The Crisis of Being

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Jun 27, 2025

James Filler, a philosopher and theologian known for his expertise in metaphysics and substance ontology, dives deep into the meaning crisis affecting contemporary thought. He explores the complex implications of substance ontology, critiques modern dualism, and champions a relational understanding of existence. Filler also discusses the themes of isolation and community in literature, offering insights on self-transcendence and divine connections. He critiques the decline of liturgical authority in Christianity, questioning the true accessibility of spiritual teachings.

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INSIGHT

Substance Ontology's Paradoxical Roots

Substance ontology prioritizes absolute unity over plurality, leading to paradoxes denying change and motion.
This foundational view evolved from Parmenides through Christian thinkers like Anselm and Aquinas, setting stage for dualisms in modern philosophy.

INSIGHT

Descartes' Circular Crisis

Descartes' adoption of substance ontology leads to mind-body dualism and epistemological skepticism.
His attempt to prove knowledge through God involves a circular argument, deepening the crisis of reason and nihilism.

INSIGHT

Non-discursive Reasoning's Lost Role

Non-discursive reasoning was central before Descartes but sidelined afterwards, limiting knowledge to discursive logic.
Pure discursive reasoning cannot reach ultimate truth due to infinite regress or probabilistic induction.

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The Crisis of Being

James Filler is a philosopher, theologian, and leading voice in metaphysics and post-Cartesian thought, specializing in substance ontology, the meaning crisis, and relational models of reason. With a PhD in philosophy and expertise in ancient and contemporary ontology, Filler is the author of Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being Relation as Ontological Ground and Substance Ontology and the Crisis of Reason. His work traces the genealogical roots of modern nihilism and skepticism while advancing a powerful case for relationality, participation, and non-discursive forms of knowing. As a teacher and scholar, he brings clarity and compassion to some of the most pressing philosophical and spiritual questions of our time.

James Filler: Academia.edu | Substance Ontology (Book)

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John Vervaeke is joined by philosopher and theologian James Filler to expose the hidden roots of the modern meaning crisis. Together, they trace a powerful philosophical arc from ancient substance ontology to today’s widespread nihilism, skepticism, and isolation. James reveals how centuries of prioritizing “being” over “relation” have led to an inward collapse of reason, relationality, and the self. John and James unpack how non-discursive knowing, theosis, and participatory truth can restore wholeness beyond representational models of mind. They explore the role of liturgy, love, and vertical epistemology as practices that reawaken our connection to what is most real. This Lectern is a profound inquiry into what it means to become truly human—and how we might recover the sacred not through belief, but through transformation.

Notes:

(00:00) Welcome to The Lectern
(00:30) James Filler's Work
(02:30) Impact of Substance Ontology
(07:00) Cartesian Dualism and Its Consequences
(10:30) Critique of Modern Rationality
(13:30) Relationality and Knowledge
(16:00) The Role of Non-Discursive Reasoning
(24:00) Ethics and Becoming Truly Human
(40:30) Participatory Knowing and Liturgy
(42:00) Secularism and Substance Ontology
(44:30) The Buffered Self and Modernity
(48:00) Self-Transcendence and Theosis
(51:00) Critique of Substance Ontology

(01:00:00) The Role of Liturgy in Modern Churches