Ep259: Questioning Enlightenment - Dr Justin Sledge 2
Jun 21, 2024
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Dr Justin Sledge, a philosophy professor, discusses questioning enlightenment, morality theories, and tradition vs subjective experience. He critiques postmodernism, recommends esoteric readings, and explores existential questions, virtues ethics, and the danger of hazing. Topics include belief in God, natural law, and the meaning famine.
Enlightenment is intriguing but not a personal pursuit for Dr. Sledge.
Ethics are informed by tradition, cautioning against seeking power through magic.
Dr. Sledge blends Kantian ethics with virtue ethics in his ethical framework.
Dr. Sledge criticizes deconstructionism and advocates for balanced intellectual pursuits.
Skepticism towards mystical experiences and a call for inclusivity in understanding human consciousness.
Deep dives
Dr. Sledge's Perspective on Enlightenment
Dr. Sledge explains his stance on enlightenment, emphasizing his lack of personal interest in becoming enlightened but finding the concept intriguing. He scrutinizes the linkage between enlightenment claims and traits of narcissistic personality disorder. Emphasizing his ethical orientation, he delves into moral theories, the interplay of tradition and subjective experience, and the concept of 'meaning famine'. Dr. Sledge critiques postmodernism and highlights overlooked philosophers while providing recommended esoteric reading lists.
Dr. Sledge on Tradition and the Limitations of Human Power
Dr. Sledge delves into the significance of tradition, acknowledging its wisdom while cautioning against the lure of power-seeking in magical pursuits. He underscores Judaism's principles that restrict quests for supernatural powers, emphasizing ethical behavior over magic for achieving wealth or influence. His insights on tradition's role in guiding human conduct and his skepticism towards magical pursuits serve as foundational principles in his moral compass.
Dr. Sledge's Kantian Approach to Ethics and Virtue Ethics
Dr. Sledge explores his ethical framework, combining elements of Kantian ethics with virtue ethics. He reflects on the Kantian categorical imperative as the basis for ethical conduct, acknowledging the challenges in fully embodying it. While he identifies as a virtue ethicist in practice, he aligns with Kant's philosophical reasoning in recognizing the idealistic nature of Kantian ethics despite its difficulty in realization.
Challenging Deconstructionism and Overemphasis on Baseline Consciousness
Dr. Sledge critiques deconstructionism, cautioning against its misuse and the arrogance that can accompany critical dismantling of concepts without a constructive purpose. He advocates for a balanced approach to traditions and intellectual pursuits, highlighting the dangers of fixating on baseline consciousness as the norm. He encourages a broader appreciation of mystical experiences and a rejection of epistemic imperialism fueled by subjective encounters.
Questioning Mystical Experiences and Subjective Truth
Dr. Sledge scrutinizes the value of mystical experiences, expressing skepticism towards their veridical nature and cautioning against relying solely on subjective encounters as sources of truth. He acknowledges the significance of such experiences to individuals while refraining from ascribing universal truth to them. Dr. Sledge navigates the complexities of balancing rationality with non-rational experiences, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of consciousness beyond rational norms.
Balancing Rationality and Non-Rational Experiences
Dr. Sledge advocates for a broader recognition of human experiences beyond baseline consciousness, challenging the notion of humans solely as rational agents. He calls for the acknowledgment of mystical experiences and non-rational encounters as integral parts of human existence, advocating against the marginalization of diverse experiences. Dr. Sledge emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in understanding and valuing the breadth of human consciousness.
Navigating Controversial Perspectives and Provoking Critical Thought
Dr. Sledge navigates controversial topics with a critical lens, challenging conventional narratives on enlightenment, morality, and consciousness. By encouraging balanced perspectives and questioning established beliefs, he provokes thought and invites scrutiny of entrenched ideologies. His nuanced approach to mystical experiences and ethical frameworks inspires a reevaluation of traditional constructs and fosters a deeper exploration of human consciousness.
