Converging Dialogues

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Philip Goff about the big questions of the universe. They discuss questions such as “why are we here” and “what is the purpose of living?” They talk about how much meaning could we possibly receive from life, value nihilism and value fundamentalism, and where do morals originate? They also discuss panpsychism, consciousness, Integration Information Theory, implications of panpsychism, and many more topics. Philip Goff is a philosopher and professor at Durham University, UK. His main focus areas are on the nature of reality and he is well-published on panpsychism. He has a podcast, Mind Chat, and is the author of several books including the most recent, Why?:The Purpose of the Universe.Website: https://philipgoffphilosophy.com/Twitter: @philip_goff Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Colleen Eren about mass incarceration and the First Step Act. They discuss the current landscape of mass incarceration, jail and prison, and why people have started caring about mass incarceration. They discuss the First Step Act, bipartisan support, ‘94 crime bill, and the history of legislation on incarceration since LBJ. They talk about “mainstreamization,” billionaire involvement, celebrity involvement, impact of the First Step Act, and where future legislation goes on mass incarceration. Colleen Eren is Associate Professor and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program Director at William Paterson University. She has her PhD in Sociology from City University of New York, The Graduate Center. She is a member of the Crime and Justice Research Alliance of the American Society of Criminology. She has written three books including her most recent book, Reform Nation: The First Step Act and The Movement to End Mass Incarceration. Twitter: @colleeneren Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Vincent Schiraldi about mass incarceration, probation, and parole. They discuss the current landscape of mass incarceration, probation, and parole, why there are high rates of incarceration and probation, history of probation and parole, and the impact of Nixon’s war on drugs. They talk about the Martinson report, bias, stereotypes, and racism, and the case example of Meek Mill and high incarceration rates in Philadelphia. They talk about alternative methods for improving probation and parole, future of probation, and many other topics. Vincent Schiraldi is the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. He previously served as Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Correction​, and before that Columbia University, where he served as Senior Research Scientist at the Columbia School of Social Work and co-Director of the Columbia Justice Lab. While Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Correction, he attempted to close Riker’s Island and end the practice of solitary confinement. He also served as director of juvenile corrections in Washington DC, as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Probation, and as Senior Policy Adviser to the NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. He is the author of the book, Mass Supervision: Probation, Parole, and the Illusion of Safety and Freedom. Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Helen Czerski about the Ocean on the Earth. They talk about how there is one ocean on planet Earth, why we ignore the ocean, makeup of the ocean with temperature, salinity, and wetness, and how much salt is in the ocean. They discuss the layers of the ocean, the Mediterranean sea, the shape of water, impact of wind and gravity, the moon’s relationship with ocean tides, 5 gyres, the ocean floor, impact of climate change, and many more topics. Helen Czerski is a physicist and oceanographer who conducts research in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University College London. She has her PhD in physics from Cambridge and completed a postdoc in oceanography. She has presented on many BBC science documentaries and her research is spent studying the atmosphere and ocean surface. She is the author of the new book, The Blue Machine: How the Ocean Works. Website: https://www.helenczerski.net/Twitter: @helenczerskiInstagram: @Helen_czerski Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Richard Prum about sex, gender, and biology. They talk about why sex and gender are sometimes controversial, defining sex, and sex as history. They discuss the materialist-feminist framework, gender as an extended phenotype, gender performativity, genes and chromosomes, Wolffian and Müllerian ducts, the role of hormones, the future of gender, and many more topics. Richard Prum is an Evolutionary Ornithologist at Yale University. His research interests are avian biology, behavioral evolution, sexual selection, and mate choice. He has been a main contributor to the theropod dinosaur origins of birds and the evolution of avian plumage coloration. He is the Curator of Ornithology and Head Curator of Vertebrate Zoology at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. Previously, he was the Chair of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale. He is the author of, The Evolution of Beauty: How Darwin’s Forgotten Theory of mate Choice Shapes the Animal World—and Us, and his latest book, Performance All the Way Down: Genes, Development, and Sexual Difference. You can find his scholarly publications here. Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Stephen Porges about polyvagal theory. They discuss the importance of safety, the vagus nerve and polyvagal theory, and why the Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) is important. They discuss the various branches, the social engagement system, neuroplasticity, and how the polyvagal theory works with trauma and co-regulation. They discuss the practical and clinical uses of the polyvagal theory, criticisms of the theory, future of the theory, and many more topics. Stephen Porges is Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. He is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, and Professor Emeritus at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland.He was president of the Society for Psychophysiological Research and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences and was a recipient of National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award. He has published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers across several disciplines and is the founder of the polyvagal theory. He is the author of numerous books, including the most recent book (co-authored with Seth Porges), Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us. Website: https://www.stephenporges.com/Paper 1: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497621000436?via%3DihubPaper 2: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2022.871227/fullPaper 3: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497623000346?via%3Dihub Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

