Exploring Jewish Neoplatonism: The Life and Philosophy of Solomon Ibn Gabirol
Dr. John Vervaeke
Watch the first episode of our new season of Lectern Dialogues! This season’s guest is Zevi Slavin. Zevi Slavin is a philosopher, educator, and public scholar whose work explores the intersections of mysticism and philosophy across traditions. As the creator of Seekers of Unity, he is dedicated to reviving and reinterpreting the voices of philosophical mystics, with a focus on Jewish thought and its dialogue with Greek and Islamic philosophy. A leading voice in the study of Jewish Neoplatonism, Slavin highlights figures such as Solomon Ibn Gabirol, whose integration of poetry, metaphysics,...
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Why Reason Needs Spirit | John Vervaeke
Dr. John Vervaeke
Thank you for joining us for this in-depth solo lecture from Dr. John Vervaeke, where he continues his exploration of cognition, meaning, and spirit from the perspective of relevance realization and predictive processing. In this talk, John takes us on a journey through the architecture of the mind, explaining how voluntary necessity, scientific idealization, and porous participation form the basis of how we understand ourselves and the world. He unpacks the imaginal dimension of cognition, the deep entanglement of anticipation and rationality, and how the fellowship of the spirit provides an...
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Navigating the Trust Apocalypse: Examining Collective Agency and Distributed Cognitio
Dr. John Vervaeke
How do we rebuild trust and meaning in a world where certainty and connection are breaking down? In this episode of The Lectern, John welcomes Kieran McCammon and Jordan Hall to discuss the 'trust apocalypse' and its intersection with the meaning crisis. They delve into the vicious cycle between the loss of trust and the fragmentation of communities, exploring how these issues reverberate through society. Kieran introduces his work on the Trust Foundation, which aims to address these challenges by leveraging collective agency, distributed cognition, and extended distributed labor. John...
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Silk Road Seminar - Bishop Maximus
Dr. John Vervaeke
Bishop Maximus is a theologian, scholar, and Orthodox bishop whose work bridges ancient Christian thought with contemporary philosophical inquiry. A leading voice in the revival of patristic epistemology, he focuses on the integration of faith and reason through figures such as Clement of Alexandria. His research explores how early Christian thinkers synthesized Greek philosophy with theological doctrine, offering compelling alternatives to modern skepticism. Bishop Maximus is a key contributor to the Philosophical Silk Road project, advocating for the transformative power of faith as both...
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The Philosophical Silk Road: A Journey to Rediscovering Theosis and Sacred Pluralism
Dr. John Vervaeke
The Calling to Reorient the Self How can the sacred be recovered in a world fractured by autonomy and fragmentation? In this deeply personal episode of Kainos on The Lectern, recorded during a session hosted by Alexander Beiner on Kainos, John Vervaeke shares reflections from his recent pilgrimage across Europe—what he calls the Philosophical Silk Road. Weaving through sacred conversations and historic locations, he explores profound ideas like theosis, theoria, and voluntary necessity, inviting listeners into a lived philosophy of sacred participation. From Istanbul to Rome to Amsterdam,...
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Agency, Communion, and the Dialogical Self
Dr. John Vervaeke
"To what extent is authenticity a solitary alignment with the inner self, versus a relational and dialogical process shaped through communion with others?" John Vervaeke, Gregg Henriques and Matthew Schaublin come together for a discussion covering the concept of authenticity. Matthew Schaublin presents findings from two studies, one of which employs a mixed-methods design to examine the interplay between authenticity, agency, and self-transformation through both narrative analysis and psychometric assessment. The findings reveal that authentic experiences are often marked not by internal...
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The Crisis of Being
Dr. John Vervaeke
The Crisis of Being James Filler is a philosopher, theologian, and leading voice in metaphysics and post-Cartesian thought, specializing in substance ontology, the meaning crisis, and relational models of reason. With a PhD in philosophy and expertise in ancient and contemporary ontology, Filler is the author of Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being Relation as Ontological Ground and Substance Ontology and the Crisis of Reason. His work traces the genealogical roots of modern nihilism and skepticism while advancing a powerful case for relationality, participation, and...
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Embarking on the Philosophical Silk Road: Exploring Pilgrimage and Theosis
Dr. John Vervaeke
This conversation marks the beginning of a deeper inquiry for Dr. John Vervaeke: What if pilgrimage is not a retreat from the world, but a return to what is most real? Joined by Ethan Hsieh, John explicates his intent to preregister his intellectual and philosophical orientation before beginning his metaphorical pilgrimage. Drawing on parallels with psychology's preregistration practice, John's aim is to document his internal state at various stages of his journey. The conversation delves deep into the concepts of theoria, theophany, and theosis, advocating for a pilgrimage that is not...
