arising Law of Three — Every manifestation requires three forces: Affirming, Denying, and Reconciling (Gurdjieff via Cynthia Bourgeault) Torus — The geometry of continuous self-referential flow; the shape that self-knowing takes at every scale Ankh — The cross-section of toric reality; the eternal experiencing itself through extended embrace and transformation Wanderer — A higher-density being who incarnates into third density to serve The Veil — The forgetting that characterizes third-density incarnation, intensifying the experience of choice References & Resources The Ra Contact: Teaching the Law of One — Don Elkins, Carla Rueckert, Jim McCarty (L/L Research, 2018) lawofone.info — Free searchable archive of all 106 sessions llresearch.org — L/L Research, publishers and stewards of the Ra Contact Raian Process Metaphysics — Doug Scott (Building 4th Press, 2026) Physics of the World-Soul — Matt Segall (SacraSage Press, 2021) The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three — Cynthia Bourgeault (Shambhala, 2013) Process and Reality — Alfred North Whitehead (Free Press, 1978) Building 4th Community — cosmicchrist.net Next Episode: Part two of the Law of One introduction, continuing with deeper process parallels, the dipolar God, and fuller group discussion. Recorded April 24, 2026. "The many become one, and are increased by one." — Alfred North Whitehead

Can the meaning crisis be addressed by transforming how we perceive reality rather than what we believe about it? In this episode, John Vervaeke and Ethan Hsieh introduce the course Between East and West, which explores Zen Neoplatonism as a dialogical framework integrating Eastern and Western traditions. The course is designed not as a system of belief but as a training in perception, participation, and understanding. Zen offers a path of intimacy, presence, and immanence, while Neoplatonism provides intelligibility, transcendence, and coherence. Together, they form a stereoscopic vision that allows for a renewed encounter with meaning and the sacred. The discussion reframes mysticism, philosophy, religion, and spirituality, while confronting the meaning crisis and the limitations of modern categories. It proposes a shift beyond theism and atheism toward a participatory understanding of reality grounded in insight and practice. Ethan Hsieh is a writer, educator, and dialogue facilitator working across philosophy, cognitive science, and contemplative practice, helping to bridge theory and lived experience. Guest Links Ethan Hsieh: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/ethan-hsieh-828a63240 Join the full course Between East and West https://lectern.johnvervaeke.com/courses/between-east-and-west Explore more courses and teachings from The Lectern https://lectern.johnvervaeke.com/ Support the Lectern and join a growing community of wisdom seekers https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke 00:00 Welcome to the Lectern 01:00 What is Zen Neoplatonism 05:00 Silk Road origins and Pyrrho 07:00 Mysticism, philosophy, and religion 11:30 Religion as dynamic ecology 12:21 Christianity as a family resemblance network 16:30 Spirituality and the meaning crisis 21:00 Religious philosophy gray zone 26:30 Synergy not syncretism 30:30 Course overview and proposal 32:00 Zen and Neoplatonism stereoscopic vision 38:30 Aporia, koans, and Socrates 44:30 Accessibility beyond East and West 50:30 Sacredness demands accountability 51:00 Singapore religious caution 51:30 Religion and war myths 52:30 Pluralism without conversion 53:30 Attachment theory and faith 57:00 Self versus others in religion 01:00:00 From substance to community 01:05:00 Do I even need this 01:08:30 Fear of losing meaning 01:12:30 Beyond theism and atheism 01:18:00 Meaning beyond morality 01:21:30 Goodness and self transcendence 01:26:00 Neoplatonic ladder 01:27:00 Logos and agape 01:30:00 Practice, way, and identity Follow John Vervaeke https://johnvervaeke.com/ https://x.com/DrJohnVervaeke https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke/videos https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke  

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Dr. Donald Prudlo explore the intricate relationship between Plato and St. Thomas Aquinas, examining how Aquinas's thought is influenced by Platonic philosophy while also being rooted in Aristotle. We are reading the PURGATORIO for Lent!Check out our LIBRARY OF GUIDES TO THE GREAT BOOKS.See Dr. Prudlo's books on St. Thomas, administration, and more!They discuss the nuances of Aquinas' understanding of universals, the nature of evil, and the significance of the body in Christian anthropology, highlighting the complexities of Aquinas's intellectual context and the historical development of these philosophical ideas. They discuss how Aquinas synthesized various philosophical traditions, particularly in his understanding of existence and essence, the role of beauty, and the moral implications of his metaphysics. The dialogue also touches on the early church's reception (or rejection) of Aristotle, the influence of Islamic philosophy, and the evolution of Aquinas' thought throughout his life. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the richness of Aquinas' philosophy and its relevance to contemporary discussions on faith and reason.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast03:11 Experiencing the Papal Conclave06:34 Plato and Aquinas: A Complex Relationship12:43 Aquinas' Intellectual Evolution17:02 The Importance of Reading the Great Books24:25 Platonic Thought in Aquinas' Philosophy34:48 The Quest for Certitude in Philosophy37:20 Realism and the Nature of Universals40:56 Mind-Body Dualism and the Significance of the Body47:36 The Reception of Aristotle in Early Christianity54:09 The Distinction Between Essence and Existence01:04:53 The Role of Beauty in Aquinas' Philosophy01:06:38 Exploring Beauty in Philosophy01:11:23 The Role of Beauty in St. Thomas Aquinas01:13:44 The Ladder of Love and Its Implications01:19:18 Essence and Existence in Thomistic Thought01:21:41 The Hierarchy of Being and Divine Wisdom01:25:22 The Evolution of Aquinas' Thought01:27:35 Understanding Aquinas Through His Influences01:30:17 Final Thoughts on Faith and ReasonTakeawaysAquinas is often mischaracterized as purely Aristotelian.The relationship between Plato and Aristotle is more complex (and harmonious) than often portrayed.Aquinas' thought is enriched by both Platonic and Aristotelian influences.Evil is understood as a privation of the good in Aquinas's philosophy.Aquinas' understanding of universals differs from both Plato and Aristotle.The concept of exitus and reditus is a key Neoplatonic idea in Aquinas.The mind-body dualism presents challenges for Christian thought.Aquinas retained Platonic emphasis on the...

**Re-publishing this one with improved audio** In this episode Chris explores the ideas of the ancient Greek, Neoplatonic philosopher--Iamblichus--through his correspondence with an ancient Egyptian priest. Iamblichus does something no philosopher did before him, at least not to such a degree; he questioned religious orthodoxy, expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of religious ritual and sacrifice and even of the priesthood itself. Along the way, however, he's striving to understand the nature of the divine at the deepest level. It turns out, there was no better source for answers to religious questions than the Egyptian priesthood, who benefited from the oldest and grandest religious tradition in all of the ancient world. And what did Iamblichus learn? It's not at all what you'd expect.  Enjoy ;)

The Roman emperor Julian (r. 361-363 CE) was a man of action and of letters, which he employed in an effort to return the Empire to the light of the pagan gods, and reverse the Christianization of the empire advanced by his uncle Constantine and the sons of Constantine. This enterprise was inspired and guided by his conversion to the Neoplatonic philosophy and radical pagan Hellenism of Iamblichus and his disciples, and promoted by his production of Greek orations, letters, and satires. These works present a coherent vision of the providentially guided history and destiny of Rome as a series of foundations and refoundations enacted by rulers such as Romulus, Numa, and Caesar Augustus. As this book demonstrates, Julian offers an Iamblichean approach to the exegesis of the legends of Rome's founding, the allegories of Plato's dialogues, and myths of his own creation in order to articulate his own role in the refounding of the Empire. Furthermore, argues Jeremy Swist, approaching the wider examination of Julian's imperial self-image on these terms ends up nuancing and challenging common assumptions influenced by the rhetoric of his contemporary proponents. In his reverence for the gods and for philosophy, the emperor's self-construction embraces the identities of a statesman and soldier more than of a philosopher, of a Roman more than a Greek, and of a mere human rather than a semi-divine being. While distancing himself from the ideal models of philosophical virtue and imperial founding that inspire his own actions, he adopts a different set of exemplary figures as mirrors of himself. New Books in Late Antiquity is sponsored by Ancient Jew Review Jeremey Swist is Assistant Professor of Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University. Click here for The Symposium of the Caesars, and here for his talk on Julian and Constantinople. His dissertation spotlight from AJR is here. Michael Motia teaches in Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Roman emperor Julian (r. 361-363 CE) was a man of action and of letters, which he employed in an effort to return the Empire to the light of the pagan gods, and reverse the Christianization of the empire advanced by his uncle Constantine and the sons of Constantine. This enterprise was inspired and guided by his conversion to the Neoplatonic philosophy and radical pagan Hellenism of Iamblichus and his disciples, and promoted by his production of Greek orations, letters, and satires. These works present a coherent vision of the providentially guided history and destiny of Rome as a series of foundations and refoundations enacted by rulers such as Romulus, Numa, and Caesar Augustus. As this book demonstrates, Julian offers an Iamblichean approach to the exegesis of the legends of Rome's founding, the allegories of Plato's dialogues, and myths of his own creation in order to articulate his own role in the refounding of the Empire. Furthermore, argues Jeremy Swist, approaching the wider examination of Julian's imperial self-image on these terms ends up nuancing and challenging common assumptions influenced by the rhetoric of his contemporary proponents. In his reverence for the gods and for philosophy, the emperor's self-construction embraces the identities of a statesman and soldier more than of a philosopher, of a Roman more than a Greek, and of a mere human rather than a semi-divine being. While distancing himself from the ideal models of philosophical virtue and imperial founding that inspire his own actions, he adopts a different set of exemplary figures as mirrors of himself. New Books in Late Antiquity is sponsored by Ancient Jew Review Jeremey Swist is Assistant Professor of Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University. Click here for The Symposium of the Caesars, and here for his talk on Julian and Constantinople. His dissertation spotlight from AJR is here. Michael Motia teaches in Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

The Roman emperor Julian (r. 361-363 CE) was a man of action and of letters, which he employed in an effort to return the Empire to the light of the pagan gods, and reverse the Christianization of the empire advanced by his uncle Constantine and the sons of Constantine. This enterprise was inspired and guided by his conversion to the Neoplatonic philosophy and radical pagan Hellenism of Iamblichus and his disciples, and promoted by his production of Greek orations, letters, and satires. These works present a coherent vision of the providentially guided history and destiny of Rome as a series of foundations and refoundations enacted by rulers such as Romulus, Numa, and Caesar Augustus. As this book demonstrates, Julian offers an Iamblichean approach to the exegesis of the legends of Rome's founding, the allegories of Plato's dialogues, and myths of his own creation in order to articulate his own role in the refounding of the Empire. Furthermore, argues Jeremy Swist, approaching the wider examination of Julian's imperial self-image on these terms ends up nuancing and challenging common assumptions influenced by the rhetoric of his contemporary proponents. In his reverence for the gods and for philosophy, the emperor's self-construction embraces the identities of a statesman and soldier more than of a philosopher, of a Roman more than a Greek, and of a mere human rather than a semi-divine being. While distancing himself from the ideal models of philosophical virtue and imperial founding that inspire his own actions, he adopts a different set of exemplary figures as mirrors of himself. New Books in Late Antiquity is sponsored by Ancient Jew Review Jeremey Swist is Assistant Professor of Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University. Click here for The Symposium of the Caesars, and here for his talk on Julian and Constantinople. His dissertation spotlight from AJR is here. Michael Motia teaches in Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Roman emperor Julian (r. 361-363 CE) was a man of action and of letters, which he employed in an effort to return the Empire to the light of the pagan gods, and reverse the Christianization of the empire advanced by his uncle Constantine and the sons of Constantine. This enterprise was inspired and guided by his conversion to the Neoplatonic philosophy and radical pagan Hellenism of Iamblichus and his disciples, and promoted by his production of Greek orations, letters, and satires. These works present a coherent vision of the providentially guided history and destiny of Rome as a series of foundations and refoundations enacted by rulers such as Romulus, Numa, and Caesar Augustus. As this book demonstrates, Julian offers an Iamblichean approach to the exegesis of the legends of Rome's founding, the allegories of Plato's dialogues, and myths of his own creation in order to articulate his own role in the refounding of the Empire. Furthermore, argues Jeremy Swist, approaching the wider examination of Julian's imperial self-image on these terms ends up nuancing and challenging common assumptions influenced by the rhetoric of his contemporary proponents. In his reverence for the gods and for philosophy, the emperor's self-construction embraces the identities of a statesman and soldier more than of a philosopher, of a Roman more than a Greek, and of a mere human rather than a semi-divine being. While distancing himself from the ideal models of philosophical virtue and imperial founding that inspire his own actions, he adopts a different set of exemplary figures as mirrors of himself. New Books in Late Antiquity is sponsored by Ancient Jew Review Jeremey Swist is Assistant Professor of Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University. Click here for The Symposium of the Caesars, and here for his talk on Julian and Constantinople. His dissertation spotlight from AJR is here. Michael Motia teaches in Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/italian-studies

