The Orthodox Vision of Beauty with Timothy Patitasas
Anagoge Podcast
Timothy Patitsas argues that Western ethics has the order of the transcendentals backwards. Truth and goodness come first in most traditions. But Patitsas, drawing from Greek Orthodox theology, argues that beauty must come first. Not beauty as aesthetics, but beauty as the force that draws you toward God, toward wholeness, and toward a life worth living. In this conversation, we work through what that actually means: how liturgy functions as a structuring force analogous to high-reliability organizations like aircraft carriers, why asceticism follows naturally from eros rather than opposing...
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The Timaeus, Beauty and Tradition with Piero Boitani
Anagoge Podcast
How much of what you read are you actually missing? In this in person conversation recorded in Rome (full video on YouTube), comparative literature scholar Piero Boitani makes the case that most of us are functionally illiterate when it comes to the Western canon, not because we lack access to the texts, but because we lack the layered knowledge required to read them. He demonstrates this with a single word in Tolstoy that links The Death of Ivan Ilyich to Christ's crucifixion through Tolstoy's own Gospel translation, a connection invisible without Russian, Greek, and biblical literacy working...
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The Science & Spirituality of Psychedelics with Michiel van Elk
Anagoge Podcast
This is a in-person recorded podcast. The video is available on YouTube. Michiel van Elk is an Associate Professor of Cognitive Psychology at Leiden University and head of the PRiSM Lab, where he studies the cognitive neuroscience of religion and psychedelic experiences. In this episode, we take a sober look at the current state of psychedelic science, moving beyond the cultural evangelism and media hype. Michiel critiques the biomedical model of psychedelic therapy, discusses the disappointing effect sizes in recent clinical trials, and highlights methodological issues like "breaking blind"...
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Platonism, Mysticism & Mysteries with Arthur Versluis
Anagoge Podcast
Arthur Versluis is the author of Platonic Mysticism: Contemplative Science, Philosophy, Literature, and Art and a Professor of Religious Studies at Michigan State University. His work bridges the gap between rigorous scholarship and the experiential reality of spiritual traditions. We examine the transformative power of art and its ability to mediate between the material and the transcendent. Versluis highlights the Hudson River School and the concept of "Luminism," explaining how the visual representation of light in nature mirrors the internal experience of mystical illumination....
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Object-Oriented Ontology & the Nature of Reality with Graham Harman
Anagoge Podcast
This conversation explores the depths of Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO) and its radical departure from both analytic and continental philosophy traditions. Graham Harman explains the limitations of "literalism" in science and how great philosophy relies on intuition and rhetoric rather than just rational justification. We discuss the influence of Martin Heidegger’s tool analysis and the difference between "real" and "sensual" objects. We also cover the role of architecture in philosophy and why art may be the only way to touch the reality of things. 00:00 - Introduction to...
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The Self, Consciousness & Relationality with James Cooke
Anagoge Podcast
This was the first real-life episode of the Anagoge Podcast, recorded in Portugal. The video of the conversation is available on YouTube. James Cooke is a neuroscientist, writer, and contemplative practitioner whose work bridges neuroscience, philosophy, and spirituality. In his recent book The Dawn of Mind, he proposes a bold reframing of consciousness—placing it not in the brain alone, but within the deeper relational dynamics of life itself. In this episode, we explore James’ formative mystical experience as a teenager and how it set him on a lifelong journey to understand...
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Kierkegaard's Life & The Leap Of Faith (Alexander Jech)
Anagoge Podcast
Alexander Jech is the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Philosophy Department and a Faculty Affiliate at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at the University of Notre Dame. His work often explores political philosophy, ethics, and the limits of language. In 2024, he published a new translation of Søren Kierkegaard's influential work, Fear and Trembling. We explore Alexander's fascinating and serendipitous journey into studying Kierkegaard, which began somewhat reluctantly but blossomed into his main philosophical passion. We dive deep into the inseparable link between...
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J.P. Marceau: Love, Metaphysics & Miracles
Anagoge Podcast
Jean-Philippe Marceau is a writer and podcaster associated with The Symbolic World, often working with Jonathan Pageau. With an academic background in mathematics, theoretical computer science, and philosophy of mind, his new book addresses the contemporary "meaning crisis" through the lens of Christian metaphysics. In this episode, we explore the core arguments of JP's book, "Post-Reductionist Christianity." They explore the limitations of reductive materialism, the importance of synthesizing insights from thinkers like Jonathan Pageau and John Vervaeke, and the structure of a...
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John Cottingham – The Return of the Sacred
Anagoge Podcast
John Cottingham is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Reading and an Honorary Fellow of St John's College, Oxford. Renowned for his work on Descartes, moral philosophy, and the philosophy of religion, he has authored over thirty books, including The Spiritual Dimension, Why Believe?, and Philosophy of Religion: Towards a More Humane Approach. His scholarship bridges analytic rigor with a deep concern for the emotional and spiritual dimensions of human life. His latest book is In Search of the Soul: A Philosophical Essay:...
