#66 Harmonizing the Dao with analytic philosopher Eric Schwitzgebel

Jul 24, 2025

In this enlightening conversation, Eric Schwitzgebel, an analytic philosopher and UC Riverside professor, dives into the interplay between ancient ideas and modern dilemmas. He discusses harmonizing the Dao, exploring its roots in classical Chinese philosophy, and the beauty of embracing life's 'weirdness.' Topics include the consciousness of garden snails and robots, the significance of diversity in ethical perspectives, and the evolving nature of love within marriage. Eric's engaging insights probe the richness of existence and encourage us to cherish the peculiar.

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insights

INSIGHT

Harmony Embraces Conflict and Diversity

Harmony includes conflict and difference; it isn't static or uniform.
Zhuangzi celebrates diversity, death, and disability as integral to Tao harmony.

insights

INSIGHT

Not Being the Melody

Being "the melody" means forcing one view globally, risking destructive control.
Harmonizing means playing your note among many, enhancing collective flow.

insights

INSIGHT

Value Pluralism and Harmony

Value pluralism means many simultaneous melodies and harmonies coexist wonderfully.
Different people's varied contributions can all enrich the world’s harmony.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Harmonizing the Tao: A Philosophical Journey

01:38 • 18min

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Envisioning Values: A Thought Experiment on Axiology and Our Planet

19:27 • 4min

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Embracing Chaos: The Philosophy of Diversity in Life

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Exploring Consciousness in the Natural World

32:40 • 23min

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Exploring Openness Through Science Fiction

55:15 • 9min

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Ethics in Practice: Bridging Theory and Behavior

01:04:05 • 14min

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The Evolution of Love in Marriage

01:17:43 • 6min

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Perplexities of Consciousness

Eric Schwitzgebel

The book explores the various perplexing aspects of consciousness, delving into its nature, origins, and implications. It addresses the philosophical and scientific challenges in understanding subjective experience. By examining different perspectives and theories, the book seeks to shed light on the mysteries of consciousness.

A Theory of Jerks

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Eric Schwitzgebel

The book explores the concept of jerk, analyzing the characteristics and behaviors associated with it. It seeks to understand the underlying psychological and moral dimensions of jerk-like behavior. By examining various aspects of jerkiness, the book aims to provide insights into human interactions and ethical considerations.

#2329

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Klara and the Sun

Kazuo Ishiguro

Set in a dystopian future, 'Klara and the Sun' follows the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend (AF) who is purchased by a mother for her ailing daughter, Josie. Klara, powered by solar energy, develops a deep bond with Josie and becomes obsessed with the Sun, which she believes has the power to save Josie's life. The novel delves into themes of loneliness, the nature of consciousness, and the societal implications of genetic engineering and artificial intelligence. Through Klara's observations and interactions, the book explores the human condition and the complexities of love, faith, and sacrifice in a world marked by social inequality and technological advancements.

#116

• Mentioned in 104 episodes

Tao te ching

Laozi

The Tao Te Ching is a central text in Taoist philosophy and religion. It consists of 81 brief chapters or sections that discuss the nature of the Tao, which is described as the source and ideal of all existence. The text emphasizes living in harmony with nature, the importance of simplicity, humility, and the interconnectedness of all things. It critiques unnatural actions and social activism based on abstract moralism, advocating for a life of 'nonaction' (wu wei) and spontaneity. The text has been highly influential in Chinese philosophy and has been translated numerous times, making it one of the most translated texts in world literature.

#3930

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Zhuangzi

The Zhuangzi is a compilation of writings attributed to Zhuang Zhou and his followers. It consists of 33 chapters, divided into 'Inner Chapters' (chapters 1-7), 'Outer Chapters' (chapters 8-22), and 'Miscellaneous Chapters' (chapters 23-33). The text advocates for embracing spontaneity, accepting the natural order of the universe (the Dao), and living a life free from the constraints of societal norms and conventions. It uses parables, anecdotes, and humorous stories to illustrate the arbitrariness of human distinctions and the importance of living in harmony with nature.

#10344

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Weirdness of the World

Eric Schwitzgebel

In *The Weirdness of the World*, Eric Schwitzgebel argues that the answers to fundamental questions about consciousness and the cosmos lie beyond our powers of comprehension. He proposes a philosophy that opens possibilities rather than narrowing down to a single theory, embracing the bizarreness of all philosophical explanations. Schwitzgebel's work encourages readers to consider the thrill of exploring bizarre philosophical possibilities.

Send a love message

This show is about harmonizing the Dao and embracing the world's weirdness at once. Our guest is Eric Schwitzgebel, an analytic philosopher and professor at the University of California Riverside. As they unfold the Dao and the world’s weirdness, Andrea and Eric explore everything from robot consciousness, the love darts of snails, triads, axiology, and the philosophy of opening. Eric shares his journey into classical Chinese philosophy, how we understands harmonizing with the Dao, some of his writings about consciousness, and the importance of appreciating the world's inherent weirdness. This conversation offers a delightful blend of profound ideas and joyous reflections, encouraging us to see weird as a way into new perspectives and perhaps even into love.

00:00 Introduction to Love and Philosophy
00:20 Meet Eric Schwitzgebel: Philosopher and Author
01:37 Exploring the Concept of Harmonizing the Dao
01:52 Journey into Classical Chinese Philosophy
03:59 The Tension Between Analytic and Chinese Philosophy
06:22 Understanding the Dao and Harmony
11:16 The Weird and Wonderful World of Zhuangzi
17:40 The Value of Diversity and Conflict
33:14 The Consciousness of Garden Snails
41:57 Exploring Relationality and Consciousness
43:50 The Consciousness of Plants and Robots
46:52 Philosophical Perspectives on Consciousness
55:38 The Philosophy of Opening vs. Closing
01:10:06 Ethics and Moral Behavior of Ethicists
01:17:43 Love, Marriage, and Harmonizing with the Dao
01:22:16 Final Thoughts and Farewell

The Book we discuss:

The Weirdness of the World

Writings we discuss:

Harmonizing the Dao

Imagining Yourself in Another’s Shoes versus Extending Your Concern: Empirical & Ethical Differences

A Robot Lover's Sociological Argument for Robot Consciousness

Borderline Consciousness

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