The Roman emperor Julian (r. 361-363 CE) was a man of action and of letters, which he employed in an effort to return the Empire to the light of the pagan gods, and reverse the Christianization of the empire advanced by his uncle Constantine and the sons of Constantine. This enterprise was inspired and guided by his conversion to the Neoplatonic philosophy and radical pagan Hellenism of Iamblichus and his disciples, and promoted by his production of Greek orations, letters, and satires. These works present a coherent vision of the providentially guided history and destiny of Rome as a series of foundations and refoundations enacted by rulers such as Romulus, Numa, and Caesar Augustus. As this book demonstrates, Julian offers an Iamblichean approach to the exegesis of the legends of Rome's founding, the allegories of Plato's dialogues, and myths of his own creation in order to articulate his own role in the refounding of the Empire. Furthermore, argues Jeremy Swist, approaching the wider examination of Julian's imperial self-image on these terms ends up nuancing and challenging common assumptions influenced by the rhetoric of his contemporary proponents. In his reverence for the gods and for philosophy, the emperor's self-construction embraces the identities of a statesman and soldier more than of a philosopher, of a Roman more than a Greek, and of a mere human rather than a semi-divine being. While distancing himself from the ideal models of philosophical virtue and imperial founding that inspire his own actions, he adopts a different set of exemplary figures as mirrors of himself. New Books in Late Antiquity is sponsored by Ancient Jew Review Jeremey Swist is Assistant Professor of Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University. Click here for The Symposium of the Caesars, and here for his talk on Julian and Constantinople. His dissertation spotlight from AJR is here. Michael Motia teaches in Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston.

In this episode Chris explores the ideas of the ancient Greek, Neoplatonic philosopher--Iamblichus--through his correspondence with an ancient Egyptian priest. Iamblichus does something no philosopher did before him, at least not to such a degree; he questioned religious orthodoxy, expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of religious ritual and sacrifice and even of the priesthood itself. Along the way, however, he's striving to understand the nature of the divine at the deepest level. It turns out, there was no better source for answers to religious questions than the Egyptian priesthood, who benefited from the oldest and grandest religious tradition in all of the ancient world. And what did Iamblichus learn? It's not at all what you'd expect.  Enjoy ;)

In this episode I am joined by Dr Francisco José Luis, scholar of Indo-Iranian Studies and Comparative Religion trained at the Sorbonne, Paris and SOAS, London. Francisco recalls his upbringing and education in Luxembourg; details his rigorous academic training in classical languages such as Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit; and laments what he sees as the rise of idealogical indoctrination in modern education Francisco discusses his PhD in pre-reformist Sikhism, his years of field work living in the Punjab, and expresses his love of the German intellectual tradition. Francisco reveals the influence of Neoplatonism in Islamic theology and mysticism, describes his own turn to Shiʿi Islam, and explains why he believes that even today there is a living lineage of Neoplatonism that stretches directly back to Plotinus. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep327-neoplatonic-mystic-dr-francisco-jos-luis Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:01 - Upbringing in Luxembourg 02:56 - Classical education 04:28 - Learning Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit 08:03 - Germanic intellectual tradition and WW2 12:37 - Advantages of an anti-American education 15:06 - Critical thinking and intellectual independence 17:04 - Boomer educators and idealogical indoctrination 20:59 - German literature 22:56 - Post WW2 culture shock and the boomer revolution 27:20 - Vatican II and loss of trust 30:35 - Filling education gaps 32:06 - A deeply pagan Catholic 35:21 - Meditation practice and interest in Neo-Vedanta 37:52 - Studying two masters degrees simultaneously at the Sorbonne 39:57 - Rigorous training in Sanskrit 43:56 - MA theses in French literature and pre-reform Sikhism 45:20 - PhD at SOAS in pre-reformist Sikh monastic orders 46:48 - Living among the Sikh community and learning Punjabi 49:54 - Young Sikh's interest in pre-reformist religion 50:54 - Death threats from Sikhs 53:00 - Changes in Sikhism 55:20 - Tradition religious music of Sikhism and other pre-reformist features 01:00:18 - Neo-traditionalist Sikh movements in the UK and India 01:03:59 - Falling in love with Shiʿi Islam 01:10:16 - Conversion to Islam? 01:11:45 - Shi'ism as a personal practice 01:13:23 - Cultural barriers against European converts 01:16:12 - Neo-Platonic Vajrayanism 01:17:43 - Mysticism perceived as a threat 01:21:48 - Neoplatonic influence on Islam 01:27:28 - Surprising Neo-Platonic features of Islamic mysticism 01:33:30 - Metempsychosis in Islam 01:37:16 - Francisco is a Neoplatonist 01:43:08 - Vajrayana and Shiʿi inner alchemy and dream yoga 01:50:43 - Islamic tummo … To find our more about Dr Francisco José Luis, visit: - https://www.instagram.com/hludvig_tradicionalista For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

In this explosive episode, Jewish anti-Zionist comedian Michael Schirtzer unpacks the realities of Zionism, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and media censorship. He shares personal stories of backlash—from a viral stand-up clip that sparked walkouts to having his Instagram deleted after being viewed by Meta's Israel policy chief. A former AEPi member, Schirtzer also exposes hazing abuse and efforts to blacklist him from LA comedy clubs. With references to Canary Mission, Hasbara propaganda, and Meta's censorship of Palestinian content, this episode highlights growing resistance to Zionist narratives—especially among younger Americans. Please subscribe to the new Tin Foil Hat youtube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@TinFoilHatYoutube Check out Sam Tripoli new crowd work special "Black Crack Robots" now for free. https://youtu.be/_FKugOeYaLc Check out Sam Tripoli's 2nd New Crowd Work Special “Potty Mouth” on YouTube for free. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22j3Ds5ArjM Grab your copy of the 2nd issue of the Chaos Twins now and join the Army Of Chaos: https://bit.ly/415fDfY Check out Sam "DoomScrollin with Sam Tripoli and Midnight Mike" Every Tuesday At 4pm pst on Youtube, X Twitter, Rumble and Rokfin! Join the WolfPack at Wise Wolf Gold and Silver and start hedging your financial position by investing in precious metals now!  Go to samtripoli.gold and use the promo code "TinFoil" and we thank Tony for supporting our show. CopyMyCrypto.com: The ‘Copy my Crypto' membership site shows you the coins that the youtuber ‘James McMahon' personally holds - and allows you to copy him. So if you'd like to join the 1300 members who copy James, then stop what you're doing and head over to: CopyMyCrypto.com/TFH You'll not only find proof of everything I've said - but my listeners get full access for just $1 Want to see Sam Tripoli live?  Get tickets at SamTripoli.com: San Diego:  Sam Tripoli and Tin Foil Hat Comedy Live July 17th-19th https://americancomedyco.com/collections/sam-tripoli-live-july-17-19   Hollywood:  Comedy Chaos Live At The Comedy Store https://www.showclix.com/event/chaos-july23rd   Boston, MA:  Tin Foil Hat Comedy Night Headlines Nick's Comedy Stop  August 1st https://www.nickscomedystop.com/event-details/special-event-tin-foil-hat-comedy-with-sam-tripoli-and-eddie-bravo-live   Broadbrook Ct: Tin Foil Hat Comedy and Swarm Tank at 8pm on August 2nd https://broadbrookoperahouse.thundertix.com/events/246069   Huntington Beach: Headlining the Mamba Sports Bar & Grill on August 17th https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sam-tripoli-special-event-tickets-1471278867699   Chicago: Headlining The Comedy Bar Sept 12th-13th https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/september-12-13-sam-tripoli-4497173   Austin, Tx:  Headlining The Fat Man At Comedy Mothership Oct 17th-19th https://samtripoli.com/events/?paged=2   Please check out Michael Schirter's internet: Podcast:  The Palenstine Pod- https://bit.ly/40HLaU2 Youtube: http://youtube.com/@ThePalestinePod Twitter: https://x.com/MicSchirtzer Patreon: http://patreon.com/palestinepod Comedy Special: https://bit.ly/45dwOMy   Please check out Sam Tripoli's internet: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/samtripoli Please Follow Sam Tripoli's Stand Up Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@SamTripoliComedy Please Follow Sam Tripoli's Comedy Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/samtripolicomedy/ Please Follow Sam Tripoli's Podcast Clip Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samtripolispodcastclips/   Thank you to our sponsors: Mint Mobile: Switch to Mint and new customers can get half off an Unlimited plan until February 2. To get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to Mintmobile.com/tinfoil GallowGlassBooks.Shop:  Frances Yates' Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition is a landmark study of Renaissance magic, mysticism, and philosophy. It explores Bruno's radical ideas and tragic execution, set against a backdrop of Hermetic and Neoplatonic thought.  This restored hardcover from Gallowglass Books features color images, translated titles, and premium design. Limited to 2,500 copies—available now for $60 at gallowglassbooks.shop.  

A selection of passages from the text 'Revelations of Divine Love' by Julian of NorwichJulian of Norwich (1342-c 1416) was the most important English mystic of the 14th century. She wrote the best known surviving book in the English language written by a mystic, 'Revelations of Divine Love'. The book is the first written in English by a woman. Her spirituality is strongly Trinitarian and basically Neoplatonic. Through the Passion, Julian was led to visions of the Trinity and of the universe as it exists in God. She lived in permanent seclusion as an anchoress in her cell, which was attached to St Julian's Church, Norwich.

What if the deepest truth of reality lies not in substances or isolated things, but in the pure relationality that connects everything? John Vervaeke is joined by renowned scholar Douglas Hedley to explore James Filler's groundbreaking work "Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being." John and Douglas examine the profound implications of viewing ultimate reality as fundamentally relational rather than substantial, uncovering significant convergences between Heidegger's later thought and the ancient Neoplatonic tradition. The dialogue goes into how Neoplatonic metaphysics offers potent solutions to the philosophical dilemmas posed by modernity and postmodernity, and why the notion of strong transcendence is essential yet challenging in contemporary thought. Douglas enriches the discourse with reflections on imagination, symbolism, and theological significance within the Neoplatonic heritage. Douglas Hedley is Professor of the Philosophy of Religion at Cambridge University. He was educated at Keble College, Oxford and at the University of Munich, and has previously taught at Nottingham University. He is the Director of the Cambridge Centre for the Study of Platonism and co-chair of the Platonism and Neoplatonism section of the American Academy of Religion. Dr Hedley's work centers on concepts of imagination, violence, and the sublime, and he has published widely, from early modern philosophy—particularly the Cambridge Platonists—to Coleridge. He is the Principal Investigator for the AHRC grant on The Cambridge Platonists at the Origins of Enlightenment: Texts, Debates, and Reception (1650-1730), and is co-editor of the Series Studies in Philosophical Theology. Connect with a community dedicated to self-discovery and purpose, and gain deeper insights by joining our Patreon.   Notes:  (0:00) Introduction to the Lectern (01:30) Douglas Headley's Background and Interests (03:30) Overview of James Filler's Argument (05:30) Critique of Substance Ontology (9:00) Neoplatonism and the Trinity (9:30) Lectern Dialogues: Philosophical Connections: Relational Ontology and the Modern Crisis (10:30) Heidegger's Misreading of Plato (16:30) Heidegger's Theological Influences (26:00) Modernity, Postmodernity, and Transcendence (34:30) Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Neoplatonism (36:15) Pushback on the Trinity Concept (40:00) Greek and Russian Orthodox Traditions (43:00) Western Theology and Neoplatonism (49:30) Dialogical Model of the Self (55:00) Christian Neoplatonism and Love (59:30) Embodiment and Transcendence (01:04:30) Final Thoughts and Parting Words   ---  Connect with a community dedicated to self-discovery and purpose, and gain deeper insights by joining our Patreon. The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Become a part of our mission.   Join Awaken to Meaning to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships.   John Vervaeke: Website | Twitter | YouTube | Patreon     Ideas, People, and Works Mentioned in this Episode Substance Ontology vs. Relational Ontology Heidegger's Relationship to Neoplatonism James Filler's Philosophical Contribution The Trinity as Relational Symbolism Mysticism and Theology Embodiment and the Contemporary Crisis of Meaning James Filler Plotinus Iamblichus St. Augustine Marius Victorinus Jonathan Pageau "The Iconic Imagination" by Douglas Hedley "Participation in the Divine" "Process and Reality" by Alfred North Whitehead "Symposium" by Plato