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Music and the Human Experience
Anagoge Podcast
You can find the video recording with the slides at Anagoge's Podcast Youtube Channel. Delivered at Kitarika 2024. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:31 - Defining Reality 00:07:04 - Foundations of Cognition 00:12:30 - Affordances and Optimal Grip 00:14:26 - 4E Cognitive Science 00:21:46 - Transcendence, Music & Stories 00:28:58 - Music and the Sacred 00:36:03 - Dualities 00:41:30 - Enlightenment 00:45:00 - Practical Wisdom 00:47:00 - Hemispheric Differences 00:50:00 - Cognitive Science of Insight 00:52:00 - Cognitive Continuum 00:53:50 - Psychedelics 00:59:00 - Connectome Harmonics 01:02:00 -...
info_outlineAlexander Jech is the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Philosophy Department and a Faculty Affiliate at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at the University of Notre Dame. His work often explores political philosophy, ethics, and the limits of language. In 2024, he published a new translation of Søren Kierkegaard's influential work, Fear and Trembling.
We explore Alexander's fascinating and serendipitous journey into studying Kierkegaard, which began somewhat reluctantly but blossomed into his main philosophical passion. We dive deep into the inseparable link between Kierkegaard's tumultuous personal life—marked by his complex relationship with his father and his famously broken engagement to Regina Olsen—and the development of his core philosophical ideas.
Alexander unpacks the intricate concept of indirect communication and the use of pseudonyms in works like "Either/Or". A significant portion of our conversation is dedicated to "Fear and Trembling," where we discuss the paradox of Abraham and Isaac, the nuances of translating the text, and the profound concept of the teleological suspension of the ethical, clarifying common misinterpretations along the way.
Finally, we connect Kierkegaard's thought to the modern day, exploring the "leap of faith" as a model for identity transformation. We discuss how this applies to overcoming addiction, the role of transformative or mystical experiences in creating new possibilities for the self, and the mysterious power of love and the sacred in grounding this leap.
0:00 - Introduction & Alexander's Background
3:26 - What Drew Alexander to Kierkegaard?
6:24 - The Serendipitous Path to Becoming a Kierkegaard Scholar
10:07 - Kierkegaard's Relevance for Students
10:38 - Teaching Kierkegaard & The Human Heart
15:20 - How Student Needs Led to a New "Fear and Trembling" Translation
18:12 - Kierkegaard's Historical & Philosophical Context (vs. Hegel & Romantics)
25:54 - The Link Between Kierkegaard's Personal Suffering & His Philosophy
28:05 - Factor 1: The Relationship with His Father
33:03 - Factor 2: The Relationship with Regina Olsen
38:31 - Factor 3: The Art of Indirect Communication
43:26 - How "Either/Or" Was a Tool to Repel Regina
48:14 - The Leap of Faith: Kierkegaard's Personal Failure with Regina
53:28 - Unpacking "Fear and Trembling": The Story of Abraham
58:02 - The Teleological Suspension of the Ethical
1:00:38 - The Correct Interpretation: Kierkegaard's Lack of Faith
1:05:22 - The Paradox of the Teleological Suspension of the Ethical
1:10:06 - Translating the Paradox: The Importance of "Intend" vs. "Want"
1:22:22 - Is Faith a Rejection of Practical Reason?
1:38:00 - The Role of the Revolutionary: Justifying Horrible Acts for a Greater Good?
1:47:17 - Applying Kierkegaard: The Leap, Identity & Transformative Experience
1:58:28 - The Sacred, Possibility, and Bridging the Gap
2:05:28 - Kierkegaard's Answer to the Addict: How to Make the Leap?
2:16:47 - Conclusion
This podcast is available in article format: https://tiagovf.medium.com/the-life-of-kierkegaards-life-the-leap-of-faith-41df3231981f
My new book, In Search of the Infinite – A Psychedelic Memoir, is a personal and philosophical account written over seven years, tracing my journey through over a dozen psychedelic experiences. It explores the depths of human experience: suffering, beauty, doubt, and wonder, through the lens of altered states and introspection, gradually moving from a strictly rational worldview toward a renewed engagement with religion. Blending memoir with philosophical reflection, it explores a sincere, evolving search for truth and meaning.
Paperback/Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/8MM0JhE
Free Digital Version: https://psychedelicmemoir.com/
If you would like to connect with me on Instagram, you can do so at @tiagobooks: https://www.instagram.com/tiagobooks/
The intro song is by Lief Sjostrom, titled Peril, from the album 'Impossible Parade'.
Website: https://liefsjostrom.com/
Album: https://liefsjostrom.bandcamp.com/album/impossible-parade