Within Reason #46 John Vervaeke - Escaping the Meaning Crisis
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Dec 4, 2023 
John Vervaeke, award-winning professor, discusses the meaning crisis and its impact on humanity. Topics include the relationship between wisdom and belonging, the role of narrative in society, video game addiction, decline of religious belief, and finding meaning in death and intrinsic value.
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The Meaning Crisis: A Wisdom Famine
- The meaning crisis is a wisdom famine, driven by a lack of practices that connect us to the world.
- These practices, historically embedded in religion, fostered wisdom and belonging, now absent in our society.
Belonging and the Power of Narrative
- A sense of belonging is crucial for meaning, and it's fostered by non-propositional ways of knowing, like narrative.
- Narratives shape our identities, perspectives, and skills, allowing us to connect with something larger than ourselves.
Virtual Belonging: The Allure of Video Games
- Video games offer a temporary sense of belonging by providing clear rules, narratives, and opportunities for growth.
- This makes them attractive to those experiencing a meaning crisis, although the virtual world doesn't transfer well to reality.