Dr. John Vervaeke

Dr. John Vervaeke and Carla Groom discuss the use of cognitive science in government decision-making and problem-solving. Topics include mental models, the dynamics of decision-making, 'we agency' philosophy, and the application of cognitive science in NASA's operations. This episode offers valuable insights for those interested in cognitive science, governance, and human behavior.

Psychiatrist Peter Czaplinski joins John Vervaeke in a thought-provoking discussion on the ethics of psychiatric care, the role of spirituality in mental health treatment, and the challenges of long-term therapy. They explore patient stories that illustrate the highs and lows of psychiatric practice, prompting listeners to reevaluate their understanding of the therapeutic relationship and ethical considerations in mental healthcare.

Alexander Beiner, a leading voice in the world of psychedelics, discusses the dangers and potentials of mixing politics with psychedelics, the mechanics of mystical experiences, and the modern meaning crisis. They also explore the risks and rewards of commodifying psychedelic experiences and delve into studies on altered states and the possibility of a collective conscious awakening.

Rafe Kelley, visionary movement coach, engages in a nuanced discussion with Dr. John Vervaeke. They explore topics such as the philosophy of human movement, sensory-motor learning, and the connection between cognition and emotion. Kelley advocates for a holistic approach to physical training, emphasizing the mind-body connection and ethical development. They discuss the crisis in the experience of meaning, the concept of regression in service of transcendence, and the importance of movement in understanding the world. They also delve into the concept of sensory motor, the view from above, and the connection between the Promethean spirit and technology.

Dr. John Vervaeke, Gregg Henriques, and Jordan Hall discuss human language, spirituality, and AI. Topics include predictive processing, transcendent naturalism, language transformation, and the implications of large language models. They explore the meta-crisis, the essence of digital media, and the theological underpinnings of future technology. This conversation offers insights into the complexities of reality and the bridging of science and spirituality.

Dr. Vervaeke and Joe Alto delve into philosophy, psychology, virtue, and spirituality, offering insights on the meaning crisis. They discuss integrating philosophy into psychology and the importance of cultivating virtues. Joe shares thoughts on guiding others spiritually. The episode explores the fusion of CBT and existential therapy, emphasizing mindfulness. They also touch on virtue experiments, wisdom, authenticity, virtual communication, and spiritual connections in relationships.

Topics explored in this podcast episode include self-organizing criticality, philosophy of order and chaos, the role of modern myths, consciousness in collective intelligence, tension between individual experience and societal norms, relevance realization and consciousness development, distinguishing between descriptive and prescriptive arguments in mythology, consciousness and the hero-adversary dichotomy, integration of relevance realization and stability/plasticity, interplay between order and chaos, evolution of avolvability and natural reward, exploring collective insight and sparking collective intelligence.

Dr. John Vervaeke and Brendan Graham Dempsey navigate the intricacies of meaning, spirituality, and the human experience. They touch on Neoplatonism and Zen, delve into Brendan's work on meaning, discuss the influence of historical figures like Plotinus and Dante, and explore the synthesis between science and ancient wisdom. They also explore contemplation and insight, the symbolic meaning of the human face, and the interconnectedness of self-consciousness and relationships.