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The Return of the Sacred: Mysticism, Tradition, and the Challenge of Modernity
Dr. John Vervaeke
Ritual, Wisdom, and What’s Lost Sebastian Morello was trained in philosophy by Sir Roger Scruton and Andrew Pinsent. He is a lecturer, columnist, and popular public speaker in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. Morello has previously co-authored books on subjects of philosophy and education. He lives in Bedfordshire, England, with his wife and children. Each quarter, John engages in thought-provoking extended conversations with a leading expert in psychology, philosophy, and spirituality. Each season offers a unique exploration, bringing together their diverse fields of...
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What AI Can Never Be | John Vervaeke
Dr. John Vervaeke
Can artificial intelligence truly become wise? In this landmark lecture, John Vervaeke explores the future of AI through a lens few dare to examine: the limits of intelligence itself. He unpacks the critical differences between intelligence, rationality, reasonableness, and wisdom—terms often used interchangeably in discussions around AGI. Drawing from decades of research in cognitive science and philosophy, John argues that while large language models like ChatGPT demonstrate forms of generalized intelligence, they fundamentally lack core elements of human cognition: embodiment, caring, and...
info_outlineThank you for joining us for this in-depth solo lecture from Dr. John Vervaeke, where he continues his exploration of cognition, meaning, and spirit from the perspective of relevance realization and predictive processing.
In this talk, John takes us on a journey through the architecture of the mind, explaining how voluntary necessity, scientific idealization, and porous participation form the basis of how we understand ourselves and the world. He unpacks the imaginal dimension of cognition, the deep entanglement of anticipation and rationality, and how the fellowship of the spirit provides an existential framework for collective meaning-making.
Drawing from philosophers like Spinoza, Merleau-Ponty, Charles Taylor, and William Desmond, and cognitive scientists like Carl Friston and Andy Clark, John interweaves modern theory with ancient insight to offer a profound vision of how reason, imagination, and love can coexist.
Shownotes:
00:00 – Introduction and Opening Remarks
01:17 – Welcoming Remarks
02:59 – The Role of Idealization in Science
04:23 – Predictive Processing and Meta Problems
05:59 – Anticipation and Relevance Realization
16:15 – Opponent Processing and Optimal Grip
20:13 – The Imaginal and Rationality
23:03 – Relevance Realization and Enlightenment Rationality
23:31 – The Dichotomies of Modernity
25:31 – Voluntary Necessity Explained
28:39 – The Role of Faith and Spirit
31:41 – The Levels of Human Existence
41:19 – The Power of Community and Shared Meaning
50:44 – Fellowship of the Spirit
1:12:00 – Closing Reflections on Community as Icon of Reality
Referenced Works and Concepts:
Books and Authors:
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"True Enough" – Catherine Elgin
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"Sources of the Self" and "A Secular Age" – Charles Taylor
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"Phenomenology of Perception" – Maurice Merleau-Ponty
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"Ethics" – Spinoza (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3800)
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"The Reasons of Love" – Harry Frankfurt
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"The Construction of Social Reality" – John Searle
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"Being and the Between" – William Desmond
Thinkers and Researchers:
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Carl Friston – Free Energy Principle
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Andy Clark – Predictive Mind
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Eric Hoel – Consciousness and Science
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Michael Levin – Bioelectric Cognition
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Dan Chiappe – Reasoning and Dialogue
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Mark Miller – Relevance Realization
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Anderson Deasy & John Geiger – Sensed Presence
Core Concepts:
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Predictive Processing
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Relevance Realization
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4E Cognition (Embodied, Embedded, Enacted, Extended)
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Voluntary Necessity
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Imaginal Participation
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Opponent Processing
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Internal Family Systems (IFS)
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Narrative Selfhood
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Fellowship of the Spirit
Related Series and Resources:
Awakening from the Meaning Crisis:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8VujfYQ-00pT-6pTOm4q-rz1c
Philosophical Silk Road:
https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke
Explore Further:
The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world.
Learn more: https://vervaekefoundation.org/
To engage in regular practices informed and endorsed by John, visit Awaken to Meaning:
https://awakentomeaning.com/join-practice/
Follow John Vervaeke:
Website: https://johnvervaeke.com/
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke
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