The Socratic Sessions

✍️ Substack : If you'd rather read than listen, you can do so over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! 🔍  Overview:  Does Christianity reveal a knowable deity, or is it merely a powerful story? 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👀 Previous Videos Essays: YouTube ⁠Playlist⁠ 🌐 Connect ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠...

🔍  Overview : In this episode of The Socratic Sessions , Samuel Devis speaks with Dale C. Allison Jr. about his book The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus . Together, they explore how memory, legend, oral tradition, and theology shaped the Gospels, and why the historical quest for Jesus may reveal more about us than it does about him. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

🔍  Overview : Dale C. Allison Jr. argues that Jesus took his end-times beliefs literally. We explore how ancient views placed heaven above and hell below—and how early science pushed these ideas out of the physical world. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where pos...

🔍  Overview : Dale C. Allison Jr. casts doubt on efforts to extract a “pure” historical Jesus from the Gospels. Instead of hard facts, he argues we should treat them as memory-shaped impressions—inseparable from interpretation and legend. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliat...

🔍  Overview : Dale C. Allison Jr. explains why scholars keep producing conflicting portraits of Jesus. With contradictory Gospel accounts and diverse reactions during his lifetime, Jesus was never just one thing to all people. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where poss...

🔍  Overview : In this episode of The Socratic Sessions , Samuel Devis speaks with sociologist Phil Zuckerman about the myths surrounding secularism. Drawing from his book Society Without God , Zuckerman explores how godless societies function—often outperforming religious ones in measures of health, happiness, and social wellbeing. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pa...

🔍  Overview : Phil Zuckerman explores how most people—outside of philosophy departments—don’t struggle to find meaning without religion. Meaning, he argues, is something we create. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!) ⁠⁠Society without God⁠⁠ (Secon...

🔍  Overview : Phil Zuckerman critiques the idea of a Christian resurgence, showing how long-term data contradicts the hype around a so-called religious revival in the West. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!) ⁠⁠Society without God⁠⁠ (Second Editio...

🔍  Overview : Phil Zuckerman challenges the claim that secular values are just borrowed Christian ones, arguing that human morality evolves from humanity itself—not religion. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!) ⁠Society without God⁠ (Second Edition) by...

🔍  Overview : In this episode of The Socratic Sessions , Samuel Devis speaks with Don Watkins, author of Effective Egoism , about Objectivism, Ayn Rand’s ethics, and the moral case for rational self-interest. Don explains how Rand’s philosophy challenges conventional morality and redefines happiness as a life built on values, reason, and purpose. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

🔍  Overview : In this clip, Don Watkins explains why Christianity’s concept of unconditional love is unrealistic and immoral, and how Ayn Rand’s egoism offers a more authentic and selfish view of love. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!) ⁠Effective Egoism⁠ by...

🔍  Overview : Don Watkins and Samuel discuss how Objectivism redefines happiness as a life of consistent, non-contradictory joy, challenging the shallow portrayals of happiness we often see on social media. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!) ⁠⁠Effectiv...

🔍  Overview : In this clip, Don Watkins and Samuel discuss why intellectuals like Sam Harris often dismiss Ayn Rand and how her philosophy challenges modern ideas. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!) ⁠⁠Effective Egoism⁠⁠ by Don Watkins ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Twi...

🔍  Overview : Are progressive myths shaping belief more than truth? In this conversation, Michael Huemer and Samuel examine their impact on ideology, groupthink, and polarization—along with the role of academia, media, and institutional trust in modern discourse. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗣️ Highlights [Highlight 1]: Are ‘pr...

🔍  Overview : Has progressivism lost sight of real injustices? Michael Huemer and Samuel argue that progressive discourse often replaces tangible systemic issues with abstract meta-issues—stalling progress for many while benefiting only a few. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👀 Previous Conversations w/ Michael Huemer...

✍️ Substack : If you'd rather read than listen, you can do so over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! 🔍  Overview:  Does determinism leave room for real choice? In this episode, we explore the phenomenology of decision-making, the Principle of Alternative Possibilities, and whether randomness offers a genuine escape from causal closure. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

🔍  Overview : Who can we trust in an era of institutional distrust? Michael Huemer and Samuel examine the public’s scepticism of academia, media, and government—exploring how individuals can navigate truth in an age of politicised information. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👀 Previous Conversations w/ Michael Huemer...

🔍  Overview : Does progressivism function like a religion? Michael Huemer and Samuel explore its moral codes, community, and creeds—alongside John McWhorter’s claim that wokeism is a religion. They also discuss the rise of conservative Christianity as a reaction. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👀 Previous Conversations w/ M...

🔍  Overview : In semi-secular societies, people are engaging with religious traditions through practice rather than belief. In this conversation, Carl-Johan Palmqvist and Samuel explore religious fictionalism and non-doxasticism—examining how faith can function without firm conviction. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitco...

🔍  Overview : Can you entertain religious ideas without believing them? Carl-Johan Palmqvist and Samuel discuss non-doxasticism—the practice of engaging with faith while staying rooted in naturalism. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - th...

🔍  Overview : Does practising a religion long enough blur the line between fiction and faith? Carl-Johan Palmqvist and Samuel explore whether extended immersion in rituals can shift atheists toward belief. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where possibl...

🔍  Overview : Can you follow a religion without believing it? Carl-Johan Palmqvist and Samuel explore how religious fictionalists immerse in faith like role-players in a game—following rituals, obeying doctrines, and playing the part. But when does the role become real? 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

🔍  Overview : David Alnwick and Samuel explore the philosophy behind magic, ritual, and illusion, revealing how authenticity, psychology, and mysticism shape the magical experience. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗣️ Highlights [Highlight 1]: How does authenticity shape the magic experience? [Highlight 2]:...

🔍  Overview : Magic has long been tied to the forbidden—the occult, paganism, and even outright evil. Samuel and David Alnwick dive into the cultural baggage of ‘dark magic’ and whether its practitioners are truly serious or just playing their roles to the fullest. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

🔍  Overview : What happens when the audience fights back? David Alnwick shares his strategies for commanding the stage, shutting down hecklers, and keeping control when things go off the rails. 🤝  Support The Show 🤘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Locals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bitcoin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚  Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!) ⁠⁠Web...