Purpose, Evolution, and the Problem of Evil

Dr. John Vervaeke engages in an in-depth conversation with Sam Tideman, delving into the four kinds of knowing – procedural, propositional, perspectival, and participatory – and how they relate to personality and understanding of religion. They explore the concept of purpose from both philosophical and psychological perspectives, touching upon the historical and cosmic scale of purpose, human uniqueness in understanding purpose, and the functional purpose in nature. The episode also includes a discussion on Spinoza's philosophy and the importance of mindset and awareness, leading to reflections on the implications of purpose for humanity.

Glossary of Terms

Propositional knowledge: Knowledge of facts.

Procedural knowing: Knowing how to do something.

Perspectival knowing: Knowing by noticing aspects of things within how you are sizing up a situation. Knowing what it is like to be noticing from the state of mind you are in of the situation you are in. Knowing what is like being in a particular perspective. 

Participatory knowing: Knowing by being. It refers to knowing how to act in the “agent-arena” environment—how the world and you are shaped by the same principles and processes to fit together, whether those processes are natural or cultural. Gravity shapes you, and the ground and culture shape you and the environment into a floor for walking. It is knowing by participating in affordances co-created by you and the world.

Resources and References:

Dr. John Vervaeke: Website | YouTube | Patreon | X | Facebook

Sam Tideman: YouTube

The Vervaeke Foundation

John Vervaeke YouTube

Awakening from the Meaning Crisis

Neoplatonism, Gnosticism, and Naturalism w/ Sam Adams

Books, Articles, Publications, and Videos

Spinoza's Religion: A New Reading of the Ethics - Clare Carlisle

Philosopher of the Heart: The Restless Life of Søren Kierkegaard - Clare Carlisle 

John Vervaeke on the relevance of Neoplatonism today | Transfigured 

Quotes

"It's knowing this with your states of consciousness, states of consciousness always have co-defining situational awareness." - John Vervaeke, on perspectival knowing

"The way your agency and your character are shaped and your biology is shaped to fit the environment... that's participatory knowing." - John Vervaeke

Chapters with Timestamps

[00:00:00] Introduction of Dr. John Vervaeke

[00:03:07] The Four Kinds of Knowing

[00:04:20] Christian Doctrinal Differences and Kinds of Knowing

[00:08:07] Deeper Definitions and Taxonomy of the Four Ps

[00:17:23] Discussion on Personality and Kinds of Knowing

[00:32:16] Exploring Human Consciousness and Purpose

[00:41:33] The Universe, Life, and the Concept of Purpose

[00:48:22] Human Uniqueness in Understanding Purpose

Timestamped Highlights

[00:00:00] Introduction of Dr.John Vervaeke

[00:03:07] Explanation of the four kinds of knowing

[00:04:20] Discussion on Christian doctrinal differences

[00:08:07] In-depth definitions of the four Ps

[00:17:23] Connecting personality types with kinds of knowing

[00:22:35] Integrating various kinds of knowing for holistic spiritual and personal development

[00:32:16] Exploration of human consciousness and purpose

[00:39:40] Debate on redemptive narrative in history

[00:41:33] The challenge of fitting the Christian mythological arc to the modern understanding of the universe

[00:44:11] Discussing the concept of incarnation

[00:48:22] Human uniqueness in understanding purpose

[00:50:30] The functional purpose in nature

[00:52:28] Mount Everest as an example of purpose without consciousness

[00:53:14] Introduction to Spinoza’s concept of conatas

[00:58:00] Reflecting on the quality of life in the universe

[01:05:00] The significance of life beyond quantity

[01:10:30] Philosophical implications of understanding purpose

[01:20:20] Discussing the impact of human mortality awareness on purpose and understanding  

[01:30:00] Understanding purpose in existence and its implications in Christianity and pragmatism