In Episode 9 of the Transcendent Naturalism series, Dr. John Vervaeke, Gregg Henriques, and guest Brett Andersen delve into the intricate relationship between complexity, criticality, and consciousness. The episode explores the concept of self-organized criticality and its role as a linchpin in understanding a variety of scientific topics. Andersen introduces his work on the diametric model of autism and psychosis, and the trio discusses the growing consensus around criticality as a framework for understanding brain function. The episode also touches on the psychology of meaning, the nature of sacredness, and the transformative power of psychedelics. This intellectual journey culminates in a discussion about the role of individual and collective consciousness in shaping society. Whether you're interested in the cutting-edge theories of cognitive science or the philosophical implications of modern neuroscience, this episode offers a comprehensive look at how these ideas are shaping our understanding of the world. Brett Andersen, a Ph.D. student in Evolutionary Psychology at the University of New Mexico, is a compelling voice at the intersection of cognitive science, complexity science, and the philosophical underpinnings of morality and religion. With a penchant for delving into controversial topics, Brett crafts thought-provoking essays on Substack and produces insightful YouTube videos. He's also in the process of writing a book, slated for a free PDF release, that encapsulates seven years of rigorous research across scientific and philosophical literature. Resources: Brett Andersen: Substack | YouTube | X Gregg Henriques: Website | Facebook | X Books: Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief - Dr. Jordan Peterson How Nature Works: the science of self-organized criticality - Per Bak The Life of the Cosmos - Lee Smolin The Cortex and the Critical Point: Understanding the Power of Emergence - John M. Beggs The Structure of Scientific Revolutions - Thomas S. Kuhn The Romance of Reality: How the Universe Organizes Itself to Create Life, Consciousness, and Cosmic Complexity - Bobby Azarian The Voyage of the Beagle - Charles Darwin Publications: Predictive processing and relevance realization: exploring convergent solutions to the frame problem - Brett P. Andersen, Mark Miller & John Vervaeke Relevance, Meaning and the Cognitive Science of Wisdom - John Vervaeke and Leonardo Ferraro Flow as spontaneous thought: Insight and implicit learning - John Vervaeke, Leonardo Ferraro, and Arianne Herrera-Bennett The self-organization of cognitive structure. - Stephen and Dixon The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs - Robin L. Carhart-Harris et al. Gaining Insight Into the ''Aha'' Experience - Sascha Topolinski and Rolf Reber The Experience of Presence in the Mars Exploration Rover Mission - Dan Chiappe, John Vervaeke Distributed Cognition and the Experience of Presence in the Mars Exploration Rover Mission - Dan Chiappe, John Vervaeke The Enactment of Shared Agency in Teams Exploring Mars Through Rovers - Dan Chiappe, John Vervaeke Perception and self-organized instability - Karl J Friston, Michael Breakspear, and Gustavo Deco Psychological Entropy: A Framework for Understanding Uncertainty-Related Anxiety - Jacob B Hirsh, Raymond A Mar, and Jordan B Peterson Video: Intimations of a New Worldview, Part 7.1: The Evolutionary Psychology of Meaning - Brett Andersen MIsc. The REBUS Model People: Per Bak Brendan Graham Dempsey Bobby Azarian Jean Piaget Ann Taves Elkhonon Goldberg Terence McKenna Jonathan Pageau Émile Durkheim Ludwig Wittgenstein J. A. Scott Kelso David Wolpert and William Macready ("no free lunch" theorem) Samantha Heintzelman Time Codes: 00:00:20 — Dr. John Vervaeke opens the discussion, welcoming co-host Gregg Henriques and guest Brett Andersen. 00:00:48 — Gregg Henriques provides a recap of previous episodes. He highlights Brendan Graham Dempsey's vision on the emergence and meaning of meaning. 00:02:09 — Brett Andersen introduces himself and his work. He discusses his YouTube series 'Intimations of a New Worldview' and the diametric model of autism and psychosis. 00:03:46 — Andersen introduces the concept of self-organized criticality. He explains its significance in understanding scientific topics and their relationship to transcendent naturalism. 00:05:40 — Per Bak's work is discussed. Andersen elaborates on the phenomena of complexity in nature and the concept of self-organized criticality. 00:07:40 — The conversation turns to how complexity emerges at the border between order and chaos. Andersen explains why this concept is pivotal in various scientific disciplines. 00:09:20 — Dr. Vervaeke introduces the concept of relevance realization and maps it onto self-organizing criticality. 00:13:00 — The growing consensus around criticality as a framework for understanding brain function is discussed. Dr. Vervaeke highlights its increasing acceptance in neuroscience. 00:16:20 — Gregg Henriques introduces the concept of behavioral investment theory and aligns it with the criticality framework. 00:18:20 — Brett Andersen discusses the epistemological implications of criticality. He relates it to the functioning of the brain's two hemispheres. 00:21:41 — Henriques introduces the concept of the microscopic and macroscopic fractal of criticality. He suggests it can be observed in everyday situations. 00:25:50 — Andersen gives insights into the complexity of human existence and its sense of sacredness. He argues that humans not only manifest this complexity but also participate in it. 00:27:40 — Dr. Vervaeke argues about our ontological significance. He suggests that in terms of the universe's capacity to produce properties, we are apex and ontologically privileged. 00:32:23 — The concept of nested language is introduced. Andersen and Vervaeke discuss its implications for understanding hierarchies and change. 00:41:00 — Andersen explores the clash that occurs when an anomaly disrupts a tradition. He discusses the tension between adherents of the tradition and those who perceive the anomaly. 00:50:36 — Dr. Vervaeke talks about the ability of collective intelligence to detect hyperobjects. He suggests that these are too complex for any individual to understand. 01:00:29 — Dr. Vervaeke introduces the concept that intelligibility is almost like a living entity. He links this to the inexhaustible nature of the complexifying world. 01:02:55 — The conversation turns to the concept of affordance coupling. Dr. Vervaeke argues that internal peace is not just about the inner state but also about being in contact with reality. 01:08:36 — Dr. Vervaeke elaborates on how psychedelics can induce transformative processes. He suggests that experiences like flow states are insights into having an optimal grip on the world. 01:09:20 — Dr. Vervaeke expresses his interest in discussing the Trinitarian model in their next discussion. Gregg Henriques appreciates the concept of criticality and its implications on our ontology and cognitive grip. He expresses his interest in discussing the worldview implications.