In this episode, we tackle one of the most important figures in the history of religion, philosophy, mysticism & the esoteric - the writer calling himself Dionysios, and who would create a synthesis between Neoplatonic philosophy and Christianity in ways the echoed down the centuries.Check out the Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP) for more Dionysius content: https://shwep.netFind me and my music here:https://linktr.ee/filipholmSupport Let's Talk Religion on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/letstalkreligion Or through a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/talkreligiondonateSources/Recomended Reading:Lossky, Vladimir (1944). "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". James Clarke & Co.Luibheid, Colm (Translated by) (1987). "Pseudo-Dionysius: The Complete Works". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press International.McGinn, Bernard. "The Presence of God" Series, in several volumes. Perhaps the best and most comprehensive introduction to Christian mysticism. Published by Crossroad Publishing Co.McGinn, Bernard (2001). "The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart: The Man From Whom God Hid Nothing". Crossroad Publishing Co.The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Entry on Pseudo-Dionysius: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pseudo-dionysius-areopagite/Earl's section:Human and celestial hierarchies compared: EH 373AB, 376BC; CH 208BCD; EH 501A-D.Angelic triads: CH 200D: 3 threefold groups of angels, as taught by Pseudo-D's sacred initiator (i.e. Hierotheos); CH 257C: each angelic triad has Iamblichean-style first and last terms with a necessary median term. Cf. Iamb. De myst. V.8.225.5-8; CH 273C ditto; EH 501A: triads au go-go.Angelic mediation between humans and god: CH 180A. God never appears without intermendiaries, even to the saints: m180C. Even to Jesus: 181C. Long discussion of Isaiah and the Seraphim: 300B ff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Chris brings us Opinion Scholarship on the idea of a supreme, monotheistic God as expressed in the Neoplatonic idea of "The One" or "The Monad." We explore the commonalities between Christian Monotheism and Neoplatonism and speculate on the fertile ground for the emergency of this idea prepared by the pre-Socratics and Plato himself. We take a deep dive into Plotinus, Porphyry and Proclus, their descriptions of mystical experience and see see how they rationalizations their mystical intuitions with logic and reason. We then discuss altered states of consciousness, the ancient Greek mysteries and depth psychology to bring this all together. Enjoy ;)

In this episode, David and Gene continue their exploration of the Secret Gospel of John, delving into its complex cosmology and comparing it with Neoplatonic philosophy. They review the discussion from the previous episode that detailed the first phases the evolution of consciousness through the emanations of (1) the Monad (pure undifferentiated consciousness - will), (2) Barbelo (first reflection - thought), and (3) Christ/Autogenes (self-generated awareness - life). They draw parallels between ancient spiritual concepts and contemporary neuroscience, and discuss how these concepts relate to the modern understanding of consciousness and psychological development. The conversation explores the emergence of the Four Lights from Autogenes and their correspondence to the Four Worlds of Kabbalah, representing different levels of consciousness from spiritual to physical.This text for this episode focuses on the dramatic turn in the narrative with the appearance of Sophia of the Epinoia and her creation of the Demiurge - a lion-faced serpent representing primal consciousness without higher reasoning. The text details how this "blind idiot god, born of chaos" creates the Archons (rulers) in an attempt to mirror the higher realms, resulting in a distorted reflection of divine patterns that governs the material world. In this episode, David and Gene (as always) weave together insights from various esoteric traditions, including Masonry, Kabbalah, Hermeticism, alchemy, and Christian Gnosticism, showing how these ancient texts are intended as grimoires or textbooks, detailing sophisticated models for understanding consciousness and human psychological development.Deep Dive:Secret Book of JohnSecret Gospel of John correspondencesChapters:01:15 Introduction02:29 Review05:32 Neoplatonism10:38 Autogenes14:03 The Four Lights19:06 Pigera-Adamas22:24 Sophia Epinoia25:52 The Demiurge29:09 The Archons33:53 A Jealous God36:52 ConclusionsResources:MiddleChamber.org - Symposium on Masonic EsotericaThe Nag Hammadi ScripturesThe Apocryphon of John - Frederick Wisse TranslationGnosis.org - The Gnosis ArchiveThe Red Book: A Reader's Edition by Carl Jung

Hypatia was one of the most extraordinary figures of the ancient world. Born in Alexandria around 355 AD, Hypatia was a pioneering mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who defied the constraints of her time to become a symbol of intellectual excellence and resilience. She is a key person credited with the preservation of classic textbooks that still have references that are used to this day. She was a prominent teacher and scholar in the Neoplatonic school of thought. As the political and religious climate in Alexandria became increasingly volatile, Hypatia found herself at the center of a conflict between emerging Christian beliefs and the traditional pagan philosophies she championed. We'll unfold how these circumstances led to her tragic death. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Ralston College Humanities MA Dr John Vervaeke is a cognitive scientist and philosopher who explores the intersections of Neoplatonism, cognitive science, and the meaning crisis, focusing on wisdom practices, relevance realization, and personal transformation. Ralston College presents a lecture titled “Levels of Intelligibility, Levels of the Self: Realizing the Dialectic,” delivered by Dr John Vervaeke, an award-winning associate professor of cognitive science at the University of Toronto and creator of the acclaimed 50-episode “Awakening from the Meaning Crisis” series. In this lecture, Dr Vervaeke identifies our cultural moment as one of profound disconnection and resulting meaninglessness. Drawing on his own cutting-edge research as a cognitive scientist and philosopher, Vervaeke presents a way out of the meaning crisis through what he terms “third-wave Neoplatonism.” He reveals how this Neoplatonic framework, drawn in part from Plato's conception of the tripartite human soul, corresponds to the modern understanding of human cognition and, ultimately, to the levels of reality itself. He argues that a synoptic integration across these levels is not only possible but imperative.   — 00:00 Levels of Intelligibility: Integrating Neoplatonism and Cognitive Science 12:50 Stage One: Neoplatonic Psycho-ontology and the Path to Spirituality 41:02 Aristotelian Science: Knowing as Conformity and Transformation 46:36 Stoic Tradition: Agency, Identity, and the Flow of Nature 01:00:10 Stage Two: Cognitive Science and the Integration of Self and Reality 01:04:45 The Frame Problem and Relevance Realization  01:08:45 Relevance Realization and the Power of Human Cognition 01:20:15 Transjective Reality: Affordances and Participatory Fittedness 01:23:55 The Role of Relevance Realization: Self-Organizing Processes 01:31:30 Predictive Processing and Adaptivity 01:44:35 Critiquing Kant: The Case for Participatory Realism 01:53:35 Stage Three: Neoplatonism and the Meaning Crisis  02:00:15 Q&A Session 02:01:45 Q: What is the Ecology of Practices for Cultivating Wisdom? 02:11:50 Q: How Has the Cultural Curriculum Evolved Over Time? 02:26:30 Q: Does the World Have Infinite Intelligibility? 02:33:50 Q: Most Meaningful Visual Art? 02:34:15 Q: Social Media's Impact on Mental Health and Information? 02:39:45 Q: What is Transjective Reality? 02:46:35 Q: How Can Education Address the Meaning Crisis? 02:51:50 Q: Advice for Building a College Community? 02:55:30 Closing Remarks   — Authors, Ideas, and Works Mentioned in this Episode:    Antisthenes Aristotle Brett Anderson Byung-Chul Han Charles Darwin Daniel Dennett D. C. Schindler Friedrich Nietzsche Galileo Galilei Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Heraclitus Henry Corbin Immanuel Kant Iris Murdoch Isaac Newton Igor Grossmann Johannes Kepler John Locke John Searle John Spencer Karl Friston Karl Marx Mark Miller  Maurice Merleau-Ponty Nelson Goodman Paul Ricoeur Pierre Hadot Plato Pythagoras Rainer Maria Rilke René Descartes Sigmund Freud W. Norris Clarke anagoge (ἀναγωγή) Distributed cognition eidos (εἶδος) eros (ἔρως) Evan Thompson's deep continuity hypothesis Generative grammar logos (λόγος) Sensorimotor loop Stoicism thymos (θυμός) Bayes' theorem Wason Selection Task The Enigma of Reason by Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber The Ennead by Plotinus Explorations in Metaphysics by W. Norris Clarke Religion and Nothingness by Keiji Nishitani The Eternal Law: Ancient Greek Philosophy, Modern Physics, and Ultimate Reality by John Spencer   — Additional Resources  John Vervaeke https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke  Dr Stephen Blackwood  Ralston College (including newsletter) Support a New Beginning  — Thank you for listening!

