In this thought-provoking episode of After Socrates, host John Vervaeke is joined by scholar Christopher Mastropietro to explore the connections between Socrates and Kierkegaard, as well as the relationship between reason, faith, existentialism, and spirituality. Through a deep dive into irony, self-transcendence, and relevance realization, Vervaeke and Mastropietro reveal the shared project between these two influential thinkers, while discussing the role of humor and absurdity in understanding the human condition. Christopher Mastropietro is a scholar and author who has collaborated extensively with John Vervaeke on various projects.

Time-Codes:

00:00 - Kierkegaard's humorous example of a busy man dying

01:07 - Introduction to After Socrates, Episode 17

03:24 - Faith, logos, and character cultivation

05:50 - Kierkegaard's paradoxical argument on autonomy

06:47 - The paradox of self-transcendence

09:53 - Irony in developing a relationship with truth

10:35 - Differentiating irony from cynicism and sarcasm

14:08 - Irony as participatory and perspectival truth

16:24 - Kierkegaard's example illustrating ironic tension

20:04 - Irony's grounding and autonomy

22:13 - Irony, epistemic humility, and aporia

24:00 - An ironist's passionate participation in paradox

25:58 - Clarifying irony, cynicism, sarcasm, and intellectual laziness

30:26 - Relevance realization and irony

32:28 - Communicating ultimate truth indirectly

33:02 - Relevance realization and ultimate concern

34:00 - Ultimate concern vs. regular concern

34:51 - Socrates and Kierkegaard's shared project

36:19 - Kierkegaard's use of the eye of Socrates

37:16 - Agency and freedom in philosophy

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