Navigating Philosophy: A Journey of Mentorship and Discovery

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#796: L.A. Paul — On Becoming a Vampire, Whether or Not to Have Kids, Getting Incredible Mentorship for $250, Transformative Experiences, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show

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CHAPTER

Navigating Philosophy: A Journey of Mentorship and Discovery

This chapter recounts a transformative encounter between the speaker and philosopher Quentin Smith, sparking a profound exploration of philosophy despite initial academic frustrations. It emphasizes the significance of mentorship, the interconnectedness of philosophical concepts with real-life experiences, and the importance of clarity in teaching complex ideas. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, the speaker illustrates how unconventional approaches to learning have shaped their profound appreciation for philosophy.

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L.A. Paul is the Millstone Family Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Cognitive Science at Yale University. She is also the author of Transformative Experience. Her work on transformative experience has been covered by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, NPR, and the BBC, among others. And in 2024, she was profiled by The New Yorker.

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Timestamps:

[00:00;00] Start

[00:05:55] The role of Quentin Smith.

[00:09:56] Early philosophy class disasters.

[00:13:34] How is philosophy relevant to the average person?

[00:20:17] A correspondence experiment with philosophers.

[00:25:29] The role of philosophy in modern times.

[00:27:50] The vampire problem.

[00:39:31] What you can't expect when you're expecting.

[00:42:36] When transformative experiences happen without our consent.

[00:48:12] Choosing between potentially transformative experiences.

[00:52:09] How Laurie made the choice to have children.