IS THERE A ONE TRUE GOD OVERVIEW: There are many sources of information that people use to infer what might be true about God, including observation and revelation: Observation Some say that general observations of the universe support the existence of God, such as the idea of a non-eternal universe as shown by the Big Bang theory. Other observations that might support God's existence include the Earth's weather patterns, which some say are finely tuned to support human life, and the way nature works to form life. Revelation Some say that God may have entered the universe and told us true things about himself, morality, and how to have a relationship with him. This includes the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. The Bible also includes passages that some say indicate that God has made evidence of his existence so obvious that there is no excuse for denying him.  IS THERE PROOF OF GOD'S EXISTENCE? The existence of God is a subject of debate in the philosophy of religion.[1] A wide variety of arguments for and against the existence of God can be categorized as logical, empirical, metaphysical, subjective or scientific. In philosophical terms, the question of the existence of God involves the disciplines of epistemology (the nature and scope of knowledge) and ontology (study of the nature of being or existence) and the theory of value (since some definitions of God include "perfection"). The Western tradition of philosophical discussion of the existence of God began with Plato and Aristotle, who made arguments for the existence of a being responsible for fashioning the universe, referred to as the demiurge or the unmoved mover, that today would be categorized as cosmological arguments. Other arguments for the existence of God have been proposed by St. Anselm, who formulated the first ontological argument; Thomas Aquinas, who presented his own version of the cosmological argument (the first way); René Descartes, who said that the existence of a benevolent God is logically necessary for the evidence of the senses to be meaningful. John Calvin argued for a sensus divinitatis, which gives each human a knowledge of God's existence. Islamic philosophers who developed arguments for the existence of God comprise Averroes, who made arguments influenced by Aristotle's concept of the unmoved mover; Al-Ghazali and Al-Kindi, who presented the Kalam cosmological argument; Avicenna, who presented the Proof of the Truthful; and Al-Farabi, who made Neoplatonic arguments. In philosophy, and more specifically in the philosophy of religion, atheism refers to the proposition that God does not exist.[2] Some religions, such as Jainism, reject the possibility of a creator deity. Philosophers who have provided arguments against the existence of God include David Hume, Ludwig Feuerbach, and Bertrand Russell. Theism, the proposition that God exists, is the dominant view among philosophers of religion.[3] In a 2020 PhilPapers survey, 69.50% of philosophers of religion stated that they accept or lean towards theism, while 19.86% stated they accept or lean towards atheism.[4] Prominent contemporary philosophers of religion who defended theism include Alvin Plantinga, Yujin Nagasawa, John Hick, Richard Swinburne, and William Lane Craig, while those who defended atheism include Graham Oppy, Paul Draper, Quentin Smith, J. L. Mackie, and J. L. Schellenberg. Traditional religious definition of God In classical theism, God is characterized as the metaphysically ultimate being (the first, timeless, absolutely simple and sovereign being, who is devoid of any anthropomorphic qualities), in distinction to other conceptions such as theistic personalism, open theism, and process theism. Classical theists do not believe that God can be completely defined. They believe it would contradict the transcendent nature of God for mere humans to define him. Robert Barron explains by analogy that it seems impossible for a two-dimensional object to conceive of three-dimensional humans.[7] In modern Western societies, the concepts of God typically entail a monotheistic, supreme, ultimate, and personal being, as found in the Christian, Islamic and Jewish traditions. In monotheistic religions outside the Abrahamic traditions, the existence of God is discussed in similar terms. In these traditions, God is also identified as the author (either directly or by inspiration) of certain texts, or that certain texts describe specific historical events caused by the God in question or communications from God (whether in direct speech or via dreams or omens). Some traditions also believe that God is the entity which is currently answering prayers for intervention or information or opinions. Ibn Rushd, a 12th-century Islamic scholar Many Islamic scholars have used philosophical and rational arguments to prove the existence of God. For example, Ibn Rushd, a 12th-century Islamic scholar, philosopher, and physician, states there are only two arguments worthy of adherence, both of which are found in what he calls the "Precious Book" (The Qur'an). Rushd cites "providence" and "invention" in using the Qur'an's parables to claim the existence of God. Rushd argues that the Earth's weather patterns are conditioned to support human life; thus, if the planet is so finely-tuned to maintain life, then it suggests a fine tuner—God. The Sun and the Moon are not just random objects floating in the Milky Way, rather they serve us day and night, and the way nature works and how life is formed, humankind benefits from it. Rushd essentially comes to a conclusion that there has to be a higher being who has made everything perfectly to serve the needs of human beings.[8][9] Moses ben Maimon, widely known as Maimonides, was a Jewish scholar who tried to logically prove the existence of God. Maimonides offered proofs for the existence of God, but he did not begin with defining God first, like many others do. Rather, he used the description of the earth and the universe to prove the existence of God. He talked about the Heavenly bodies and how they are committed to eternal motion. Maimonides argued that because every physical object is finite, it can only contain a finite amount of power. If everything in the universe, which includes all the planets and the stars, is finite, then there has to be an infinite power to push forth the motion of everything in the universe. Narrowing down to an infinite being, the only thing that can explain the motion is an infinite being (meaning God) which is neither a body nor a force in the body. Maimonides believed that this argument gives us a ground to believe that God is, not an idea of what God is. He believed that God cannot be understood or be compared.[10] Non-personal definitions of God In pantheism, God and the universe are considered to be the same thing. In this view, the natural sciences are essentially studying the nature of God. This definition of God creates the philosophical problem that a universe with God and one without God are the same, other than the words used to describe it. Deism and panentheism assert that there is a God distinct from, or which extends beyond (either in time or in space or in some other way) the universe. These positions deny that God intervenes in the operation of the universe, including communicating with humans personally. The notion that God never intervenes or communicates with the universe, or may have evolved into the universe (as in pandeism), makes it difficult, if not by definition impossible, to distinguish between a universe with God and one without. The Ethics of Baruch Spinoza gave two demonstrations of the existence of God.[11] The God of Spinoza is uncaused by any external force and has no free will, it is not personal and not anthropomorphic. Debate about how theism should be argued In Christian faith, theologian and philosopher Thomas Aquinas made a distinction between: (a) preambles of faith and (b) articles of faith.[12] The preambles include alleged truths contained in revelation which are nevertheless demonstrable by reason, e.g., the immortality of the soul, the existence of God. The articles of faith, on the other hand, contain truths that cannot be proven or reached by reason alone and presuppose the truths of the preambles, e.g., in Christianity, the Holy Trinity, is not demonstrable and presupposes the existence of God. The argument that the existence of God can be known to all, even prior to exposure to any divine revelation, predates Christianity.[clarification needed] Paul the Apostle made this argument when he said that pagans were without excuse because "since the creation of the world God's invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made".[13] In this, Paul alludes to the proofs for a creator, later enunciated by Thomas Aquinas[14] and others, that had also been explored by the Greek philosophers. Another apologetical school of thought, including Dutch and American Reformed thinkers (such as Abraham Kuyper, Benjamin Warfield, and Herman Dooyeweerd), emerged in the late 1920s. This school was instituted by Cornelius Van Til, and came to be popularly called presuppositional apologetics (though Van Til felt "transcendental" would be a more accurate title). The main distinction between this approach and the more classical evidentialist approach is that the presuppositionalist denies any common ground between the believer and the non-believer, except that which the non-believer denies, namely, the assumption of the truth of the theistic worldview. In other words, presuppositionalists do not believe that the existence of God can be proven by appeal to raw, uninterpreted, or "brute" facts, which have the same (theoretical) meaning to people with fundamentally different worldviews, because they deny that such a condition is even possible. They claim that the only possible proof for the existence of God is that the very same belief is the necessary condition to the intelligibility of all other human experience and action. They attempt to prove the existence of God by means of appeal to the transcendental necessity of the belief—indirectly (by appeal to the unavowed presuppositions of the non-believer's worldview) rather than directly (by appeal to some form of common factuality). In practice this school uses what have come to be known as transcendental arguments. These arguments claim to demonstrate that all human experience and action (even the condition of unbelief, itself) is a proof for the existence of God, because God's existence is the necessary condition of their intelligibility. Protestant Christians note that the Christian faith teaches "salvation is by faith",[15] and that faith is reliance upon the faithfulness of God. The most extreme example of this position is called fideism, which holds that faith is simply the will to believe, and argues that if God's existence were rationally demonstrable, faith in its existence would become superfluous. Søren Kierkegaard argued that objective knowledge, such as 1+1=2, is unimportant to existence. If God could rationally be proven, his existence would be unimportant to humans.[citation needed] It is because God cannot rationally be proven that his existence is important to us. In The Justification of Knowledge, the Calvinist theologian Robert L. Reymond argues that believers should not attempt to prove the existence of God. Since he believes all such proofs are fundamentally unsound, believers should not place their confidence in them, much less resort to them in discussions with non-believers; rather, they should accept the content of revelation by faith. Reymond's position is similar to that of his mentor Gordon Clark, which holds that all worldviews are based on certain unprovable first premises (or, axioms), and therefore are ultimately unprovable. The Christian theist therefore must simply choose to start with Christianity rather than anything else, by a "leap of faith". This position is also sometimes called presuppositional apologetics, but should not be confused with the Van Tillian variety. THE HISTORICAL JESUS According to Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God as chronicled in the Bible's New Testament, and in most Christian denominations He is held to be God the Son, a prosopon (Person) of the Trinity of God. Christians believe him to be the messiah, or a saviour (giving him the title Christ), who was prophesied in the Bible's Old Testament. Through Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection, Christians believe that God offers humans salvation and eternal life,[1] with Jesus's death atoning for all sin, thus making humanity right with God. The commonly held belief among Christians is the phrase, "Jesus died for your sins," and thus they accept that salvation is only possible through him.[2] These teachings emphasize that as the Lamb of God, Jesus chose to suffer nailed to the cross at Calvary as a sign of his obedience to the will of God, as an "agent and servant of God".[3][4] Jesus's choice positions him as a man of obedience, in contrast to Adam's disobedience.[5] According to the New Testament, after God raised him from the dead,[6] Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father,[7] with his followers awaiting his return to Earth and God's subsequent Last Judgment.[8] According to the gospel accounts, Jesus was born of a virgin, instructed other Jews how to follow God (sometimes using parables), performed miracles and gathered disciples. Christians generally believe that this narrative is historically true. While there has been theological debate over the nature of Jesus, Trinitarian Christians believe that Jesus is the Logos, God incarnate (God in human form), God the Son, and "true God and true man"—fully divine and fully human. Jesus, having become fully human in all respects, suffered the pains and temptations of a mortal man, yet he did not sin.

Neoplatonism, a philosophical system founded by Plotinus in the 3rd century CE. Discover comparative analyses with Plato's ideas and Aristotle's metaphysics, highlighting ethical frameworks, spiritual ascent, and salvation in Neoplatonism. Learn the influence of key figures like Plotinus and Proclus, shaping medieval thought and beyond.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/philosophy-acquired--5939304/support.

In their second dialogue on "Voices with Vervaeke," John Vervaeke and Vivian Dittmar explore transrational thought, emotions, and transformative practices, embarking on a profound journey into human experience. Vivian introduces a map of five distinct sensations, illuminating the practice of conscious release for personal growth, emotional maturity, and integrating higher consciousness with shadow aspects. Their discussion delves into pre-rational, rational, and transrational modes of thought, emphasizing the importance of integrating various forms of thinking to navigate modern cognitive landscapes effectively. This intellectual and experiential exploration offers valuable perspectives on human consciousness, emotional work, and the potential of transrational thought to enrich our self-understanding and worldview.   Vivian Dittmar, a globally influenced author, speaker, and wisdom teacher, has dedicated two decades to enhancing holistic development. Her diverse upbringing inspired her to explore beyond conventional education, delving into various cultures' wisdom. Through her books and the Be the Change Foundation, Dittmar seeks to redefine prosperity, focusing on emotional intelligence, ecological sustainability, social justice, and spiritual fulfillment, aiming to address the crises facing modern society.   Glossary of Terms Transrational: Going beyond or surpassing human reason or the rational; nonverbal; nonlinear; abstract. Pre-rational: Preceding the development of intelligence. Rational: A state of consciousness characterized by logical, linear, and verbal thinking. Conscious Release: A practice developed by Vivian Dittmar that fosters the integration of higher states of consciousness with shadow aspects. John Vervaeke Website: https://johnvervaeke.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke   X: https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VervaekeJohn/   Vivian Dittmar Website: https://viviandittmar.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@viviandittmareng Resources:   Join our new Patreon https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke   The Vervaeke Foundation - https://vervaekefoundation.org/   Awaken to Meaning - https://awakentomeaning.com/   Voices with Veraeke: Exploring Emotions and Transrational Wisdom with Vivian Dittmar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQWLfOFe0lo   The Emotional Backpack: How to release unhealthy feelings - Vivian Dittmar https://viviandittmar.net/en/the-emotional-backpack-book/   Your Inner GPS: Find Clarity with the Five Ways of Thinking -  Vivian Dittmar https://viviandittmar.net/en/your-inner-gps-book/   Workshop: “How Big Is Your Emotional Backpack?” https://signup.lebensweise.net/free-backpack-workshop   Online Course: “The Emotional Backpack” ► https://campus.lebensweise.net/o/the-emotional-backpack-online-course/   Rational Intuition: Philosophical Roots, Scientific Investigations - Lisa Osbeck, Barbara Held https://www.amazon.com/Rational-Intuition-Philosophical-Scientific-Investigations/dp/1316621219 Quotes    "One of the things that became really clear to me is that the transrational by nature has a very difficult stance in today's world because it speaks to us in a way that is nonverbal, nonlinear, abstract." - Vivian Dittmar [00:16:00]   “The ancient world had a whole faculty and term for nous and noesis, and that was all lost with the loss of our Neoplatonic heritage." - John Vervaeke [00:16:18]   "We have a transrational faculty that is also proactive, that is not receptive, and that's intention. It's really challenging for people to understand in our cultural framework because we very quickly confuse intention with a goal." - Vivian Dittmar [00:57:43] Chapters  [00:00:00] - Introduction and Overview of the Poly Crisis and Emotional Intelligence  [00:04:00] - Differentiating Sensations, Emotions, and Consciousness  [00:11:13] - Pre-rational, Rational, and Transrational Distinctions [00:25:00] - Intuition, Inspiration, and Transrational Wisdom [00:38:45] - Heart Intelligence  [00:47:50] - Reevaluating Rationality and Embracing Intuitive Integration for Decision-Making  [00:56:17] - Intention and Shaping Agency in Transrational Knowing [01:03:40] - Bridging Phenomenology, Transrational, and Transpersonal Dialogues  

