Let's Think About That: Recent Episodes
davidjdtrull
I studied philosophy and theology in undergrad and have pursued further independent education in comparative religion, spirituality and philosophy. I am especially interested in discussing both the symptoms and the cause of the "meaning crisis" currently afflicting western society. As science undermined the foundations of traditional religions, humanity made a positive development by moving on from superstitious beliefs, yet seems to have also lost something of great value, namely the capacity to make life meaningful. This has a host of negative effects (higher rates of anxiety and suicide, drug addiction, escapism). I think this is a pressing problem and I am interested in getting as many perspectives on the issue as I can in the hopes of providing helpful insight and practical advice to combat this issue. I am especially interested in conversations that can incorporate and integrate eastern and western ideas.
Ben and I discuss his current infatuation with Pink Floyd and reflect upon past experiences with musical elitism. we discuss the fear of the emotions elicited by certain rhythmic patterns and the parallels between storytelling and music making and how they are each reflective of our capacity for meaning making.
music #pinkfloyd #rhythm #philosophy #dialogos
My good friend Monica and I discuss the relationship between art's intrinsic value and its worth on the marketplace, the relationship between critics and the longevity of a piece, what makes a true artist, and what the development of the meta-verse holds in store for the future of art and our ability to remain human.
We also discuss the specific piece: "Untitled: Portrait of Ross in L.A." by Felix Gonzales-Torres (1991).
Monica is the founder of Artists in Rise, an online art platform that emphasizes the importance of the artist residency network as an integral part of the contemporary art world.
Website: https://artistsinrise.com/home
Instagram: @artistsinrise
Ben and I were both captivated by the recent release of the science fiction classic "Dune". Both of us were raised on sci fi, and yet both of us had largely abandoned the field in recent years. Here we have a dia logos on what science fiction (or speculative fiction more broadly) has to teach us about our relationship with the cosmos. Our discussion also entails some necessary discussion of sci fi's nocturnal twin: fantasy. In addition to Dune's author, Frank Herbert, other writers whose work appears are Nancy Kress, John Varley, Ursula K. Le Guin and Ted Chiang.
I reached out to Maitreya after coming across a video interview he did with University of Toronto professor John Vervaeke. John's work, best experienced through his monumental YouTube series "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis" has been a massive help to many of us struggling to fashion meaningful lives in a chaotic and nonsensical time. Maitreya, who has been living in a spiritual community for the past five years, gave a valuable perspective on the spiritual life. We discuss the work of John Vervaeke, Guy Sengstock, and spend some time discussing Ken Wilber's maxim that that the pursuit of wisdom and compassion will result in a life that "hurts more and bothers you less". We touch on the the pervasive sense of duality in western philosophy and religion, the importance and discomfort of getting in touch with the body through somatic practices, the personification of being, and the paradoxical nature of emptiness as the principle of all things. I greatly enjoyed this conversation and I think you will find Maitreya's insights edifying.
Ben and I discuss renowned polymath and inventor of the Geodesic Dome, Buckminster Fuller and the role of specialization in education. Fuller argues that adaptability is the key to a species' survival and we stand on the brink of a societal collapse due to hyper specialization. We also the discuss how science and material progress relate to the meaningful life.
We continue our discussion of education's foundations. We begin to explore the founding principles of what a new form of education, one which will afford meaning-making capacity, would look like. Themes that emerge include: antifragility (taken from the work of Nassim Taleb), resilience, the priority of narrative, and what to think vs. how to think.
In this installment, Ben and I discuss the nature of education and its role in cultivating a meaningful life. In our attempt to understand the nature of the meaningful life, we reference the book “Reality is Broken” by Jane McGonigal, which proposes that an understanding of video games and their appeal can help us to understand the nature of a satisfying life.
In our second installment, I discuss the character of and challenges facing Gen Z with my youngest brother Reuben. Much of the discussion draws from "The Fourth Turning" by Neil Howe and William Strauss, in which the authors articulate a theory of cyclical history based on generational archetypes. Gen Z fits the 'artist' archetype, meaning that they come of age as overprotected children in an era of crisis.