Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Bernardo Kastrup on Idealism, Materialism, The Self, and the Connectedness of You and I

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Feb 20, 2021

Bernardo Kastrup, a philosopher with two PhDs, dives deep into the world of analytical idealism, challenging the traditional materialist view of consciousness. He discusses the complexities of the self and the nature of existence, questioning why only certain entities, like humans, possess consciousness. Kastrup critiques reductionism in explaining phenomena and explores theories of truth and randomness. He also contemplates the idea of a collective consciousness and the philosophical implications of life's interconnectedness.

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ANECDOTE

Bernardo's Path to Idealism

Bernardo Kastrup's journey to idealism wasn't through Eastern traditions.
It stemmed from studying AI and realizing consciousness isn't created, but fundamental.

INSIGHT

Materialism's Flaw

Materialism posits an abstract external world, while qualities of experience exist in our minds.
Kastrup argues this creates an unbridgeable gap between quantity and quality.

INSIGHT

Matter as Appearance

Kastrup argues matter isn't the cause of consciousness, but a perspective of mental processes.
He suggests our errors are conflating image with reality and description with territory.

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Editing: Antonio Pastore

00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:34 Bernardo's journey from materialism to idealism 00:07:08 Materialism vs Analytical idealism 00:14:03 Dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder) and consciousness 00:19:20 Why does life has a separate consciousness and not, say, a rock? 00:29:14 What does it mean to "explain" without reductionism? 00:30:25 Why not start with "nothing"? What would a theory like that look like? 00:32:15 What does it mean to "exist"? Do abstractions exist? 00:35:53 Theories of "truth" other than correspondence 00:47:56 Randomness doesn't exist fundamentally 00:51:05 If the mind is deceptive then what do we trust? 00:57:44 Is "Mind At Large" God? Can you pray to it? 01:01:07 Morality and purpose 01:08:12 On disagreements with Joscha Bach 01:12:30 On disagreements with Daniel Dennett 01:17:37 On disagreements with Dawkins 01:19:43 On disagreements with Douglas Hofstadter 01:36:18 If everything is "in the mind" then why are objects independently verified and exert an influence when I'm gone? 01:38:56 On disagreements with Donald Hoffman and Thomas Campbell 01:44:01 The distinction between "in your head" and "in your mind" is crucial 01:54:39 On disagreements with Carl Jung 01:57:44 On disagreements with Roger Penrose 01:59:56 Why parsimony in assumptions? Why not many assumptions? 02:06:52 Curt says Bernardo's theory isn't better than the Flying Spaghetti Monster 02:13:48 On Schopenhauer 02:19:30 How to properly read Jung 02:25:11 Bernardo and Curt speak about the "new age" and "woo" 02:31:00 On Deepak Chopra 02:36:53 Does Bernardo fear death? (a story about ego death) 02:49:17 If this reality is a "dream", how much can we control it? 02:54:29 Choice, free will, and becoming a slave voluntarily 02:56:40 The intellect is a bouncer of the heart 02:58:08 The East vs the West have different answers to the suffering of life 03:02:20 The "self" is an illusion worth saving 03:06:02 Bernardo almost killed himself twice, and later found meaning in the suffering 03:10:14 On the pain of writing 03:15:59 Should you ever regret? (Buddhism vs Christianity) 03:20:39 If consciousness is all there is, and the self is an illusion, why did the East get that and not the West? 03:25:48 Can you have morality / ethics within materialism? 03:26:59 What's the weakest point of Bernardo's model? 03:28:25 Is there anything special about biological life? 03:34:36 Logic 03:36:27 What beats rationality? What's the "game of all games"? 03:45:33 How does Bernardo write? What's the process look like? 03:51:19 Bernardo gives Curt advice 04:03:51 Don't feel like "others have it worse." Honor your suffering. 04:06:22 Don't take yourself seriously but take life seriously 04:07:59 Disagreements with Tony Robbins and self-help 04:15:00 Brain as a radio tuner (Plastic Pears) 04:24:29 How to falsify Bernardo's theory? What predictions does his model make? 04:27:29 Other audience questions 04:33:57 These metaphysical questions are dangerous questions

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