In this first episode of the "Philosophy of Meditation" series, Rick Repetti and John Vervaeke take listeners on an engaging exploration of the intricate world of meditation and its deep roots in philosophical thought. John shares his transformative journey from a strict fundamentalist Christian background to finding solace and depth in Eastern philosophy and the practice of mindfulness. Rick and John's conversation navigates through the nuances of meditation and contemplation, shedding light on how these practices enrich the pursuit of wisdom and self-awareness. The discussion also bridges the gap between academic and practical philosophy, illustrating their vital role in understanding and cultivating wisdom. For listeners, this episode offers a deep, reflective insight into the philosophy of meditation, providing a comprehensive view of how these ancient practices are relevant and transformative in the modern world. The outcome is a rich tapestry of ideas, encouraging listeners to explore their own paths toward wisdom and self-realization.   Glossary of Terms   Dialogos: A form of dialogue that affords a reciprocal flow state. Mindfulness: The practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences. Cognitive Science: An interdisciplinary field exploring the mind and its processes. Neoplatonism: A philosophical system developed as a version of the teachings of Plato. DIME Model: an ecology of practices for philosophical wellbeing: D=Dialogue, I=Imaginal, M=Mindfulness, and E=Embodied practice.   John Vervaeke: Website: https://johnvervaeke.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke   X: https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VervaekeJohn/   Rick Repetti: Website: https://www.rickrepetti.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickrepetti/  X: https://twitter.com/rickrepetti  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophicalpractitioner/   Join our new Patreon https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke   The Vervaeke Foundation - https://vervaekefoundation.org/   Awaken to Meaning - https://awakentomeaning.com/   John Vervaeke YouTube Awakening from the Meaning Crisis https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh3f0P5qjrSdb5eC1ZfZwWJ After Socrates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOwjmZx12gk&list=PLND1JCRq8Vuj6q5NP_fXjBzUT1p_qYSCC AI: The Coming Thresholds and The Path We Must Take | Internationally Acclaimed Cognitive Scientist https://youtu.be/A-_RdKiDbz4   Books, Articles, and Publications   Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation - Rick Repetti  https://www.amazon.com/Routledge-Handbook-Philosophy-Meditation-Repetti/dp/036764746X Experimental Phenomenology: An Introduction - Don Ihde https://www.amazon.com/Experimental-Phenomenology-Introduction-Don-Ihde/dp/0887061990 Mentoring the Machines: Orientation - Part One: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne https://www.amazon.com/Mentoring-Machines-Orientation-Artificially-Intelligent/dp/1645010821/ Mentoring the Machines: Origins - Part 2: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CH8W8XLF The Republic by Plato - The Internet Classics Archive https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html Relevance, Meaning and the Cognitive Science of Wisdom Vervaeke, J., & Ferraro, L. (2013) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286508333_Relevance_Meaning_and_the_Cognitive_Science_of_Wisdom Quotes   "Mindfulness and philosophy converge in cognitive science, enriching our understanding of wisdom." - John Vervaeke  "Meditation and contemplation are integral for a holistic philosophical understanding." - Rick Repetti "The journey to wisdom involves integrating academic philosophy with life practices." - John Vervaeke Chapters with Timestamps   [00:00:00] Introduction to the Series [00:03:00] John's Personal Journey to Philosophy and Meditation [00:06:00] The Convergence of Mindfulness and Academic Philosophy  [00:11:40] Defining Meditation and Contemplation  [00:19:24] Discussion on Academic Philosophy and Its Practice  [00:22:20] Exploring the Philosophy of Meditation  [00:41:00] The Impact of Meditation in Personal Life  [00:52:00] Neoplatonic Levels of Meditation  [00:55:50] Integration of Eastern and Western Philosophical Practices  [01:17:16] Exploring the Verveke Foundation and Its Role  [01:24:00] The Importance of Community and Shared Practices  [01:28:00] Final Thoughts and Reflections    Timestamped Highlights   [00:01:00] - Introduction to the Philosophy of Meditation series. [00:02:01] - Rick's reflection on how the series began. [00:03:13] - John's journey to meditation, philosophy, and philosophy of meditation  [00:07:12] - Integration of academic philosophy and mindfulness practices. [00:11:48] - Defining meditation and contemplation. [00:14:39] - Deepening the understanding of consciousness. [00:19:49] - The role of academic philosophy. [00:22:29] - The philosophy of meditation within cognitive science. [00:31:02] - Can meditation contribute to philosophy? [00:41:00] - The importance of meditation in personal life.   [00:52:00] - Explanation of Neoplatonic meditation levels. [00:55:50] - John Vervaeke discusses integrating Eastern and Western practices. [00:58:19] - Discussion on balancing personal idiosyncrasies and universal challenges. [01:00:38] - John shares his mystical experience of Plato's forms. [01:02:41] - Reflection on the transformative impact of mystical experiences. [01:06:40] - Critical perspective on the current state of mindfulness practices in North America. [01:09:00] - The need for a deeper understanding of the relationship between mindfulness and wisdom. [01:14:22] - Advice for practitioners of meditation and mindfulness. [01:17:16] - Introduction to the Verveke Foundation and its objectives. [01:24:00] - Emphasizing the need for community and shared wisdom practices. [01:28:00] - Closing remarks and gratitude for the podcast series.  

The World and God Are Not-Two: A Hindu-Christian Conversation (Fordham UP, 2022) is a book about how the God in whom Christians believe ought to be understood. The key conceptual argument that runs throughout is that the distinctive relation between the world and God in Christian theology is best understood as a non-dualistic one. The "two"-"God" and "World" cannot be added up as separate, enumerable realities or contrasted with each other against some common background because God does not belong in any category and creatures are ontologically constituted by their relation to the Creator. In exploring the unique character of this distinctive relation, Soars turns to Sara Grant's work on the Hindu tradition of Advaita Vedānta and the metaphysics of creation found in Thomas Aquinas. He develops Grant's work and that of the earlier Calcutta School by drawing explicit attention to the Neoplatonic themes in Aquinas that provide some of the most fruitful areas for comparative engagement with Vedānta. To the Christian, the fact that the world exists only as dependent on God means that "world" and "God" must be ontologically distinct because God's existence does not depend on the world. To the Advaitin, this simultaneously means that "World" and "God" cannot be ontologically separate either. The language of non-duality allows us to see that both positions can be held coherently together without entailing any contradiction or disagreement at the level of fundamental ontology. What it means to be "world" does not and cannot exclude what it means to be "God." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Delve into the philosophical and theological parallels that shaped the development of early Christian thought. From the influence of Plotinus and his concepts of the One and the emanation of divine beings, to the fusion of Platonic ideas with Christian theology, this video uncovers the intellectual interplay that helped shape the foundations of Western spirituality. Explore how Neoplatonic concepts, such as the nature of the soul, the hierarchy of being, and the pursuit of the divine, found resonance within Christian doctrines.Sources/Suggested Reading: Gerson, Loyd P. (ed.) (2019). "Plotinus: The Enneads". Cambridge University Press.Gerson, Loyd P (2008). "Cambridge Companion to Plotinus". Cambridge University Press. Greer, Rowan A. (1979). "Origen: Selected Writings". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press. Laird, Martin (2004). "Gregory of Nyssa and the grasp of faith: union, knowledge and divine presence". Oxford University Press. Lossky, Vladimir (1944). "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". James Clarke & Co. Luibheid, Colm (Translated by) (1987). "Pseudo-Dionysius: The Complete Works". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press International. McGinn, Bernard (2003). "The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart: The Man from Whom God Hid Nothing". Independent Publishers Group. O'Meara, Dominic J. (1981). "Neoplatonism and Christian Thought". State University of New York Press. Pine-Coffin, R.S. (Translated by) (2003). "Confessions". Penguin Classics. Proclus "The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary". Translated by E.R. Dodds. Second Edition. Oxford University Press. O'Meara, Dominic J. (1999). "Plotinus: An Introduction to the Enneads". Oxford University Press. Wallis, R.T. (1998). "Neoplatonism". Second Edition. Bristol Classical Paperbacks. Hackett Publishing Company. Ware, Timothy (2015). "The Orthodox Church: An introduction to Eastern Christianity". New Edition. Penguin Books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you are still trying to figure out what to do with your life, you are the property of Satan. You are trapped. You are caught in a snare because it is not your life. You have already heard the gospel. You know what you have to do. You have to choose a side. There is no middle ground. There is no twilight between light and dark. Neoplatonic expressions like “both-sideism” and “moral equivalency” are Satanic—a lie of the Devil. You have to choose a side. As I speak, every 10 minutes, a child's murder is justified by an egotistical 19th-century European theology born out of a settler-colonial King James translation of the biblical text. It is a settler-colonial text rendered in Anglo-Saxon by the court of a settler-colonial king who sought to justify the theft, dispossession, exploitation, and murder of Native Americans. Previously, European theology resulted in the barbaric and brutal persecution of our beloved Jewish brothers and sisters for centuries. These are facts.For those who are baptized into Jesus Christ, there is only one side—the judgment of God our Father—which is against you and against me. This God—the God of Scripture—does not speak Anglo-Saxon or write with vowels. In view of these facts, YOU must choose a side. YOU must TAKE A STAND—on the content of the biblical text! YOU must WRITE A BOOK—dealing with the content of the biblical text! YOU must START A PODCAST—reading aloud the content of the biblical text! YOU must WRITE AN ARTICLE—exegeting the content of the biblical text! This has nothing to do with your career choices, life goals, dreams, or what you do for a living. When you talk this way, you sound like a navel-gazing, self-serving, money-loving settler-colonial. What of the children in Sudan? Do they have dreams? Or is Sudan only a tourist stop on a checklist for impressive Ivy-League resumes? “Each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)“Each one will bear his own load.” (Galatians 6:5)Each one of us must pick up our own shovel. I am speaking to each and every individual person who hears this podcast. This is a personal message to you. Take it personally. Be angry with me if you must. Your programs, activities, groups, mailing lists, ideals, altruisms, associations, parties, clubs, nonprofits, whatever—all of it—is vanity. Are you objectively teaching and spreading the objective content of the biblical text against anthropocentrism, ignorance, fundamentalism, fanaticism, political and religious ideology, philosophy, theology, colonialism, and greed? Or are you promoting your own version of the same (in other words, are you promoting yourself) by building your resume?  Are you teaching the content of Scripture? Are you writing? Are you going through Scripture verse by verse? Are you studying biblical languages? Are you teaching biblical languages?What are you doing? At this hour, plenty of people are expending a ton of energy and wealth to propagandize hate. Worse, they are expending even more energy and wealth to co-opt SCRIPTURE to propagandize genocide. Rightly did St. Paul speak of those who have received knowledge but refuse to work when he proclaimed, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:24)Because of those who know but do not teach:- 1,200 children have died in the past 5 months in Sudan, and at least 5.8 million people have been displaced since April due to civil war.- More than 500 children have been killed and 1,000 injured in Ukraine since the start of the war, and 11 million Ukrainians were displaced.- At the time of this recording, 5000 children that we know of have been killed in Gaza, almost 9000 were injured, and 1.4 million (70% of all Palestinians living in Gaza) have been displaced. Meanwhile, the US Congress, universities, colleges, and public institutions (and the majority of the European powers) continue to debate whether or not it is “racist” to call for a ceasefire.Those of you who listen to this podcast know better. Forget politics. You know what Scripture teaches. What are you doing to spread the content of God's teaching? Not to give your feedback on how it could be done better, what other people should do, or what your priest should do.What are you doing with your own hands? Richard and I discuss Luke 5:7. (Episode 508) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dr. John Vervaeke is joined by multi-talented Ben Holden for a dialogue that delves deep into the esoteric yet compelling domains of naming magic, perception, and the cosmos. From the intriguing nature of ancient myths and folklore to the complexities of modern fantasy literature, the conversation covers a broad spectrum. It explores the tension between the "moreness" and "suchness" of objects, the Buddhist notion of unique essence, and the mysterious realms of naming and representation. The duo also ventures into the practical world, contemplating the psychological underpinnings of our contemporary struggles with meaning, vision, and anxiety. All of this is punctuated by Holden's colorful anecdotes from his work and an earnest exploration of the implications of a sentient cosmos. Don't miss this intellectual feast that promises to stretch your mind and tug at your curiosity.   Resources: John Vervaeke: Website | Patreon | Facebook | X | YouTube Ben Holden: Website | Patreon | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube   The Vervaeke Foundation   Related YouTube Episodes Speculative fiction, post-tragic romanticism and awakening from the meaning crisis w/ Ben Holden - Voice with Vervaeke John Vervaeke - Tradition as a Living Force - Fantasy Creates Reality   Books Tokyo Yokai - Ben Holden Tales from Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin The God of the Left Hemisphere: Blake, Bolte Taylor and the Myth of Creation - Roderick Tweedy   Time Codes 00:00:00 — Dr. John Vervaeke welcomes Ben Holden for their third conversation on the show. 00:00:28 — Ben Holden discusses the balance between audience engagement and addiction. 00:01:29 — Holden introduces his voice-acted short story "Tokyo Yokai." 00:03:13 — Holden suggests exploring ideas for his longer piece of work. 00:06:06 — Explanation of the concept of naming magic. 00:08:19 — Vervaeke delves into the Buddhist notion of 'suchness.' 00:11:00 — A shift in the conversation toward the importance of naming. 00:17:49 — Ben discusses conflicting ideologies in magic. 00:20:20 — Aristotle's notion of form and matter is introduced. 00:24:51 — Holden introduces meteor shower-linked technology. 00:28:20 — Exploration of a dynamic, living cosmos. 00:31:10 — Vervaeke's take on enriching the fantasy genre with new visions. 00:33:20 — Upanishads' perspective on sight is discussed. 00:37:48 — The conversation turns to disruptions in our perceived notions of order. 00:42:32 — Holden talks about living a soulful life in a capitalist world. 00:47:45 — The concept of 'bleeding into each other' is introduced. 00:51:00 — The role of conflict in storytelling is discussed. 00:56:07 — Holden queries Vervaeke on the idea of a sentient cosmos. 00:58:00 — Vervaeke speaks on Neoplatonic magicians during the scientific revolution.  