Promoting Thought Diversity and Ethical Reflection
Dr. Sledge's discourse promotes diversity of thought and ethical reflection, advocating for a holistic understanding of human experiences beyond rational confines. His emphasis on questioning entrenched beliefs and fostering inclusivity in exploring consciousness reflects a commitment to intellectual openness and moral inquiry. By challenging orthodoxies and embracing diverse perspectives, Dr. Sledge encourages nuanced reflections on existential questions and the complexities of human consciousness.
The Importance of Nuance in Intellectual Discourse
In intellectual discussions, maintaining nuance is crucial to minimizing errors and exploring various perspectives. Acknowledging the value of different modes of knowledge such as rational and mystical experiences, the focus lies on applying each appropriately. Incorrectly applying certain types of knowledge, like using intuition to determine legal outcomes, can lead to misinterpretations and misjudgments.
Revisiting Underrecognized Philosophers in Academia
Many historically significant philosophers have been marginalized in modern academia, limiting the exposure to diverse philosophical traditions. The call is to broaden philosophical education beyond standard Enlightenment-based narratives. By embracing neglected scholars like Marsilio Ficino and Johannes Reuchlin, a more comprehensive understanding of philosophy can be attained, promoting inclusivity and a richer intellectual landscape.
In this episode I am once again joined by Dr James Justin Sledge, a professor of philosophy and religion specialising in the Western Esoteric tradition and founder of the popular Esoterica Youtube channel.
Dr Sledge begins by explaining his position on enlightenment, why he’s not interested in becoming enlightened but still finds the concept interesting, and whether or not enlightenment claims are linked to traits of narcissistic personality disorder.
Dr Sledge also reveals his own ethical orientation, considers various theories of morality, the role of tradition vs subjective experience, and what he calls the ”meaning famine”.
Dr Sledge also takes aim at postmodernism and deconstructionism, retrieves the overlooked philosophers of antiquity and the Renaissance, and offers recommended reading lists for the autodidact interested in the esoteric.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep259-questioning-enlightenment-dr-justin-sledge-2
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
01:01 - Don’t want to be enlightened
02:20 - Belief, practice, and tradition
04:17 - Magick and the quest for power
06:42 - Judaism without belief in God
09:34 - Origins of moral authority
12:43 - Is belief in God necessary?
14:44 - Natural law and utilitarianism
16:07 - Dr Sledge’s personal ethics
16:40 - Virtue ethics
19:05 - The danger of existential questions
21:59 - Intellectual and spiritual hazing
22:31 - The meaning famine
25:35 - Dr Sledge on deconstruction and post-modernism
31:43 - Cancelling the canon
33:51 - Classics reading list for the autodidact
38:43 - Why get enlightened?
40:34 - Too lazy?
41:27 - Is enlightenment worth it?
44:48 - Enlightened narcissists
45:56 - Criticism of Dr Sledge
46:56 - Danger of unthinking fealty
50:05 - Questioning tradition and existential crisis
53:09 - Pros and cons of mystical experiences
57:27 - The mystic’s mistake
58:24 - Hyperfixation on baseline consciousness
59:42 - Hallucinations of the recently deceased
01:02:13 - Upsetting both sides
01:04:19 - Truth and other epistemologies
01:10:02 - Overlooked philosophers
01:12:05 - Telling the whole story of philosophy
01:13:25 - Dishonesty of academic philosophy
01:14:06 - Spiritual Renaissance philosophy and depriving
01:15:49 - The loss of awe and beauty
01:18:59 - Chasing awe with psychedelics, astronomy, and community
01:23:39 - Tactical religion and joining communities of value
01:27:19 - Huge influx of new converts to Judaism
01:28:43 - Recommended reading for Western Esotericism and overlooked philosophy
01:34:59 - Dr Sledge’s go-to book
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Previous episode with Dr Justin Sledge:
- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep248-esoterica-academia-dr-justin-sledge
To find out more about Dr Justin Sledge, visit:
- https://www.justinsledge.com/
- https://www.youtube.com/@TheEsotericaChannel
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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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