Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal John Vervaeke on Psychedelics, Evil, Consciousness, and Buddhism vs Christianity
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Sep 15, 2020 
John Vervaeke, a cognitive science professor at the University of Toronto, dives into intriguing concepts like the 'meaning crisis' and the roles of Buddhism and Christianity in modern understanding. He explores the distinction between lying and bullshitting, and how advertising manipulates truth perception. Vervaeke discusses the intersection of psychedelics and Zen Buddhism, emphasizing context in spiritual experiences. He also addresses the relationship between consciousness and self-deception, and how mindfulness practices can enhance our grasp of reality.
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Affordances and Meaning
- We perceive affordances (opportunities for interaction) before objects.
- Our perception and actions are intertwined, creating meaning through engagement.
Existential Meaning
- Existential meaning arises from our interactions with the world.
- 'Graspability' is a relational property, not inherent to the object itself.
Types of Knowing
- Truth isn't just propositional; it includes procedural (power), perspectival (presence), and participatory (attunement) knowing.
- Each type of knowing offers a different way of judging realness.