As he continues his studies, St. Augustine realizes his knowledge of God, theology and Jesus are incomplete. He also concludes Book 7 with a comparison of the Neoplatonic texts he's been reading with what he has been studying in Scripture. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss the humility with which we must approach our study of God. Today's readings are Book 7, Chapters 19-21. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "CONFESSIONS" to 33-777. Please note: The Confessions of St. Augustine contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

St. Augustine considers the nature of God in Neoplatonic terms. Searching for a way to explain his reality, St. Augustine broadens his philosophical understanding of what God is. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss free will, the root and cause of evil, and our freedom to turn toward or away from God. Today's readings are Book 7, Chapters 1-4. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "CONFESSIONS" to 33-777. Please note: The Confessions of St. Augustine contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

“Criticism of Christianity has a long history which stretches back to the initial formation of the religion in the Roman Empire. Critics have challenged Christian beliefs and teachings as well as Christian actions, from the Crusades to modern terrorism. The arguments against Christianity include the suppositions that it is a faith of violence, corruption, superstition, polytheism, homophobia, bigotry, pontification, abuses of women's rights and sectarianism. In the early years of Christianity, the Neoplatonic philosopher Porphyry emerged as one of the major critics with his book Against the Christians, along with other writers like Celsus and Julian. Porphyry argued that Christianity was based on false prophecies that had not yet materialized.[1] Following the adoption of Christianity under the Roman Empire, dissenting religious voices were gradually suppressed by both governments and ecclesiastical authorities [2]—however Christianity did face theological criticisms from other Abrahamic religions like Judaism and Islam in the meantime, such as Maimonides who argued that it was idolatry.[3] A millennium later, the Protestant Reformation led to a fundamental split in European Christianity and rekindled critical voices about the Christian faith, both internally and externally. In the 18th century, Deist philosophers such as Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were critical of Christianity as a revealed religion.[4] With the Age of Enlightenment, Christianity was criticized by major thinkers and philosophers, such as Voltaire, David Hume, Thomas Paine, and the Baron d'Holbach.[5] The central theme of these critiques sought to negate the historical accuracy of the Christian Bible and focused on the perceived corruption of Christian religious authorities.[5] Other thinkers, like Immanuel Kant, launched systematic and comprehensive critiques of Christian theology by attempting to refute arguments for theism.[6] In modern times, Christianity has faced substantial criticism from a wide array of political movements and ideologies. In the late eighteenth century, the French Revolution saw a number of politicians and philosophers criticizing traditional Christian doctrines, precipitating a wave of secularism in which hundreds of churches were closed down and thousands of priests were deported or killed.[7] Following the French Revolution, prominent philosophers of liberalism and communism, such as John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx, criticized Christian doctrine on the grounds that it was conservative and anti-democratic. Friedrich Nietzsche wrote that Christianity fosters a kind of slave morality which suppresses the desires which are contained in the human will.[8] The Russian Revolution, the Chinese Revolution, and several other modern revolutionary movements have also led to the criticism of Christian ideas. The contemporary LGBT movements have criticized Christianity for homophobia and transphobia. The formal response of Christians to such criticisms is described as Christian apologetics. Philosophers like Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas have been some of the most prominent defenders of the Christian religion since its foundation.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/antonio-myers4/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/antonio-myers4/support

Dr. John Vervaeke and Brendan Graham Dempsey explore the intricacies of meaning, spirituality, and the human experience. The episode commences with a succinct recap of their previous discussion, touching on Neoplatonism and Zen, before diving into Brendan's recent work on the concept of meaning. The conversation spans a wide array of topics, from the epistemic aspects of meaning to the philosophical underpinnings of mindfulness and meditation. The duo also delves into the influence of historical figures like Plotinus, Dante, and Proclus, examining how their ideas can be integrated into a modern understanding of spirituality. With a focus on the potential for a synthesis between cutting-edge science and ancient wisdom, this episode offers a fresh perspective on some of the most pressing questions of our time.  Brendan Graham Dempsey is a respected voice in the realm of metamodern spirituality. With a BA from the University of Vermont and a master's degree in religion from Yale, he brings a strong academic background to his work. Authoring the influential 7-volume "Metamodern Spirituality Series" and host of its companion podcast, Dempsey is a thought leader who navigates the intricate corridors of post-postmodern culture.   Resources:   Brendan Graham Dempsey: Website | YouTube | Facebook   Books: Aspects of Truth: A New Religious Metaphysics - Catherine Pickstock  Bonaventure: The Soul's Journey into God, The Tree of Life, The Life of St. Francis Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation - Rick Repetti (Editor) God Without Being - Jean-Luc Marion Plato's Critique of Impure Reason: On Goodness and Truth in the Republic - D.C. Schindler   Publications: The phenomenological given and the hermeneutic exchange: which holds priority? - Catherine Pickstock   Videos: Metamodern Spirituality | Updating Neoplatonic Spirituality (w/ John Vervaeke) Part 1 Neoplatonism and the Path of Transformation | Dr. John Vervaeke  The Cognitive Science Show | Transcendent Naturalism Series   Misc: PLOTINUS, Ennead, Volume IV Auguries of Innocence by William Blake | Poetry Foundation   People: Gregg Henriques Martin Heidegger John Hick Benedict De Spinoza Immanuel Kant  Dante Alighieri Alicia Juarrero Emmanuel Levinas Martin Buber Ludwig Wittgenstein   Timecodes: 00:00:20 — Dr. John Vervaeke introduces Brendan Graham Dempsey and revisits the topics of Neoplatonism and Zen from the previous conversation, which can be found on Dempsey's YouTube channel. 00:02:30 — Dempsey outlines his work in metamodern spirituality and post-postmodernism.  00:06:35 — Dr. Vervaeke discusses the model of meaning, focusing on its epistemic aspects.  00:08:20 — Adding a layer of depth to the conversation, especially regarding a cosmological view, Brendan shares his fascination with historical figures like Plotinus, Pseudo-Dionysius, and Dante. 00:10:00 — A constructivist Piagetian developmental framework is introduced by Dempsey, shifting the conversation towards understanding the developmental aspects of meaning. 00:14:00 — The topic shifts to conformity as Vervaeke discusses its role in drawing something out of the subject. He also calls for more discourse around the Neoplatonic framework. 00:15:20 — Brendan expresses excitement about the potential of Neoplatonism in contemporary times. 00:21:00 — A mystical experience from the Ennead, IV by Plotinus, is brought up, opening the door to a discussion on the nature of mystical experiences. Dr. Vervaeke responds with an analogy about complexification, adding scientific rigor to the spiritual discussion. 00:28:11 — Dempsey introduces the concept of a principle of differentiation, suggesting that experiencing this principle could lead to a mystical experience. 00:30:44 — Referencing his work on mindfulness and the philosophy of meditation, Vervaeke introduces the idea of two movements in mindfulness practice. 00:37:36 — Dr. Vervaeke expands on Brendan's point about the contextual relationship of an individual's experience, discussing the idea of complexification. 00:44:10 — Dante's work is discussed and the concept of agape, a form of love that alters the direction of relevance realization. 00:51:28 — Brendan Graham Dempsey discusses the face as a representation of meaning, suggesting that it acts as a portal to increasing meaning. 00:58:30 — Dr. Vervaeke discusses the limitations of science when it comes to probing into its own presuppositions, introducing the concept of truths that are only disclosed through significant transformation. 01:01:03 — Brendan introduces the topic of the narrative that science provides about the origins of the universe, including the Big Bang, adding a cosmological layer to the discussion. 01:09:25 — The conversation shifts to exclusivity claims and how they can mislead us into believing something is more than just indispensable, but rather metaphysically necessary.

During the Renaissance, Kabbalists attempted to synthesize and interpret Kabbalah through a Neoplatonic lens, based on the belief that Plato had studied the secrets of Judaism. Join us as we explore the secret of Plato and Kabbalah in the Italian Renaissance. 00:00 Platonism and Kabbalah during the Renaissance 01:30 Shout out 04:06 Changing Favours 06:27 The Rise of Plato 15:14 How did Plato know Kabbalah? 20:12 Prisca Theologia, Perennial Philosophy 24:58 Case Study: The Sefirot 32:57 Italy vs Spain 37:57 Ripple Effects of the Renaissance 41:01 Summary 43:34 Reading Recs 43:57 Thank you & Shout out Sources and Recommended Readings: • Abraham Melamed, “The Myth of the Jewish Origins of Philosophy in the Renaissance: from Aristotle to Plato,” in Jewish History, 26(1-2), 2012, pp. 41–59., 214—219. • Abraham Melamed, The Myth of the Jewish Sources of Science and Philosophy, 2009, pp. 214-219, 299-315 • Abraham Melamed, The Philosopher-King in Medieval and Renaissance Jewish political Thought (Albany, 2002), 229, n. 30. • Alexander Altmann, "Lurianic Kabbalah in a Platonic Key: Abraham Cohen Herrera's Puerta del Cielo," HUCA 53 (1982) • Chaim Wirszubski, Pico della Mirandola's Encounter with Jewish Mysticism • Hava Tirosh-Rothschild, Between Worlds: The Life and Thought of Rabbi David ben Judah Messer Leon (Albany, 1991), 50, 233. • Miquel Beltran, The Influence of Abraham Cohen de Herrera's Kabbalah on Spinoza's Metaphysics. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2016 • Moshe Idel "Differing Conceptions of Kabbalah in the Early 17th Century,"in I. Twersky and B. Septimus, eds., Jewish Thought in the 17th Century (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1987), 138-41, 155-57 • Moshe Idel, "Jewish Mystical Thought in the Florence of Lorenzo il Magnifico," in La cultura ebraica all'epoca di Lorenzo il Magnifico, ed. D. Liscia Bemporad and I. Zatilli (Florence, 1998), pp. 31-32 • Moshe Idel, "Kabbalah and Ancient Philosophy in R. Isaac and Judah Abravanel", in The Philosophy of Leone Ebreo, eds. M. Dorman and Z. Levi (Tel Aviv, 1985) (in Hebrew), pp. 73-112, 197. • Moshe Idel, "Kabbalah, Platonism and Prisca Theologia: the Case of Menashe ben Israel,” Menasseh ben Israel and his World, Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 1989, pp. 207-219. • Moshe Idel, "The Anthropology of Yohanan Alemanno: Sources and Influences," Topoi 7 (1988): pp. 201-10; reprinted in Annali di storia dell'esegesi 7 (1990): 93-112; • Moshe Idel, “The Magical and Neoplatonic Interpretations of The Kabbalah in the Renaissance,” in Jewish Thought in the Sixteenth Century, by Bernard Dov Cooperman (ed.), Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1983, pp. 186-242 • Moshe Idel, “Italy in Safed, Safed in Italy: Toward an Interactive History of Sixteenth-Century Kabbalah,” in David B. Ruderman and Giuseppe Veltri, eds., Cultural Intermediaries: Jewish Intellectuals in Early Modern Italy, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004, p. 243 • Moshe Idel, “Jewish Kabbalah and Platonism in the Middle Ages and Renaissance” in Lenn Goodman, Neoplatonism and Jewish Thought, State University of New York Press, 1992, pp. 319-351 • Moshe Idel, “Metamorphoses of a Platonic Theme in Jewish Mysticism,” in Jewish Studies at the Central European University 3: 67 • Moshe Idel, “Particularism and Universalism in Kabbalah, 1480-1650,” in Essential Papers on Jewish Culture in Renaissance and Baroque Italy, edited by David B. Ruderman, 1992, p. 327-8, 338 • Moshe Idel, Kabbalah in Italy, 1280-1510: A Survey, Yale University Press, 2007 • Richard Popkin, “Spinoza, Neopiatonic Kabbalist?,” in Lenn Goodman, Neoplatonism and Jewish Thought, 1992, pp. pp. 367-410 • S. Toussaint, "Ficino's Orphic Magic or Jewish Astrology and Oriental Philosophy? A Note on Spiritus, the Three Books on Life, Ibn Tufayl, and Ibn Zarza," Ac- cademia 2 (2000): 19-33

