Gregg Henriques is a clinical psychologist and professor at James Madison University. He is known for his Unified Theory of Knowledge (UTOK), which integrates various domains of psychology into a coherent framework.  

Bonnita Roy is the founder of Alderlore Insight Center, a non-profit educational organization and the curator of The POP-UP School, an online learning community exploring new ways of thinking and acting.

Alexander Bard is a philosopher and futurist specializing in the relationship between humanity and technology, with a profound interest in psychoanalysis and anthropology to understand the impact of technological change on interpersonal relationships.

What drives our social connections and sense of belonging? Recorded live at UTOK Consilience Conference 2024, this episode features Gregg Henriques, Alexander Bard, Bonnitta Roy, and John Vervaeke examining the convergences and fault lines between transcendent naturalism and emergentism and the profound implications these theories have on our understanding of reality. By critiquing materialism, idealism, and dualism, the panel advocates for a new 21st-century philosophical framework that integrates Eastern and Western insights, emphasizing relationalism and dialectical thinking. Enriched with references to thinkers like Hegel, Whitehead, Nietzsche, and Deleuze, this dialogue explores the roles of cognitive science, spirituality, and community practices. Join this journey to uncover the essence of ultimate reality and the transformative potential of sacredness while underscoring the importance of humility, love, and pragmatic approaches to contemporary challenges.

Support John's groundbreaking work and gain exclusive access to live Q&A sessions, early video releases, and more by joining our Patreon community! 

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00:00 Introduction: Setting the Stage for Transcendent Naturalism and Emergentism

03:30 John Vervaeke: Outline of Transcendent Naturalism

19:45 Bonnitta Roy's Perspective on Naturalism and Stratified Reality

32:00 Alexander Bard on the Necessity of Metaphysics and Transcendent Emergentism

48:00 Group Dialogue on UTOC Framework and Integrating Perspectives

01:11:00 Exploring Zoofism and the Philosophical Silk Road

01:18:45 Q&A: Integrating Transcendental Emergentism with Science and Philosophy

01:31:10 Alexander Bard on Integrating Hegel with Modern Thinkers

01:33:50 Ontology of Pure Relationality and the Future of Digital Networks and Decentralization

01:40:05 Stability, Relational Thinking, and Dynamic Systems

01:43:30 Final Thoughts and Reflections: Convergences and Future Directions

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Discover practices that deepen your virtues and help you connect more deeply with reality and relationships by joining Awaken to Meaning today. 

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Ideas, People, and Works Mentioned in this Episode

Evan Thompson

Adam Frank

Marcelo Gleiser

James Blachowicz 

Alicia Juarrero Wolfgang Smith

Aspects of Truth: A New Religious Metaphysics by Catherine Pickstock 

Willard Van Orman Quine

Hilary Putnam Quine-Duhem Immanuel Kant Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

James J. Gibson

​​Martin Heidegger

James Filler

Kyoto School

John L. Schellenberg

Roy Bhaskar

Sabine Hossenfelder

Eric Weinstein

Alfred North Whitehead

Friedrich Nietzsche

Henri Bergson

Dan Chiappe

Matt Segall 

Bruno Latour 

Diana Fosha

Gilles Deleuze

Process and Event by Alexander Bard and Jan Söderqvist 

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Follow John Vervaeke: Website | Twitter | YouTube | Patreon

Follow Gregg Henriques: Website | Twitter | UTOK

Follow Bonita : YouTube | Substack

Follow Alexander Bard Henriques: Blog | Twitter 

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Thank you for Listening!