Dr. John Vervaeke

Dr. John Vervaeke introduces his colleagues from the Vervaeke Foundation and dives deep into the concept of "Awaken to Meaning," an online platform for wisdom cultivation and self-improvement. Guests Ryan Barton, Christopher Mastropietro, and Taylor Barrett share their personal journeys toward wisdom and their roles in the foundation. The team delves into the purpose and offerings of their online...

Dr. John Vervaeke and Gregg Henriques challenge prevailing notions about science, spirituality, and their intricate relationship in this first episode of the new series entitled: Transcendent Naturalism. They embark on a journey through modern worldviews, diving into concepts such as reductionism, the Cartesian divide, and the tension between objective and subjective understanding. This dialogue b...

In this thought-provoking episode of Voices with Vervaeke, host John Vervaeke is joined by Johannes Niederhauser, a philosopher with a focus on Heidegger's philosophy of technology, and Sean McFadden, a physicist and neuroengineer with interests in the philosophy of mathematics, science, and technology. Together, they discuss the possibilities and limitations of artificial intelligence, the nature...

In today's Voices with Vervaeke episode, Dr. Vervaeke is joined by the Executive Director of the Vervaeke Foundation, Ryan Barton. Ryan offers a rigorous and intentional response to John's AI Video Essay (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-_RdKiDbz4) coming from a Christian perspective. Ryan proposes that rather than Christian theology being "unprepared" for the coming kairos, it is possible that t...

Dr. John Vervaeke lays out a multifaceted argument discussing the potential uses, thresholds, and calamities that may occur due to the increase in artificial intelligence systems. While there is a lot of mention of GPT and other chatbots, this argument is meant to be seen as confronting the principles of AI, AGI, and any other forms of Artificial Intelligence.   First, Dr. Vervaeke lays out an ove...

In this episode of the After Socrates podcast, Dr. John Vervaeke, Guy Sengstock, Christopher Mastropietro, and Taylor Barrett delve into the complexities of human relationships, communication, and the transformative power of dialogue. The conversation begins with an exploration of the importance of relationships in human development and the emergence of practices like dialectic, dialogos, and auth...

 This episode of After Socrates explores the transformative experience of examining ideas and beliefs through the practice of dialectic, which is seen as the virtue of tracking the logos, a concept not present in everyday dialogue. The dialogue involves mindfulness and Neoplatonic contemplation, fostering feelings of brotherhood, comfort, expectancy and playful curiosity. Key roles of the scribe a...

Join Dr. John Vervaeke, Christopher Mastropietro, and Guy Sengstock as they delve into the intricacies of the dialectic process in the context of virtue in this episode of After Socrates. Christopher Mastropietro, a cultural theorist and writer, and Guy Sengstock, founder of Circling Europe, both contribute their unique perspectives to the discussion. Together, they explore the work of philosopher...

In this episode of After Socrates, host Dr. John Vervaeke invites his guests, Christopher Mastropietro and Guy Sengstock, to explore the intricacies of Martin Buber's 'I-Thou' concept. Mastropietro, an academic scholar, and Sengstock, an experienced dialogue facilitator, provide their insights on this complex philosophical framework, delving into its impact on personal relationships and human exis...

In episode 20 of After Socrates, join Dr. John Vervaeke and his eloquent interlocutor, Christopher Mastropietro, as they delve into an intriguing exploration of love, beauty, faith, and the mysteries of existence. From the interplay of virtues to the hermeneutics of beauty, the dialectic of part and whole, and the unveiling of the concealed 'sculpture' within us, this episode is sure to incite cur...

In this episode of After Socrates, Dr. John Vervaeke and guest Christopher Mastropietro explore the overlap and interweaving of the works of Socrates and Kierkegaard, and their relation to the revolutionary characteristics of Jesus. There is a certain reverence that we hold naturally for counter-culture figures, even though we often don't celebrate them until long after their expiration. The speak...

In this episode of After Socrates, Dr. John Vervaeke and guest Christopher Mastropietro explore the importance of humor in the context of philosophy and spirituality. They examine how humor can be used to approach the absurdity of life, reveal performative contradictions, and challenge societal norms. The conversation also touches on the interconnection between humor and tragedy, the role of good...

In this thought-provoking episode of After Socrates, host John Vervaeke is joined by scholar Christopher Mastropietro to explore the connections between Socrates and Kierkegaard, as well as the relationship between reason, faith, existentialism, and spirituality. Through a deep dive into irony, self-transcendence, and relevance realization, Vervaeke and Mastropietro reveal the shared project betwe...

In this episode, John and Christopher explore the philosophical connections between Socrates and Kierkegaard, discussing the role of paradox, irony, and the self. They delve into Kierkegaard's stages of life - aesthetic, ethical, and religious - and his critiques of Christendom and societal expectations. The conversation also covers Kierkegaard's complex relationships with love and society, his I-...

In episode 15 of After Socrates, Dr. John Vervaeke and Christopher Mastropietro engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the relationship between Socrates and Søren Kierkegaard, exploring their philosophical approaches and examining the complexities of Kierkegaard's works. Dr. Vervaeke is a cognitive scientist and philosopher at the University of Toronto, well-known for his expertise in the cog...

Discover the profound wisdom of the Neo-Platonic Christian Tradition in this episode of After Socrates. Dive into the works of thinkers like St. Bonaventure, John Scotus Eriugena, and Nicholas of Cusa, and explore the concepts of dialectical contemplation, solipsistic skepticism, and ontological depth perception. Guests featured: St. Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, Hans Urs von Balthas...

Welcome back to After Socrates! Episode 14 releases next Friday, March 24th, 2023. Please join our Patreon to support our work! https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke Uncover the profound insights of ritual as a form of metaphysical inquiry. Dr. Vervaeke discusses the role of rituals in our lives, how they help us access deeper levels of self-consciousness, and their unique ability to reveal hidden...

In Episode 12 of Dr. John Vervaeke's "After Socrates," titled "The Way of the Logos," we delve deep into the world of Plotinus and his concept of dialectic, exploring how the intelligible world can be understood through a study of the nature and interconnection of real being. This episode examines the evolution of cognition and its relation to the grammar of reality, providing insights into Aristo...

Proper Proportions & The Right Mode. In this episode, John Vervaeke delves into the philosophical underpinnings of Stoicism and its connections with both ancient and modern practices, while also emphasizing the importance of serious play and aspiration in rationality. Vervaeke begins by discussing the Stoic philosophy, which was founded by Zeno of Citium and focuses on achieving goodness and peace...