An Open-Ended Conversation with Bernardo Kastrup

Oct 7, 2025

In a captivating dialogue, Bernardo Kastrup, a computer scientist and philosopher known for his work on consciousness, explores the foundations of metaphysical idealism. He delves into the misconceptions surrounding idealism vs. materialism, the implications of dissociation for our sense of identity, and the relationship between consciousness and quantum physics. Kastrup also shares insights on the daimon as a guiding force, the nature of paranormal phenomena, and how cultural interpretations shape our understanding of UFOs, linking them to archetypal experiences.

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INSIGHT

Cultural Roots Of Materialism

Cultural habit entrenches materialism so deeply that objections to idealism feel visceral, not rational.
Bernardo Kastrup argues there's no strong philosophical argument left against idealism.

INSIGHT

Metaphysics Moves With History

Major metaphysical shifts align with social and economic change, like the 19th-century rise of materialism.
Kastrup sees physicalism as a 'dead man walking' and predicts another shift away from it.

INSIGHT

Why He Emphasizes The 'Normal'

Kastrup accepts paranormal phenomena as compatible with idealism but avoids using them as the primary argument.
He focuses on the 'normal' because it's already deeply mysterious and contradicts physicalism.

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An Open-Ended Conversation with Bernardo Kastrup

Bernardo Kastrup, PhD, is a computer scientist. He is author of Rationalist Spirituality, Why Materialism is Baloney, Dreamed Up Reality, Meaning in Absurdity, Brief Peeks Beyond, More Than Allegory, and The Idea of the World. He has published several papers in Scientific American arguing for metaphysical idealism.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Bernardo Kastrup, PhD, returns to New Thinking Allowed for an open-ended dialogue. He explores the foundations of metaphysical idealism, cultural influences on our worldview, and the implications of dissociation for understanding consciousness. Topics include the nature of the daimon, the paranormal, quantum physics, and even UFO phenomena. This exchange offers fresh insights into philosophy, science, and the mystery of existence.

00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:00 Bernardo’s recent work and the Essentia Foundation
00:05:00 Idealism versus materialism: misunderstandings and cultural habits
00:09:00 Shifts in metaphysical worldviews through history
00:14:00 Paranormal phenomena and why Bernardo focuses on the “normal”
00:17:00 Dissociation, identity, and the problem of separateness
00:23:00 Multidimensional time and consciousness across timelines
00:29:00 The body, perception, and analytic idealism
00:36:00 Quantum physics, wave function, and the role of consciousness
00:48:00 The daimon, lived philosophy, and personal guidance
01:04:00 UFOs, archetypes, and cultural interpretations
01:11:00 Conclusion

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is also the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. He is Co-Director (with Callum Cooper) of Parapsychology Education at the California Institute for Human Science.

(Recorded on Sept 5, 2025)

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Bernardo Kastrup, Decoding Schopenhauer’s Metaphysics – https://amzn.to/36tQuxa

Bernardo Kastrup, The Idea of the World: A Multi-Disciplinary Argument for the Mental Nature of Reality – https://amzn.to/2zsuoib

Bernardo Kastrup, Dreamed Up Reality: Diving Into the Mind to Uncover the Astonishing Hidden Tale of Nature – https://amzn.to/3bYAyEe

Bernardo Kastrup, Why Materialism is Baloney – https://amzn.to/2TCSUEp

Bernardo Kastrup, Meaning in Absurdity: What Bizarre Phenomena Can Tell Us About the Nature of Reality – https://amzn.to/2XruFdh

Bernardo Kastrup, Rationalist Spirituality – https://amzn.to/2Xp7IYm

Bernardo Kastrup, More Than Allegory: On Religious Myth, Truth, and Belief – https://amzn.to/3efgSgD