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 -...
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The Neuroscience of Emotions - Joseph LeDoux
Anagoge Podcast
In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Joseph LeDoux, a world-renowned neuroscientist whose research primarily focuses on survival circuits and their impacts on emotions such as fear and anxiety. Dr. LeDoux is the Henry and Lucy Moses Professor of Science at New York University, and director of the Emotional Brain Institute. He has made significant contributions to our understanding of the amygdala and its role in processing threats, elucidating the relationship between physiological responses, cognitive interpretations, and the conscious experience of emotions. Our...
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Learning & Teaching Philosophy - Gregory Sadler [Anagoge Podcast]
Anagoge Podcast
Long time no see! I hope to make the podcast more active this year. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Gregory Sadler, likely the most influential philosophy educator to exist. Sadler earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Southern Illinois University. He is the Founder of ReasonIO, a consulting company providing philosophy content, training, and consulting services. He has reached impressive popularity on YouTube, and his channel has over 130.000 subscribers and 13 million views. He has helped me digest challenging thinkers with fantastic lectures explaining the main concepts...
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Phenomenology, 4E Cog-Sci & Awe (Shaun Gallagher)
Anagoge Podcast
Anagoge Podcast is now over 1 year old! Thank you everyone for listening. Shaun Gallagher is the Lillian and Morrie Moss Professor of Excellence in Philosophy at the University of Memphis. He is a founding editor and continues as a co-editor-in-chief of Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, an interdisciplinary journal published by Springer. In this episode, we talk about Shaun's background, the nature of phenomenology and cognitive science, the role of embodiment and action, and Shaun's research about the overview effect; the awe astronauts feel during spaceflight when seeing Earth....
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Gregg Henriques - Revolutionizing Psychology
Anagoge Podcast
In this episode, I talk with Gregg Henriques about the problem of psychology and the solution he has been working on for 20 years. We covered the bulk of his theory in the first half of the episode, and in the second half, we do a deep dive into cognitive behavioral therapy, including Gregg's experience with it and some controversies in one of the major studies published about CBT. Gregg Henriques is a Full Professor and a core faculty member in James Madison University's Combined-Integrated Clinical and School Psychology Doctoral Program. He teaches courses on integrative/unified...
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Michael Strevans - Foundations & Absurdities of Science
Anagoge Podcast
Michael Strevens teaches philosophy of science at New York University. His work revolves around the nature of science, covering topics such as scientific explanation, complex systems, and probability. In his book "The Knowledge Machine" he explains why science is so successful at creating knowledge and why it took so long for humans to come up with it. In this episode, we talk about the origins of science, philosophy of science, the contributions and flaws of Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn, what makes science special and some odd contradictions at the core of scientific thinking. Get Michael's...
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Nathan Dufour - Music, Ancient Greece and Whitehead
Anagoge Podcast
Nathan Dufour is a writer, musician, video artist and activist. He produces music videos on YouTube about philosophical ideas and teaches Latin language and Greek Civilization at City College of New York. He received a PhD in Classics from CUNY's Graduate Center. In the first half, we talk about the relationship between music and philosophy, the performative aspect of art, philosophy's origins and how it connects to music, classics, and western civilization. In the second half, we cover Plato and Whitehead, which was Nathan's PhD thesis. We discuss Whitehead's process philosophy, how it...
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