In Episode 7 of TN, John and Gregg welcome Brendan Graham Dempsey. Brendan is a writer, theologian, and theorist whose work focuses on the meaning crisis and the nature of spirituality in metamodernity. He is also the host of the Metamodern Spirituality podcast, and he runs the Skymeadow Retreat, which has hosted several metamodern spirituality events. In this episode, Brendan shares about his recent work, which he wrote about in Emergentism, and from his in-progress work on the meaning of meaning. He shows how his work, UTOK, and Bobby Azarian's unified theory of reality can provide a framework to delineate the history and development of cultural meaning-making systems (i.e., large-scale systems of justification). This episode is full of powerful convergences between Brendan's vision and the worldview for bridging science and spirituality that is emerging in TN.    Resources: Brendan Graham Dempsey  Oika  Claude E. Shannon: Founder of Information Theory - Graham P. Collins The Levin Lab UTOK   Publications: A Spirit of Trust: A Reading of Hegel's Phenomenology - Robert B. Brandom The information theory of individuality - David Krakauer Semantic information, autonomous agency and non-equilibrium statistical physics - Artemy Kolchinsky and David H. Wolpert   Videos: The Reality of Meaning: Knowledge, Value, and Complexity | Consilience Conference '23   Books: The Romance of Reality: How the Universe Organizes Itself to Create Life, Consciousness, and Cosmic Complexity - Bobby Azarian  Context Changes Everything: How Constraints Create Coherence - Alicia Juarrero Cosmic Evolution: The Rise of Complexity in Nature - Eric J. Chaisson   Quotes: "Transcendent naturalism is trying to articulate a new worldview that holds science and spirituality, [and] orients us towards a frame of understanding for the 21st century that can enable a collective orientation toward wisdom.” - Gregg Henriques "Meaning equals information relevant to enhancing viability of an entity in context, and meaning is inherently transjective. It's not in the subject, it's not in the object, it's in the relationship between the two." - Brendan Graham Dempsey "Earth burns like a quasar of complexification in the night sky. So if our measure is mass, then yes, but if our measure is complexification, especially an ontic epistemic conformity that affords awareness, experience, potentiality, growth, oriented towards a potential future, et cetera, that is an area in which we find ourselves quite uniquely situated in the universe in terms of the everyday knowledge that we have of things in the world. " - Gregg Henriques   Timecodes: [00:00:00] Dr. John Vervaeke introduces the episode and the guests, Gregg Henriques and Brendan Graham Dempsey. The episode focuses on Transcendent Naturalism within the Cognitive Science Show. [00:02:34] Gregg Henriques introduces transjective epistemology, detailing its relation to pragmatism. [00:03:13] Collective awakening towards wisdom is discussed, focusing on its societal implications. [00:07:55] Brendan Graham Dempsey explains the principle of a naturalistic universe and the energy-information relationship. [00:10:40] Dempsey reveals the concept of figure-ground distinction in information theory. [00:16:28] The discussion revolves around the learning process in cosmic evolution and complexification. [00:20:10] The concept of symbolic learning and its relevance to the spiritual and sacred is discussed with emphasis on the need for a focus on this area in the conversation.  [00:27:52] Dr. Vervaeke explores the idea that humans are symbols, connecting to collective intelligence. [00:30:14] Dempsey discusses the role of symbolic information in forming justification systems and the enculturation of individuals. [00:35:00] The conversation shifts to penetrating the unknown and restructuring it for higher complexity. [00:39:16] Henriques connects to justification systems theory, revealing the alignment with Habermas's structure. [00:45:23] Dempsey delves into the progression from modernity to post-modernity and new integrations. [00:53:41] Dr. Vervaeke criticizes postmodernism and its impact on the understanding of reason and wisdom. [00:56:26] Dempsey responds to Dr. Vervaeke, discussing faith in the emergence of new understanding. [01:00:39] Henriques shares his agnostic stance, addressing the expansion of knowledge within ambiguity. [01:04:09] Discussion of trust and cosmic history in response to Dr. Vervaeke's post-Hegelian, Neoplatonic faith. [01:07:12] The importance of pattern recognition in navigating a chaotic world. [01:07:39] Henriques describes his role in carrying a "baton of energy information" within the greater story, and discusses the importance of being a good ancestor and considering the ripple effects of our actions across time, emphasizing the need for a better understanding of our human natures and our relationships.  

Your hosts Dr. Dean Bertram and Jason McLean venture into the sci-fi section of the Mysterious Library's AV wing tonight. They'll be chatting about the hit 1999 film, and Keanu Reeve's vehicle, THE MATRIX. But should the film be considered simple fiction? Or is it blasting us with secret, divine messages, the way P. K. Dick suggested some enlightening pop culture did in his seminal and reality-bending novel VALIS? Or perhaps THE MATRIX just follows the long and ancient strain of Neoplatonic and gnostic thought which posits we exist in a baser reality, beneath higher spiritual truth; today a concept which has been modernized, technologized and popularized in "simulation theory." Your Mysterious Librarians will be pondering these questions, and more in what is going to be a wild ride, to the furthermost boundaries of this reality.... and beyond!This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4602609/advertisement

Dr. John Vervaeke and Gregg Henriques continue their thought-provoking exploration of Transcendent Naturalism by examining extended naturalism, neoplatonism, and the dimensions of sacredness. They challenge conventional notions of sacredness by examining its connection with strong transcendence and discussing Spinoza's insights into nature, God's ultimate reality, and the universe's deterministic nature, aligning with the Neoplatonic framework. They discuss religious perspectives, comparing classical and common theism and their evolution, while addressing the interplay between energy, consciousness, and reality, highlighting the philosophical underpinnings of theism. They also intriguingly differentiate spirituality from religion, both rooted in the concept of the sacred, and discuss symbolic ideals, spiritual richness, consequential history, and the profound significance of consequential decisions in our lives.   Resources: The Case for God - Karen Armstrong Religion and Nothingness - Keiji Nishitani Thinking Being: Introduction to Metaphysics in the Classical Tradition - Eric Pearl Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge - Edward Osborne Wilson   Time-codes: [00:00:00] Dr. John Vervaeke outlines the episode's structure: extended naturalism, the meaning of sacredness within extended naturalism, the concept of strong transcendence, and three phenomena where people traditionally express a sense of transcendence: rituals, altered states of consciousness, and belonging to a worldview. [00:04:53] Dr. Vervaeke dives into the first topic, extended naturalism. He discusses the consilience between structural and content arguments in the context of neoplatonism. [00:07:36] Discussion of Spinoza's distinction between nature nurturing and nature being nurtured, a concept that explores the relationship between top-down and bottom-up processes in nature, bringing  forward the idea of God not as a physical entity but as the source of all existence and understanding. [00:15:14] Dr. John Vervaeke discusses the features of common theism and its basis in classical theology, shares his perspective on the debates between theists and atheists, and the conception of God as a supreme being  [00:18:00] The concept of God as the ground that supports continual self-transcendence, and a contemplative discussion on theism's classical and common forms, pushing the boundaries of philosophical exploration. [00:25:19] A deep dive into how truth can exist outside our understanding, challenging conventional beliefs. [00:30:20] Dr. Vervaeke delves into the concept of sacredness, describing it as an inexhaustible and paradoxical fountain of intelligibility. He also highlights the limitations of traditional propositional knowing in fully comprehending this concept. [00:37:23] The concepts of soul and spirit as ineffable aspects of human experience, with the soul, referring to the groundedness of our experiences and spirit pointing to our capacity for self-transcendence, and discussion on the connection between the symbolic ideal and the transcendent, [00:38:09] Symbolic Ideals & Transcendence: Gregg Henriques links symbolic ideals to deeper philosophical perspectives, enriching discourse. [00:41:20] Dr. John Vervaeke explains the concept of sacredness as a transjective experience, providing a new perspective on the understanding of sacredness. [00:44:53] Gregg Henriques introduces a proposes a new concept of inconsequential versus consequential history; viewing historical events based on their long-term impact. [00:55:00] Dr. John Vervaeke outlines his plan to explore the deep interconnections between an extended notion of rationality and ritual and their power, including an explanation of how and why we experience strong transcendence within ritual experiences, within the framework of extended naturalism. Qoutes: “Strong transcendence has epistemological and ontological import. The idea is that there are truths about reality that are disclosed only when one goes through a transcendence, which also gives you access to different levels of knowing.” - Dr. John Vervaeke   “Generalizability in and of itself it's not really intelligibility. It's generalizability in relationship to the capacity for differentiation held in appropriate dialectic. There's a generalizable differentiation polarity where the poles between the two is going to afford intelligibility, and it's the right relationship of that t that is fundamentally key.” - Gregg Henriques  

#plotinus #iamblichus #magic What's Plotinus's idea of Magic? Why is theurgy so important for Iamblichus? Emanationism, Sympathy, Antipathy and Neoplatonic cosmology. CORRIGENDUM: It's "Fall under the umbrella", not "Follow". Apologies, I was unwell when I filmed this video. CONNECT & SUPPORT

 This episode of After Socrates explores the transformative experience of examining ideas and beliefs through the practice of dialectic, which is seen as the virtue of tracking the logos, a concept not present in everyday dialogue. The dialogue involves mindfulness and Neoplatonic contemplation, fostering feelings of brotherhood, comfort, expectancy and playful curiosity. Key roles of the scribe and herald in tracking the proposal and managing the interaction are explored, along with the role of virtues like vulnerability, courage, humility and openness. Trust in following the logos is seen as paramount. The conversation sometimes pushes the limits of language, illuminating the mystery of the logos, but deepens understanding nonetheless.   Time-codes: 00:00:00 - Christopher Mastropietro discusses the transformative experience of burning through ideas and beliefs. This concept sets the stage for the discussion, introducing the primary theme of transformation through dialectic practice. 00:01:07 - Dr. John Vervaeke introduces the topic of dialectic and the virtue of dialectic itself. His explanation offers a profound understanding of dialectic, setting a philosophical foundation for the conversation. 00:16:25 - Taylor Barratt shares his feelings of curiosity, excitement, and nervousness. This moment brings an emotional and human dimension to the conversation, reminding participants of the personal aspect of philosophical dialogue. 00:19:14 - Dr. John Vervaeke expresses his amazement with the depth and playfulness of his experiences with Chris. This reflection deepens the sense of camaraderie and shared exploration within the group. 00:21:07 - Dr. John Vervaeke discusses the excitement and security he feels when interacting with Taylor. This moment underscores the value of trust and safety in fostering deep and meaningful conversations. 00:22:10 - Christopher Mastropietro shares his feelings of brotherhood and comfort with Guy. His words illustrate the close bonds formed through dialogos, underscoring the relational aspect of dialectic practice. 00:24:30 - Dr. John Vervaeke asks for an overview of the steps, stages, and roles in the dialectic process. This moment frames the rest of the discussion, providing context and structure to the exploration of dialectic. 00:33:20 - Dr. John Vervaeke discusses the defining feature of dialectic as tracking the logos. This key insight offers a new way of understanding the purpose and function of dialectic, distinguishing it from ordinary conversation. 00:43:24 - Taylor Barratt and Guy Sengstock discuss the role of vulnerability and other virtues in dialectic. This moment highlights the personal qualities needed to engage meaningfully in the practice of dialectic. 00:50:45 - Taylor reflects on the limits of language to describe the state they're in. This moment of introspection highlights the complex and ineffable nature of the dialectic experience. 01:00:16 - Dr. John Vervaeke introduces the idea that dialectic is the virtue of following what the proposal does not say. This intriguing idea invites a deeper exploration of the nature of dialectic and how it fosters understanding. 01:07:16 - Christopher Mastropietro discusses the geometry and shape of a proposal. This unique perspective brings a new layer of complexity to the understanding of proposals within the context of dialogos. 01:15:38 - Dr. John Vervaeke and Christopher Mastropietro discuss the practice of dialectic and the I-thou relationship with a proposal. This moment further refines the understanding of dialectic, emphasizing the relational aspect of the process. 01:20:54 - Christopher Mastropietro discusses the emergence of the Geist, or the persona of the Logos. This idea expands on the concept of the logos, introducing an animate aspect that guides the process of dialectic. 01:22:01 - Christopher Mastropietro discusses offering our beliefs and ideas to the transformative process of the Logos. This concept encapsulates the spirit of the discussion, emphasizing the transformational potential of dialectic practice.

