Exploring topics like materialism, ontology, emergence, neo-platonism, and Christianity with guest J.P. Marceau. Delving into the interplay of unity and diversity in consciousness, and the influence of stories on reality. Discussing the limitations of materialism in understanding perception and the essence of reality. Exploring the impact of storytelling on shaping perceptions and behaviors, and the interconnectedness of abstract narratives through cellular analogy.
Transition from computer science to philosophy driven by fascination with Godel's incompleteness theorems and pursuit of fundamental questions.
Exploration of consciousness and panpsychism influenced by Chalmers' 'hard problem' and complexity of unified consciousness emergence.
Metaphysical beliefs intertwined with daily practices and ethical frameworks, shaping individual cosmology and engagement with the world.
Materialism challenges symbolism's importance, highlighting symbolic practices' role in understanding consciousness and reality.
Deep dives
The Transition from Computer Science to Philosophy
The guest discusses their transition from computer science to philosophy. They were exposed to philosophy during their early education in Quebec but initially found ancient philosophy unconvincing due to the skepticism presented. This skepticism contrasted with the precision of mathematics, leading them to pursue logic in mathematics and computer science initially.
The Influence of Godel's Incompleteness Theorems
The guest delves into the impact of Godel's incompleteness theorems on their academic journey. Godel's theorems show limits to formal systems' ability to prove their own consistency, which fascinated the guest. This limitation resonated with their quest to understand fundamental questions, leading them to shift from mathematics and computer science to philosophy.
Exploring Consciousness and Panpsychism
The discussion extends to an exploration of consciousness and panpsychism. The guest describes how David Chalmers' articulation of the 'hard problem' of consciousness influenced their shift towards panpsychism. They highlight the challenge of reconciling the emergence of unified consciousness within evolutionary theory and the complexity of human consciousness within panpsychism.
The Integration of Metaphysics in Worldview
The conversation shifts towards the role of metaphysics in shaping personal cosmology. The guest reflects on the interconnectedness of metaphysical beliefs with daily practices and ethical frameworks. They acknowledge varying levels of articulation in metaphysical views but emphasize the intrinsic relationship between metaphysics and individual engagement with the world.
Materialism and Symbolism in Metaphysics
Materialism and symbolism are discussed in the context of metaphysics. Materialists struggle to reconcile the importance of symbolism with their worldview centered on matter and fundamental laws. The conversation delves into how materialism can weaken symbolic practices by emphasizing the primacy of matter and questioning the importance of psychology and consciousness.
Symbolism's Role in Understanding Reality
The discussion expands on symbolism's role in understanding reality, contrasting Kantian views on perception with a symbolic understanding. Symbolism is portrayed as shedding light on consciousness and interface with reality, emphasizing structural insights over objective truths. By exploring archetypes and symbolic interpretations, the conversation highlights symbolism's focus on understanding consciousness and the interface with reality.
Reality, Symbols, and Stories
The dialogue delves into the concept of reality as intertwined with symbols and stories. It touches on how stories reflect ideals and behaviors, manifesting patterns from the abstract to the concrete. The discussion reflects on how myths, including the story of Christ, as a convergence of the ideal, story, and individual, bridging the natural and supernatural realms in the human experience.
In this 3rd episode, I had a great conversation with Jean-Philippe Marceau. He holds a degree in computer science and has done a master's degree in philosophy about panpsychism as a response to the hard problem of consciousness. We talk about materialism, ontology, emergence, neo-platonism, Christianity, and more. In the video we often reference symbolism. For those not familiar with Pageau's work, this may be a bit confusing. I would recommend two (short-ish) resources to understand what we are talking about. And if you want to dive deeper, check the original videos of where these clips come from. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSv1bjaORlA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIRWvRoBPF4