Dr. John Vervaeke reunites with guest Damien Walter in an engaging second episode to unpack the fascinating theory of Star Trek as a potent contemporary mythos. They dissect storytelling as a "psycho-technology" that mirrors human cognition and immerses us in collective human experiences. The episode focuses on how Star Trek bridges the gap between traditional, modern, and postmodern narratives, with discussions on metamodernism and its relevance in narrative reconstruction. Vervaeke and Walter delve into Plato's influence on narrative crafting, modern myth-making, and the cultivation of new ways to access the sacred. Walter elucidates the unique structure of Star Trek, explaining its appeal to society's conservative aspects and its subversion of the military-industrial complex. Vervaeke aligns Star Trek's philosophy with the Enlightenment's mythos, further establishing its significance in our modern narrative. Timecodes: [00:00:00] Dr. John Vervaeke introduces Damien Walter, setting the stage for an exploration of Star Trek as a contemporary mythos. [00:01:03] Damien Walter shares his video essay, inspiring the conversation around the postmodern deconstruction of Star Trek. [00:03:16] Walter discusses how storytelling enables persona creation, marking a critical moment in understanding narrative impact. [00:07:00] Vervaeke probes the authority of metanarratives, challenging postmodernism's stance, and introduces metamodernism, hinting at a new stage of societal narratives. [00:11:07] Walter addresses our need to integrate different stages of civilization and personas into our narratives. [00:13:06] Emphasis on the need to appreciate past narratives while fostering narrative evolution. [00:18:15] Highlighting societal desire for dismissed narratives, using "Top Gun Maverick" and "Lord of the Rings" as examples. [00:20:35] Vervaeke discusses liminal spaces, focusing on the reinvention of narratives. [00:25:24] Walter delves into Plato's influence on myth-making and his innovative approach to philosophy through dialogues. [00:30:38] Vervaeke explores the philosophical ideas of Heraclitus and Parmenides and their interplay in Plato's thinking, then the conversation shifts towards the cultivation of myths, discussing the organic growth of narratives. [00:35:44] Walter presents Gene Roddenberry as a modern myth-maker, transitioning to Star Trek's narrative analysis. [00:39:05] Comparing the idealized order in Star Trek's Enterprise to Plato's Republic. [00:43:01] Vervaeke commends Damien Walter's thesis, aligning Star Trek's philosophy with the Enlightenment's mythos, dissecting Star Trek's ability to cater to conservative aspects of society while still providing a platform for progress. [00:47:14] Walter discusses Star Trek's critique and subversion of the military-industrial complex, demonstrating its dual appeal. [00:50:15] Vervaeke builds upon Walter's point, illuminating the series' progressive elements rooted in the Enlightenment's mythos. [00:52:47] Walter and Vervaeke delve into the idea of Star Trek's Federation as a utopian vision, a 'sacred' space for exploring societal issues. [00:57:00] The episode concludes with reflections on how Star Trek, as a modern mythos, offers a new perspective for understanding our society and its future. Resources: Voices with Vervaeke: Part 1: Science Fiction & Philosophy: Star Trek's Deep Commentary with Damien Walter | The Transformational Impact of Story Telling with Shawn Coyne Why Do Movies Feel So Different Now? Culture Series by Iain M. Banks