 My special guest is paranormal investigator Daena Smoller who's here to discuss her experiences working alongside one of the most revered investigators in New Orleans.      Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature.[1] The term is derived from Medieval Latin supernaturalis, from Latin super- (above, beyond, or outside of) + natura (nature)[1] Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings since the ancient world, the term "supernatural" emerged in the Middle Ages[2] and did not exist in the ancient world.[3]  The supernatural is featured in folklore and religious contexts,[4] but can also feature as an explanation in more secular contexts, as in the cases of superstitions or belief in the paranormal.[5] The term is attributed to non-physical entities, such as angels, demons, gods, and spirits. It also includes claimed abilities embodied in or provided by such beings, including magic, telekinesis, levitation, precognition, and extrasensory perception.  The philosophy of naturalism contends that nothing exists beyond the natural world, and as such approaches supernatural claims with skepticism.[6]     Etymology and history of the concept[edit]  Occurring as both an adjective and a noun, descendants of the modern English compound supernatural enter the language from two sources: via Middle French (supernaturel) and directly from the Middle French's term's ancestor, post-Classical Latin (supernaturalis). Post-classical Latin supernaturalis first occurs in the 6th century, composed of the Latin prefix super- and nātūrālis (see nature). The earliest known appearance of the word in the English language occurs in a Middle English translation of Catherine of Siena's Dialogue (orcherd of Syon, around 1425; Þei haue not þanne þe supernaturel lyȝt ne þe liȝt of kunnynge, bycause þei vndirstoden it not).[7]  The semantic value of the term has shifted over the history of its use. Originally the term referred exclusively to Christian understandings of the world. For example, as an adjective, the term can mean "belonging to a realm or system that transcends nature, as that of divine, magical, or ghostly beings; attributed to or thought to reveal some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature; occult, paranormal" or "more than what is natural or ordinary; unnaturally or extraordinarily great; abnormal, extraordinary". Obsolete uses include "of, relating to, or dealing with metaphysics". As a noun, the term can mean "a supernatural being", with a particularly strong history of employment in relation to entities from the  mythologies of the indigenous peoples of the Americas.[7]  History of the concept[edit]  The ancient world had no word that resembled "supernatural".[3] Dialogues from Neoplatonic philosophy in the third century AD contributed to the development of the concept the supernatural via Christian theology in later centuries.[8]   It's super easy to access our archives!   Here's how:   iPhone Users: Access Mysterious Radio from Apple Podcasts and become a subscriber there or if you want access to even more exclusive content join us on Patreon.   Android Users: Enjoy over 800 exclusive member-only posts to include ad-free episodes, case files and more when you join us on Patreon.    Copy and Paste our link in a text message to all your family members and friends! We'll love you forever! (Check out Mysterious Radio!)  

A selection of verses taken from various texts from the works of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, (flourished c. 500), probably a Syrian monk who, known only by his pseudonym, wrote a series of Greek treatises and letters for the purpose of uniting Neoplatonic philosophy with Christian theology and mystical experience. In the early sixth century, a series of writings of a mystical nature, known as the Corpus Areopagiticum or Corpus Dionysiacum was ascribed to the Areopagite. They have long been recognized as pseudepigrapha, and their author is now called "Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite". The author pseudepigraphically identifies himself in the corpus as "Dionysius", portraying himself as Dionysius the Areopagite, the Athenian convert of Paul the Apostle mentioned in Acts 17:34 According to Pseudo-Dionysius, God is better characterized and approached by negations than by affirmations. All names and theological representations must be negated. According to pseudo-Dionysius, when all names are negated, "divine silence, darkness, and unknowing" will follow. The Dionysian corpus was absorbed into Greek and Eastern Christian theologies and also influenced mystics in the Western church, such as Meister Eckhart. Thomas Aquinas was among those who wrote commentaries on the works. There remains for the Christian reader no theologian or scholar quite as enigmatic as Pseudo-Dionysius.

In this special edition series, I will be joined by multiple thinkers and philosophers to discuss Platonic and Neoplatonic philosophy. This ongoing series of conversations will focus on the nature of goodness, truth, justice, freedom, beauty, reason, and love. My first guest in this series is the eminent cognitive scientist and philosopher John Vervaeke, and we examine D.C. Schindler's masterpiece "Plato's Critique of Impure Reason: On Goodness and Truth in the Republic."Be sure to check out Swan Private, the trusted Bitcoin financial services provider for high-net-worth individuals and businesses worldwide: https://www.swanprivate.com/breedloveGuestJohn's Twitter: https://twitter.com/vervaeke_johnPlato's Critique of Impure Reason: https://www.amazon.com/Platos-Critique-Impure-Reason-Goodness/dp/0813228247#:~:text=Plato's%20Critique%20of%20Impure%20Reason%20offers%20a%20dramatic%20interpretation%20of,real%20image%22%20of%20the%20good.PODCASTPodcast Website: https://whatismoneypodcast.com/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-what-is-money-show/id1541404400 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/25LPvm8EewBGyfQQ1abIsE?si=wgVuY16XR0io4NLNo0A11A&nd=1RSS Feed: https://feeds.simplecast.com/MLdpYXYITranscript:Outline00:00:00 “What is Money?” Intro00:00:08 Swan Private00:01:37 The Truth is Defenseless00:07:00 “Knowledge is About Evidence, but Understanding is About Relevance”00:12:27 The Self as the Through-Line Within Which Aspires to Through-Line into Reality00:16:34 Metacognition: Self-Reflection as the Internalization of the Perspectives of Others00:21:56 Exploring the Relationship Between the Soul and the Real, and Property00:32:37 The Ecstatic Moment and the Impossibility of a “Perfect” Metaphysics00:38:44 A Paradox of Perspective: Science Cannot be Defended Scientifically00:42:44 The Pure Consciousness Event: Adverbial Overriding Adjectival Experience00:52:22 “Is-Ness”: Where Becoming and Being, Relative and Absolute, Converge00:56:10 Multiple Object Tracking Experiments: Seeing Quantity over Quality00:59:39 “Precisely What is Most Important Cannot Be Said…”01:06:10 Watch “Hard Money with Natalie Brunell” From Swan Studios01:06:55 Take Control of Your Healthcare with CrowdHealth01:08:04 Goodness as the Cause of Truth01:10:44 The Etymological Root of “Intelligence”: “To Read Between the Lines”01:17:35 Property, The Law, and Religion as a Meta-Meaning System01:28:25 Why Do We Punish Treason? Human History in the Cave of Statism01:33:19 Playing in the Platonic Dojo: Toward a Just Apprehension of Money01:38:14 Money and Religion: Systems for Cost-Effectively Scaling Trust?01:41:33 Post-Statism: An Absolute 21M Bitcoin to Replace the Specter of Death?01:48:44 Could Debasing Currency be Catalyzing Misology?01:56:44 Does Bitcoin Put Power in Service to Reason?01:59:04 The “In-Itself-Ness” to Bitcoin that We Can't Mess With…02:08:45 Could Bitcoin Be the Platonic Form of Money?02:16:34 The Inadequacy and Indispensability of Images02:18:51 A Dramatic Literary Structure Mapping Onto Feedback-Driven, Complex Reality02:27:22 Reading the Platonic Dialogues as a Spiritual Exercise…02:35:09 The Interpenetration of Rationality and Ritual: A Dramatic Enacted Mythos02:38:27 Distinguishing the Imaginary from the Imaginal: A Sailboat vs Toddler Zorro02:52:12 “What is Money?” OutroSOCIALBreedlove Twitter: https://twitter.com/Breedlove22WiM? Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhatisMoneyShowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breedlove22/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breedlove_22/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breedlove22?lang=enAll My Current Work: https://linktr.ee/breedlove22 WRITTEN WORKMedium: https://breedlove22.medium.com/Substack: https://breedlove22.substack.com/ WAYS TO CONTRIBUTEBitcoin: 3D1gfxKZKMtfWaD1bkwiR6JsDzu6e9bZQ7Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/breedlove22Sats via Tippin.me: https://tippin.me/@Breedlove22Dollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/RBreedloveDollars via Venmo: https://venmo.com/code?user_id=1784359925317632528The "What is Money?" Show Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32843101&fan_landing=true RECOMMENDED BUSINESSESSwan Private guides high-net-worth individuals and businesses in all areas of Bitcoin strategy: https://www.swanprivate.com/breedloveCrowdHealth offers an innovative health insurance model based on Bitcoin and community: https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/breedloveOkcoin is an innovative and education-focused cryptoasset exchange platform—earn $50 in free Bitcoin by signing up at: https://okcoin.com/breedloveInvest with a licensed Bitcoin advisor through DAIM: https://daimio.typeform.com/RobertBreedloveJoin Me At Bitcoin 2023, pre-order your tickets now (for a chance to win 10M sats, use discount code BREEDLOVE): https://b.tc/conference/2023Automatic Recurring Bitcoin Buys and Withdrawals: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/breedlove/

In this special edition series, I will be joined by multiple thinkers and philosophers to discuss Platonic and Neoplatonic philosophy. This ongoing series of conversations will focus on the nature of goodness, truth, justice, freedom, beauty, reason, and love. My first guest in this series is the eminent cognitive scientist and philosopher John Vervaeke, and we examine D.C. Schindler's masterpiece "Plato's Critique of Impure Reason: On Goodness and Truth in the Republic."Be sure to check out Swan Private, the trusted Bitcoin financial services provider for high-net-worth individuals and businesses worldwide: https://www.swanprivate.com/breedloveGuestJohn's Twitter: https://twitter.com/vervaeke_johnPlato's Critique of Impure Reason: https://www.amazon.com/Platos-Critique-Impure-Reason-Goodness/dp/0813228247#:~:text=Plato's%20Critique%20of%20Impure%20Reason%20offers%20a%20dramatic%20interpretation%20of,real%20image%22%20of%20the%20good.PODCASTPodcast Website: https://whatismoneypodcast.com/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-what-is-money-show/id1541404400 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/25LPvm8EewBGyfQQ1abIsE?si=wgVuY16XR0io4NLNo0A11A&nd=1RSS Feed: https://feeds.simplecast.com/MLdpYXYITranscript:Outline00:00:00 “What is Money?” Intro00:00:08 Swan Private00:01:37 Introducing the Book “Plato's Critique of Impure Reason”00:04:40 The Central Argument of the Book: Enriching Our Understanding of Reason00:08:34 Ratio (Science and Rationality) and Religio (Connectedness and Religion)00:11:22 Love as a Proper Proportioning in Service of the Whole00:15:15 The Deeper Meaning of Reason: “Love for What Is Real”00:18:09 A Return to the Contemplative, Non-Computational Account of Reason00:30:15 The Elusive “I”: The Impossibility of Framing the Process of Framing00:35:53 Theoria: To Contemplate, to Look in the Right Way, to Travel to See00:40:22 Misology: The Total Abandonment of Reason00:49:00 How Theory Shapes the Interpretation of Our Perceptions00:55:45 The Absolute Simultaneously Transcends and Includes the Relative01:09:15 The Inspiration of John's Neologism “Transjective”01:13:39 The Trivialization of Reason, Intellectual Impatience, and Hyperbolic Discounting01:22:14 Watch “Hard Money with Natalie Brunell” From Swan Studios01:23:00 Take Control of Your Healthcare with CrowdHealth01:24:09 Printing Money Causes People to Lose Perspective on the Whole?01:28:16 Intellectual Impatience, Misology, and Totalitarianism01:34:10 “The Dictator Wins if He Can Make Everybody as Impulsive as Him”01:38:22 The Significance of Plato and the Idea of “The Good”01:45:44 The Good: The Unbreakable Promise of Intelligibility Always Tracking Reality01:50:43 Science is Based on the Ongoing Faith that Reality is Intelligible01:57:00 The Through-Line as the True-Line: Is There Universal Darwinism?02:03:34 The Distortions of Our Present “Cultural Cognitive Grammar”02:07:26 The Relationship Between the Dialectical and the Dialogical02:16:48 The Degree of Dialogical Connection Increases Collective Intelligence02:19:49 Entering Chapter 1: A Logic of Violence02:30:48 Substituting Faithfulness to The Logos with Totalizing Knowledge Brings Violence02:39:17 “Hitler Came to Power for A Reason”02:46:38 Using “Flatland” to Analogize the Transcendence of The Good02:56:28 “What is Money?” OutroSOCIALBreedlove Twitter: https://twitter.com/Breedlove22WiM? Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhatisMoneyShowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breedlove22/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breedlove_22/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breedlove22?lang=enAll My Current Work: https://linktr.ee/breedlove22 WRITTEN WORKMedium: https://breedlove22.medium.com/Substack: https://breedlove22.substack.com/ WAYS TO CONTRIBUTEBitcoin: 3D1gfxKZKMtfWaD1bkwiR6JsDzu6e9bZQ7Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/breedlove22Sats via Tippin.me: https://tippin.me/@Breedlove22Dollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/RBreedloveDollars via Venmo: https://venmo.com/code?user_id=1784359925317632528The "What is Money?" Show Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32843101&fan_landing=true RECOMMENDED BUSINESSESSwan Private guides high-net-worth individuals and businesses in all areas of Bitcoin strategy: https://www.swanprivate.com/breedloveCrowdHealth offers an innovative health insurance model based on Bitcoin and community: https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/breedloveOkcoin is an innovative and education-focused cryptoasset exchange platform—earn $50 in free Bitcoin by signing up at: https://okcoin.com/breedloveInvest with a licensed Bitcoin advisor through DAIM: https://daimio.typeform.com/RobertBreedloveJoin Me At Bitcoin 2023, pre-order your tickets now (for a chance to win 10M sats, use discount code BREEDLOVE): https://b.tc/conference/2023Automatic Recurring Bitcoin Buys and Withdrawals: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/breedlove/