Stephen Houlgate, expert on Hegel's Logic, discusses Hegel's views on Kant's Logic, categories of thought, Hegel and Heidegger on being, Hegel on objectivity, Nietzsche and Hegel on becoming, Dasein, Hegel and Frege on quantity, and linking Phenomenology of Spirit and Logic.

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Adam Mestyan about the post-Ottoman Middle East. They discuss nation states, recycling empire, international imperialism, and sovereignty. They talk about political order rather than governance, local states, nation states or federations, republics or monarchies, constitutive fictions, British and Ottoman involvement in Egypt, Egyptian sovereignty and the Muslim Brotherhood, the kingdom of Syria, and many more topics. Adam Mestyan is Associate Professor in the History Department at Duke University. He has previously taught at Harvard University and was a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. His main interests are in natural history and Islamic law, urban history, the history of taxation, and Arab state formation (especially federations) in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He is the author of a handful of books including the most recent book, Modern Arab Kingship: Remaking the Ottoman Political Order in the Interwar Middle East. Website: https://adammestyan.com/Twitter: @adammestyan Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Carl Robichaud about past and present nuclear risks. They discuss why nuclear weapons are still relevant, creation of the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer, and attempts at regulation after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They discuss Bay of pigs, SALT I & II, START I & II, and the nuclear arms race during the Cold War. They talk about the nine countries that currently have nuclear weapons, nuclear taboo, India-Pakistan tensions with nuclear weapons, Iran deal during the Obama administration, and nuclear energy. They also discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel and their nuclear weapons, China’s nuclear program, nuclear testing, and hypersonic missiles. They talk about the process of launching a nuclear weapon, Ai and nuclear weapons, a future with no nuclear weapons, and many more topic.Carl Robichaud co-leads Longview Philanthropy’s programme on nuclear weapons policy, and co-manages Longview’s Nuclear Weapons Policy Fund. He holds an MPA in public policy and international affairs from Princeton University. Carl previously worked with The Century Foundation and the Global Security Institute, where his extensive research spanned arms control, international security policy, and nonproliferation. He is also on the Council for Foreign Relations. Website: https://www.longview.org/Twitter: @carlrobichaud Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Peter Sarris about the Roman emperor, Justinian. They give an overview of Justinian, provide the context of the Roman Empire, discuss the rise of Justin and him adopting Justinian and Justinian’s succession. They talk about the lessons Justinian learned from Justin’s reign, urgency and energy early in Justinian’s reign and his emphasis on religious law. They discuss the importance of Armenia, zealous nature of Justinian with his religious laws, the Hagia Sofia and other religious sites, military campaigns, and the impact of his religious laws. They talk about the relationship dynamics with his wife, how he handled pandemics and disease, the legacy of Justinian, and many other topics.Peter Sarris is Professor of Late Antique, Medieval, and Byzantine studies and Fellow of Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. He has been Visiting Fellow at Rice University and Dumbarton Oaks Research Library, Washington, DC (Harvard University). His research has focused on the social, economic and legal history of Late Antiquity, the Early Middle Ages and Byzantium, with a particular focus on the political economy of the East Roman Empire from the fourth to sixth centuries. He is the author of many publications, including the most recent book, Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint. Twitter: @peter_sarris Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe