Hi Prof Dodson. I don't normally comment on UA-cam videos but I noticed you haven't posted in awhile. I hope things are well. Your lectures from your other channel were therapeutic for me during the pandemic while I was pretty isolated from the world. I'm not here to ask you to make more videos, but I wanted to say thanks for the countless hours of self-reflection you've given me.
Hello professor. Been a while since you posted a video. I miss them and hope you and your family are doing well. I certainly hope nothing bad has happened. I wish you health and fulfillment.
Professor Dodson, I have to say I am absolutely in love with your channel. I am very much enjoying your lectures featured on your second channel too! (especially the ones about absurdism and Camus). I congratulate you for bringing us such high quality content in a site riddled with pop philosophy gruel. Greetings from Argentina!
Professor Dodson I just wanted you to know that ever since I start following your channels my life in general is not the same. The incredible amount of knowledge and wisdom that you have (and most importantly your clear way of explaining things to us) is very rare in our world today. You have no idea how much you have helped me through my difficult dark path. I’m here to express my gratitude for you because you helped me gaining back my trust and faith in myself and in humanity, you taught me great things in life through you videos. Our world is definitely in need for people who are generous like you. . . I wish to hear your thought on abuse, how to heal and deal with it and how to forgive if it was done to us by our families. Thank you again for everything.
I’m having such a hard time lately trying to find a career job, finishing school and constant bullshit of everyday life and this is exactly what I needed.
Well, it makes me happy that you're able to use what I'm saying in this video to improve your life. And let me offer a few words of encouragement from the perspective of someone who's (probably) several miles further down the road. Being a young adult is very definitely a challenging time of life, largely for the kinds of reasons you're describing. At that point, most of us don't really have our hands and feet on the ladder yet, and it takes a lot of effort to make that happen. But, on the other hand, things will probably get a lot easier for you over time. The trick is mostly about putting one foot in front of the other, until you eventually start to build the kind of life you really want to live. In any case, good luck with the journey. Gratitude. Eric D.
Dear Professor Dodson, I cannot thank you enough for all your videos and lectures on philosophy that you have posted on UA-cam, they are one of the most accurate and truly profound sources of information on many philosophers' views and their systems of thought. And I also fell in love with your videos concerning suicide, depression, etc. I found them to be quite inspiring and useful when I was struggling with my life's darkest moments. And I do believe that all the work you have done here, on UA-cam, has been of great help to lots of people, and I hope that you continue to be making your videos and be an inspirational teacher. In this video you did mention that the topic was proposed by a viewer. And so I wondered if I could propose mine :) A friend of mine gave me a book "Oblivion: Stories" by David Foster Wallace as a birthday gift. I had never heard of this author before, however, having read this book, I felt as if this book's stories directly addressed issues that you usually cover in your videos, such as entertainment, commodity culture and authentic existence (a good example of the latter would be a story called ''Good Old Neon"). And after watching some interviews with David Wallace it seemed to me that he was indeed concerned with these issues. And he is also considered to be a member of 'New Sincerity' movement in fiction. All in all, I was wondering if you read some of David's works or other examples of 'New Sincerity' movement and could make a video with your thoughts on this phenomenon in literature/fiction with regard to (post?-)post-modern human condition. Thank you kindly.
Well, first... I'm glad that these videos have helped you navigate some of life's darker and more difficult passages. That makes me happy, especially since that's a big part of why I make them in the first place. I don't know anything about the New Sincerity movement in literature. That's a new one for me. However, I did run into Wallace's somewhat viral (and great) commencement speech, "This is Water." I was impressed by both his insight, and his superb & subtle command of the English language. So, I suspect that any book of his would be worth a look. Anyhow... happy birthday... and thanks for taking the time to listen and watch. Gratitude. Eric D.
Huuuuuge fan of your show, stumbled upon it , it’s uncanny how many topics I’ve recently been researching that you have the exact video for . Well informed, eloquent and funny (deeply human and refreshing) thank you so much sir…. Off to watch some 15+ of your videos today. THANK YOU 🙏 amazing stuff 👍👍
Well, you're welcome. Holy crap!... 15+ of my videos. I'm not sure that I can even stand that much of myself... ha ha... Anyhow, more seriously, I'm glad that you're finding so much value in these UA-cam videos. I often think that when we're in the midst of coincidences that seem uncanny... what's really happening is that life is trying to communicate something to us... trying to draw our attention toward something we might otherwise just disregard or dismiss. Just a thought. Anyhow... thanks for taking the time to listen. Gratitude. Eric D.
@@ericdodson2644 truly my pleasure. By the way do you have an account or anything where I might donate a few Apple Pay dollars or the like? The world needs more of this and it would be remiss of me if I didn’t in someway pay you back?
Well, thank YOU for being willing to see it, and being willing to be present to it in the first place! Thanks for being part of the journey, fellow traveler. Eric D.
Well, DJ, thanks for perceiving that. It's actually one of the effects I'm trying to achieve in these videos... almost a kind of double-sidedness, where the real message lies mostly in the *less* obvious part of what I'm saying. So, I appreciate that you detected that. And as usual, thanks for listening & commenting. Gratitude. Eric D.
Well, thanks. I think it's very important to learn to feel deep joy in this world, and to learn to fill our lives with the kinds of things that occasion it. Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to watch & listen. Eric D.
One of the biggest ideas/terms I’ve learned in the last few years came from you Professor D! ‘Free Thinkers’…. a fantastic explanation of my kind of living. Open minded & always ready to learn, content in the fact that we don’t know many many things. Thanks once again.
Well, thanks. I'm glad that that idea spoke to you, and it proving to be a benefit in your journey. That's great! Anyhow, as always, it's good to hear your figurative voice. Thanks for watching & listening. Gratitude. Eric D. P.S. For some reason, I didn't get a notification of your comment; I just happened upon it by accident. There seems to be some skullduggery afoot with regard to YT's handling of comments.
It seems to me,the only true equality is the capacity for each of us to experience our own soul and the beauty laying just beneath the surface of the world . Everyone and anyone can "have" this . During your talk ,I couldn't help but sense your riffing on Huxley and Blake - the infinitude of the soul Aaand also McGilchrist - speaking prosaically, in an inherently miraculous and poetic universe . Also , thoughts of Jung's work - on projection. An enlightening, enjoyable vid, Professor...! Thank ya !
Thanks, Eric!! your perspective is very enlightening. However, I would also like to pose another question that frequently occurs while listening to wise people like you. The problem is that I know this stuff but do not actually "know". See I am aware of the wisdom like the following: -We should not let other people's judgments define us. -Harsh self-reflection and rumination do more harm than good. -Sometimes less is more and more than necessary knowledge or pleasure can easily bloat life into something unnecessarily complex. -We should stick to the present and not be distracted by regrets of the past and anxieties about the future. etc. I consume books, podcasts, videos, documentaries etc. and more or less a coherent picture emerges about a happy life. But even when knowing all of these, why is it so difficult to internalize them? Why is it so difficult to switch the mindset to something more flourishing? The knowledge is there, and there is a lot of it... And my mind is full of them. But instead of feeling wise, I feel stiff, lethargic, unchanging, depressed and stuck. At least, I am sure that I am not alone in feeling this.
Well, that's really an *excellent* question. And I'd say that you're hardly alone in wondering about it -- in fact, far from it. So, as I understand it, what you're asking is: How can we move from understanding how to make our lives better... toward actually doing it? Or, as you're putting it, how can we internalize our understanding? Well, I think that the first step has to do with realizing that when we understand things in an intellectual or abstract way, we're probably still in the process of convincing ourselves at the deeper levels of our Being -- at the level of our souls or psyches, if you will. In other words, convincing ourselves intellectually is really just the first step of a much larger process. And here, it's probably good to recognize that we undergo moments of transformation when we're really ready for them, and not necessarily when we want them to happen. Basically, the muses of our greater destinies don't necessarily dance to the music of our immediate desires. In that regard, the process is a little like pregnancy. Babies are born mostly when they're ready to be born. And so are we. But of course, along the way, it's good for a pregnant woman to get good nutrition... to take care of herself, and to avoid toxins. So, when you describe listening to podcasts, etc... to me it sounds a lot like that... it's your way of nourishing yourself through a kind of pregnancy. That's great! And to continue with the analogy... it also helps not to get too impatient & discouraged with the process. Or perhaps to put it more accurately, when we *do* get impatient, it's not bad idea to ask whether our impatience is itself part of the challenge... itself an indicator of a place where we could improve ourselves. So, in that regard, I'd say that the usually under-rated skill of waiting becomes important. And that's not so easy for most of us, mostly because our society doesn't exactly encourage it. But personally, I have faith that with time your own moment of metamorphosis will arrive. I say that not because I know you personally, but because your comment makes it seem like you're very earnest and have a great capacity for reflective realization. And in my experience, when people have those two qualities in abundance, then it's only a matter of time and tenacity. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and I'm pretty sure that the world will open its arms for you. Anyhow... sorry about the TL;DR response... but I thought you were asking a *really* important question in a very articulate and reflective way (so a big round of applause for you). Anyhow, thanks for your presence in this universe. Gratitude. Eric D.
@@ericdodson2644 I really really appreciate your considerate and elaborate response, Eric! I have read it several times. The patience was so spot on. I just haven't considered that in terms of something like pregnancy--that analogy actually made me emotional as it suggests that my inertia is or can be eventually meaningful :) I also think that sometimes shame drives or exacerbates my impatience worse, that there is something wrong about myself which can only be fixed if I change at a fundamental level. I guess it all comes down to one of your frequent points that we should first *accept* and move forward instead of changing out of resentment. Anyways :) I am endlessly grateful for all of your existence, time and wisdom! It's so relieving that I know I have at least one soulmate. Gratefully, Talha.
Hey man I found you through your philosophy videos was wondering have you ever gone over Alan watts or ram Dass I enjoy your insight and would love to see a video covering them :)
+1 I also want to know this. I recently read Alan Watts' The Wisdom of Insecurity and i must say WHAT. A. BOOK. A complete mindbender in a really good way.
The two dimensional plane and the forbidden space of the 'depth' axis, is such an illuminating way to think about life. It's going to be an important part of how i think of 'things' because it just clicked in my head as you explained this. Really enjoyed this and felt connected to your wisdom, as always.
One of things to watch out for is stigmatizing the weirdness. It puts it off to a distance and you miss out on the chance of understanding, depriving insights into why people believe/behave the way they do, and having that reflect back at you. Many equate stigmatizing the “right” thing as a form of personal growth..it never is or ever could be. It is about a form of punishment for the other. I’m not speaking on a societal level but that of the individual growth and experience in relation to others.
Yeah, I agree that there are definitely dangers inherent to stagmatizing weirdness. And even using the word "weird" might itself be a way of doing that. That's part of why at the end of this video, I'm talking about learning to see weirdness as an opportunity for growth and improvement -- both at the individual level, as well as at the level of our world's reality more generally. After all, transcending ourselves almost always involves living past the boundaries between what we are... and what seems "other," and hence foreign & unfamiliar (at least at first). In fact, I bet that when each one of us is born, it feels pretty weird to be surrounded by air and light and loud sounds... and what the hell happened to that soothing, rhythmic throbbing of the heart? But of course, all of that weirdness was really nothing more than our first few steps into this world. And probably the same basic logic applies to all of the other, figurative moments of birth we experience throughout our lives. Anyhow, it's good as always to hear your "voice." I hope that you're well and thriving. Gratitude. Eric D.
@@ericdodson2644 I generally use banal examples of cultural comparison to display and highlight that "weirdness" is dependent on familiarity, but your example of using a baby coming into the world hits on a deeper level as it is a common shared experience that is already considered "normal" but probably the strangest event to our baby selves. Love it.
Dr. Dodson, I need to get in touch with you. I had a class with you about 10 years ago, and this is crazy but I need to see if you still have the syllabus. Do you have an email address, or a way to get in touch with you about this?
Hi professor, I miss your videos, I hope you are in good health! I would love to know your thoughts on immanence or transcendence of existence. Thanks!
(Sounded like a movie quote) 1:55 According with Reality Rational Happiness 3:10 What’s causing this traffic jam?! 4:30 Addiction • totally rational, needed, repeat 🔁 5:27 More Nuclear Weapons Strategy ☢️ 6:45 Too many people? 7:35 _Same old story, different guises_ 8:17 *Not Wholistic* 9:17 *Dimensionality* Productivity -- Consumption Entertainment - Boredom 10:32 Depth - Shallow 11:25 Alive - not Alive 12:41 More Dimensions 13:50 *Homelessness/Alienation/[Outside The Picture]* 15:44 Why you grinding the axe partner?🪓 🎸 16:10 -Badgering- Think about it in your own mind (you already made an I believe video) *Weirdness* 17:47 Narrow-Myopic Viewing of Life (personal fault in ability) 18:05 2 Dimensions doesn’t reflect The Depth of Mankind’s Souls (lacking wider insight?) 18:23 Alienation (denying to understand?) 19:34 🙂Appreciation of your time 😁
Well, Mr. Temporal Philatelist... thanks once again for listening so intently to what I'm saying, and for helping other people make sense of it. As usual, I appreciate your willingness to do that. Gratitude. Eric D.
1. OUR RATIONALITY IS WEIRD 2. WE ABANDON OUR SOULS 3. OTHERS BECOME ENEMIES "Psychiatry: The Marketing of Madness: Are We All Insane?" very very sick video
Random request here as I’m not sure where else to post it 😂! As a sort of throwback to your older material have you ever or could you do a video on Jose Ortega please? I’ve only recently discovered him & he strikes me as a bit of a free thinker too? Thanks a lot. Looking forward to your next video regardless. Hope all is well in the house of Dodson.
Oh man I needed that today. Keep your eyes on authenticity and love. Thank you Pastor. Hey I wonder… are you into Krishnamurti? A lot of what you said about logocentric thinking and seeing others without image are very much aligned with his talks. Also, with the Matrix stuff, do you enjoy Baudrillard? I believe he influenced that director. I love his writing but it almost killed me spiritually. I’d say he is the high priest of the two dimensional image based world you describe. I almost did a PhD on him but thankfully Krishnamurti healed me from that. Love to know whether those two tickle you. Have a great day
Yes, I've read both Krishnamurti and Baudrillard, and I appreciate both -- but of course for very different reasons. Yeah, I'd agree that the latter is pretty much the high priest (not merely a Pastor) of the two dimensional image, although the whole idea that life has become an ongoing play of superficial surfaces appears in other post-modern texts, too. And yeah, _Simulacra & Simulation_ did appear in the first Matrix movie for a second or two (it was the book from which Neo pulled a couple of diskettes). However, personally, I've never felt like his ideas & writing were killing me spiritually. I guess that's because I see spirituality as a much larger category than simulation & the hyper-real. Of course, I recognize that he'd argue that spirituality has itself been subsumed by the rising tide of simulation, along with the rest of the Real. However, it just doesn't seem that way to me. And at the end of the day, we have to go with how life feels to us, rather than just nodding obsequiously whenever some famous expert makes a proclamation. And if that makes me a non-postmodern dinosaur, wandering on the ice-floes and waiting for the death-knell of extinction... well, so be it. I'd say that there are far worse fates in this world. Anyhow, I'm probably hazarding the TL;DR limit at this point... so I'll just say thanks as always for your thoughtful comment. Gratitude. The Pastor of Muppets™
Yeah, I'd say that a lot of it is interwoven with the rapidity of change in our world, which I'd agree is pretty much unprecedented. Maybe I'll talk a bit a bit about that in my next video, which I think will be on where technology is taking us (and how). Anyhow, thanks for listening. Gratitude. Eric D.
Hey Eric! Wondering if you could do a video on parenthood! I think you could provide a lot of insight on the topic. :) especially for those that might be considering whether or not to become parents.
Greetings Eric Dodson, What do you think the internet will look like in 50 years? Will the content on UA-cam still be accessible? Will people still be able to watch this video? If humanity could permanently record history from this point forward, have you thought about the positive impact your "permanized" videos could have on the future us? I enjoy them. Cheers brother
Dude... I think that you're giving me a great topic for the next video... where is technology taking us? (or something like that). As for the more specific question of what will become of these videos... I suspect that the unflattering answer is that they'll very quickly be consigned to the dustbin of history. That's mostly because in an age where we're all bobbing in an endless ocean of Too Much Information, practically all of it ends up being utterly forgettable. But still, it makes me happy that YOU are enjoying these videos in this moment. And for me, that's enough. Anyhow, thanks for giving me that seed of an idea for my next, ultimately forgettable video! Much gratitude. Eric D.
Sometimes I think, i don't have what it takes to be free. All my life I'm trying to get rid of that slave inside of me, to become master of myself, but It's like a castle on the sand, there's no solid foundation to back me up , which creates uncertainty of my position. I'm no longer a puppet, but not master either.
Hmm... well, I think that all of that's not necessarily a bad sign. In fact, it seems like you're simply in the process of recognizing how subtle & difficult the challenge really is. And actually... it's not an easy thing to be free, partly because of the responsibility that comes along with it. However, it's also difficult because when we realize some measure of freedom within our being, there are always many other layers underneath it where we're basically enslaved. So, laying claim to freedom is basically like an asymptotic function in Mathematics. We can approach it, but there's always more work to be done. And perhaps that's part of what you're referring to with your "sand-castles" simile... that there's never a definitive moment of completion. But on the other hand, at points a relatively free spirit can also say, "So what?"... because it's the journey *toward* freedom that makes it worthwhile -- rather than the illusion of final attainment. And you seem to be on exactly that sort of journey. Just a thought. Anyhow, thanks for the thoughtful comment. Gratitude. Eric D.
Hello Eric, my name is Ed Lewis, not sure if you remember me but I'm a former student of yours at West Georgia from over 20 years ago. Glad to see you're doing well. Was wondering if you have an email address that you're willing to share as I can't find a contact online.
Ha ha... Yeah, nice "quote." And yeah, I was trying to start with something pretty much everyone can relate to, and then move to larger, more systemic phenomena in our world. But the thing is... that once you realize the basic idea of the disjunction between our small, rational decisions and their larger, irrational effects... well, it's easy to notice the same basic thing happening in many areas of our world. So it goes... Eric D.
I’d like to quote from children of dune for the 1st talking point of worlds weirdness: “Muad’Dib’s teachings have become the playground of scholastics, of the superstitious and the corrupt. He taught a balanced way of life, a philosophy with which a human can meet problems arising from an ever-changing universe. He said humankind is still evolving, in a process which will never end. He said this evolution moves on changing principles which are known only to eternity. How can corrupted reasoning play with such an essence?”
Hello sir. I want to ask you a question. I want to know your views on the advantages/limitations of acquiring knowledge with regards to having enlightening insights through direct observation. The kind of insights that free us from our enslavement and from the narrow confines in our mind. And by knowledge I mean studying truely deep philosophical or spiritual text like Jung, Dostoveysky, J Krishnamurti or even Buddha. Isn't it true as they themselves say that Knowledge is an obstacle on the way to Truth. That when we gather insights from outside, we become attached to them. And as with every form of attachment, we lose our objectivity around it and it's a form of corruption ultimately?
Well, I'd say that acquiring knowledge becomes a form of corruption only insofar as we let it be that. And here I'd agree with you that the issue has mostly to do with how we attach to it. On one hand, if we make knowledge our fetish or our be-all-end all, then it very quickly becomes our prison -- basically the kind of enslavement you're describing. But on the other hand, if we're able to hold onto our so-called knowledge loosely... if we're still able to laugh, and to transcend ourselves, even in the midst of thinking that we know X, Y or Z... then knowledge can become another portal into the beyond, and a real entry into greater liberation -- just like everything else in the universe. Hmm... The Jewish theologian Abraham Heschel once claimed that, "Everything holds the secret." And I believe that the same is true of our knowledge. It's really mostly a matter of treating it properly... of not fixating on it too eagerly. And while I'd agree that while Western culture doesn't exactly encourage that, it's still well within the bounds of possibility (and sometimes actuality). Anyhow, who says that we need to take our culture's limitations as our own? Anyhow... cool question. And it's always good to hear your "voice" through the mists of cyberspace. Gratitude and greetings from Georgia, U.S.A. (in the Southeast part of the country). Gratitude. Eric D.
@@ericdodson2644 I'm from India and though not far from the capital, I'm the first generation of learner in my family. So I feel a sense of great 'achievement' occasionally when I happen to read/listen something of value. Like I got something more to decorate myself with. So I know I have to be vigilant around it. Thank you for your reply sir.
You also have to take into account that the axis in the case of our own lives to not go out to infinity. At least not the parameters you are measuring.
Yeah, limitation is definitely part of the human equation... across pretty much every dimension that defines us -- perhaps most obviously time. Anyhow, speaking of time, thanks for taking a few minutes out of your finite allotment of time on Earth to watch this video. Gratitude. Eric D.
Also check out Rimworld. (And the mods.) ("... So whatever you do, don't be bored, this is absolutely the most exciting time we could have possibly hoped to be alive." ~Waking Life, 2001) (And make more videos.)
Do you think the issue can be historical as in rooted in some renaissance philosophical principle popularized by western culture such as duality and the platonic ideal of jesus, whilst simultaneously renouncing any eastern contact along with their philosophical foundations? Thereby invoking a sacrilegious social value and associated norm into popular culture, and as your final Zarathustra-like comments inspired, it seems Nietzsche saw this societal transformation clearly. But I'm an optimist and believe we'll get this transition right.
Yeah, I believe that we'll get it right eventually, too -- especially by starting to treat it as an opportunity for Nietzschean overcoming, much like I'm describing toward the end of this video. And yes, I'd also say that part of our world's weirdness, especially in the West, has to do with our resistance to incorporating some of the wisdom that comes to us from the East. I'd say that that's especially true of meditative traditions, such as those of Buddhism and Hinduism. But it also runs through things like Taoism and Confucianism. We could definitely seek out a much larger and more realistic integration by incorporating those sorts of insights into our Western trajectory. But of course, it's one thing to say something like that. But it's another to do it. Anyhow, thanks for listening. Gratitude. Eric D.
The world is weird because we define weirdness by our ability to predict something, and the real world will be always more unpredictable than our expectations of it (this includes the minds/expectations by others). I found this one a bit too preachy btw
Yeah, I'd say that the distance between our predictions and the world's inherent unpredictability is another source of our life's weirdness. And because of our penchant for hubris, it's usually difficult for us to acknowledge the fact that the world's complexity far outstrips our ability to understand and control it. Anyhow, as for being "preachy," well, as the saying goes, "One man's meat is another man's poison." And in any case, I don't think I've encountered a human being yet who doesn't get on a soapbox every now and then. At the end of the day, I suspect it's just another variable in the long and complex equation of human existence. Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to listen. Gratitude, and a big "Meow" to you! Eric D.
Distraction - The Ego's Favorite Defense Mechanism...............however........keep making vids......you could admit there are things you can't say and keep your soapbox
Talking about overpopulation in 2022 is like talking about there being too many ... in 1939. You definetely don't know whats going on in the world If you have slept on the fact that birth rates are rapidly declining almost everywhere.
I live in a medium/big democrat city and things are falling apart all around. Crime is through the roof, homeless are everywhere on the streets, I hear mentally ill men walking around and yelling outside at night on almost daily basis. Police isn't doing their job because they're being demonized and defunded. I don't feel safe going outside.
If you think the police is the solution to societal issues, then you haven’t realized much of history. The police don’t do anything except exacerbate societal issues. Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same coin, both are negligent and malicious. If we want change, it’ll come from US, you and I and everyone else whose upset with our government not doing anything for us. Is it fair that Ukraine has gotten billions of dollars while babies can’t get enough formula in America? There’s money for war but not for the poor!
I'd like you're help on existentialism with science. Albert Camus said something like "Everything human beings do is to avoid suicide" I want a time machine to bring Camus and Satre to today to meet my ex wife. She now lives in America with Type 1 diabetes. I mention America for the super high costs. Satre had type 2 diabetes, but that doesn't have the same philosophical quandary. Science is allowed these human beings with this disease to stay alive. Science also might argue that evolution of natural selection has dictated that they should not be alive. This has to be an emotional mind fuck. The gift of life because of the perspective that you're not supposed to be alive. How would Camus and Satre respond to the scientific idea that this human being needs to develop a lot of financial resources, knowledge of a limited scientific subject, etc to "avoid suicide" I certainly believe that the concept of freedom relative to facticity and the abundance of freedom can be helpful to accept your disease not as a cursed label, but just apart of who you are. But the factual nature that, if they cannot get insulin, they will die within hours or days or with fasting maybe a month. The collection of wealth and resources in modern times for necessity, combined with the physical and mental stress of the lifelong emergency situation your in, requires a lot more literal effort and toll on the body and the mind then others without it, just to "avoid suicide" A lot of existential thought is critical of the factual claims of science. Type 1 diabetes is a factually scientific reality within our reality. I'm trying to avoid the existential concepts of things like what if we're in The matrix. Hoping that wasn't too many words and that you have some thoughts on these concepts.
I am here
I'm glad you're here.
@@ericdodson2644 "Mainstream Media is a lie!!! -Max Igan" (15 minute video cut down from original 50 minute video {now unavailable on youtube}
youtube.com/@ericdodson2644
Hi Prof Dodson. I don't normally comment on UA-cam videos but I noticed you haven't posted in awhile. I hope things are well. Your lectures from your other channel were therapeutic for me during the pandemic while I was pretty isolated from the world. I'm not here to ask you to make more videos, but I wanted to say thanks for the countless hours of self-reflection you've given me.
Hello professor. Been a while since you posted a video. I miss them and hope you and your family are doing well. I certainly hope nothing bad has happened. I wish you health and fulfillment.
Dr. Dodson, I miss your videos. What's up, Prof?
I love the way you think prof. Dodson. Happy new year.
Professor Dodson, I have to say I am absolutely in love with your channel. I am very much enjoying your lectures featured on your second channel too! (especially the ones about absurdism and Camus). I congratulate you for bringing us such high quality content in a site riddled with pop philosophy gruel. Greetings from Argentina!
Hello Uncle Eric, just here wishing you a happy new year. Been thinking of your videos and hoping you’ve been doing well!
Professor Dodson I just wanted you to know that ever since I start following your channels my life in general is not the same.
The incredible amount of knowledge and wisdom that you have (and most importantly your clear way of explaining things to us) is very rare in our world today.
You have no idea how much you have helped me through my difficult dark path.
I’m here to express my gratitude for you because you helped me gaining back my trust and faith in myself and in humanity,
you taught me great things in life through you videos.
Our world is definitely in need for people who are generous like you.
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I wish to hear your thought on abuse, how to heal and deal with it and how to forgive if it was done to us by our families.
Thank you again for everything.
Hey Professor Dodson hope everything is well!
Just checking in, how are you doing Mr. Dodson? :) I hope you're well!
I’m having such a hard time lately trying to find a career job, finishing school and constant bullshit of everyday life and this is exactly what I needed.
Well, it makes me happy that you're able to use what I'm saying in this video to improve your life. And let me offer a few words of encouragement from the perspective of someone who's (probably) several miles further down the road. Being a young adult is very definitely a challenging time of life, largely for the kinds of reasons you're describing. At that point, most of us don't really have our hands and feet on the ladder yet, and it takes a lot of effort to make that happen. But, on the other hand, things will probably get a lot easier for you over time. The trick is mostly about putting one foot in front of the other, until you eventually start to build the kind of life you really want to live. In any case, good luck with the journey. Gratitude. Eric D.
Hello Professor Dodson, hope you are doing well.
I'm grateful to you for your effort. Your lectures are really helpful.
You are true inspiration.
Dear Professor Dodson,
I cannot thank you enough for all your videos and lectures on philosophy that you have posted on UA-cam, they are one of the most accurate and truly profound sources of information on many philosophers' views and their systems of thought. And I also fell in love with your videos concerning suicide, depression, etc. I found them to be quite inspiring and useful when I was struggling with my life's darkest moments. And I do believe that all the work you have done here, on UA-cam, has been of great help to lots of people, and I hope that you continue to be making your videos and be an inspirational teacher.
In this video you did mention that the topic was proposed by a viewer. And so I wondered if I could propose mine :) A friend of mine gave me a book "Oblivion: Stories" by David Foster Wallace as a birthday gift. I had never heard of this author before, however, having read this book, I felt as if this book's stories directly addressed issues that you usually cover in your videos, such as entertainment, commodity culture and authentic existence (a good example of the latter would be a story called ''Good Old Neon"). And after watching some interviews with David Wallace it seemed to me that he was indeed concerned with these issues. And he is also considered to be a member of 'New Sincerity' movement in fiction. All in all, I was wondering if you read some of David's works or other examples of 'New Sincerity' movement and could make a video with your thoughts on this phenomenon in literature/fiction with regard to (post?-)post-modern human condition.
Thank you kindly.
Well, first... I'm glad that these videos have helped you navigate some of life's darker and more difficult passages. That makes me happy, especially since that's a big part of why I make them in the first place. I don't know anything about the New Sincerity movement in literature. That's a new one for me. However, I did run into Wallace's somewhat viral (and great) commencement speech, "This is Water." I was impressed by both his insight, and his superb & subtle command of the English language. So, I suspect that any book of his would be worth a look. Anyhow... happy birthday... and thanks for taking the time to listen and watch. Gratitude. Eric D.
Huuuuuge fan of your show, stumbled upon it , it’s uncanny how many topics I’ve recently been researching that you have the exact video for . Well informed, eloquent and funny (deeply human and refreshing) thank you so much sir…. Off to watch some 15+ of your videos today. THANK YOU 🙏 amazing stuff 👍👍
Well, you're welcome. Holy crap!... 15+ of my videos. I'm not sure that I can even stand that much of myself... ha ha... Anyhow, more seriously, I'm glad that you're finding so much value in these UA-cam videos. I often think that when we're in the midst of coincidences that seem uncanny... what's really happening is that life is trying to communicate something to us... trying to draw our attention toward something we might otherwise just disregard or dismiss. Just a thought. Anyhow... thanks for taking the time to listen. Gratitude. Eric D.
@@ericdodson2644 truly my pleasure. By the way do you have an account or anything where I might donate a few Apple Pay dollars or the like? The world needs more of this and it would be remiss of me if I didn’t in someway pay you back?
Thanks for my understanding clearer Dr. Eric!! Writing a statement on humanistic psychology.
Thanks fellow being for sharing awareness and insights out loud
Well, thank YOU for being willing to see it, and being willing to be present to it in the first place! Thanks for being part of the journey, fellow traveler. Eric D.
@@ericdodson2644 always many are observer both from with in and with out THANKS
Well done and, as usual, your thoughts and comments have a much deeper implication than is at first apparent....thanks
Well, DJ, thanks for perceiving that. It's actually one of the effects I'm trying to achieve in these videos... almost a kind of double-sidedness, where the real message lies mostly in the *less* obvious part of what I'm saying. So, I appreciate that you detected that. And as usual, thanks for listening & commenting. Gratitude. Eric D.
I really enjoy hearing your perspective
Well, thanks. I think it's very important to learn to feel deep joy in this world, and to learn to fill our lives with the kinds of things that occasion it. Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to watch & listen. Eric D.
One of the biggest ideas/terms I’ve learned in the last few years came from you Professor D! ‘Free Thinkers’…. a fantastic explanation of my kind of living. Open minded & always ready to learn, content in the fact that we don’t know many many things. Thanks once again.
Well, thanks. I'm glad that that idea spoke to you, and it proving to be a benefit in your journey. That's great! Anyhow, as always, it's good to hear your figurative voice. Thanks for watching & listening. Gratitude. Eric D. P.S. For some reason, I didn't get a notification of your comment; I just happened upon it by accident. There seems to be some skullduggery afoot with regard to YT's handling of comments.
@@ericdodson2644 skullduggery.....great wordsmithing
@@dlloydy5356 Ha ha... yeah, I'm a bit of a collector of antiquated words and phrases. It's just another one of my many hobbies, I suppose.
@@ericdodson2644 cool eccentricity is another strand of authenticity! Take care sir
thanks man, your videos are much appreciated,
Well, I appreciate your willingness to listen and watch. Mucho agradecimiento. Eric D.
@@ericdodson2644 A usted👍👍
I really hope this guy lives a long and fulfilling life.
I'm always upper right quadrant. Work in healthcare rehab, work 6-7 days a week and take vacations with family every few months.
Wow, that's great! I wish more people were able to find that kind of satisfaction in life.
It seems to me,the only true equality is the capacity for each of us to experience our own soul and the beauty laying just beneath the surface of the world .
Everyone and anyone can "have" this .
During your talk ,I couldn't help but sense your riffing on Huxley and Blake - the infinitude of the soul
Aaand also McGilchrist - speaking prosaically, in an inherently miraculous and poetic universe . Also , thoughts of Jung's work - on projection.
An enlightening, enjoyable vid, Professor...!
Thank ya !
Thanks, Eric!! your perspective is very enlightening. However, I would also like to pose another question that frequently occurs while listening to wise people like you. The problem is that I know this stuff but do not actually "know". See I am aware of the wisdom like the following:
-We should not let other people's judgments define us.
-Harsh self-reflection and rumination do more harm than good.
-Sometimes less is more and more than necessary knowledge or pleasure can easily bloat life into something unnecessarily complex.
-We should stick to the present and not be distracted by regrets of the past and anxieties about the future.
etc.
I consume books, podcasts, videos, documentaries etc. and more or less a coherent picture emerges about a happy life. But even when knowing all of these, why is it so difficult to internalize them? Why is it so difficult to switch the mindset to something more flourishing? The knowledge is there, and there is a lot of it... And my mind is full of them. But instead of feeling wise, I feel stiff, lethargic, unchanging, depressed and stuck. At least, I am sure that I am not alone in feeling this.
Well, that's really an *excellent* question. And I'd say that you're hardly alone in wondering about it -- in fact, far from it. So, as I understand it, what you're asking is: How can we move from understanding how to make our lives better... toward actually doing it? Or, as you're putting it, how can we internalize our understanding? Well, I think that the first step has to do with realizing that when we understand things in an intellectual or abstract way, we're probably still in the process of convincing ourselves at the deeper levels of our Being -- at the level of our souls or psyches, if you will. In other words, convincing ourselves intellectually is really just the first step of a much larger process. And here, it's probably good to recognize that we undergo moments of transformation when we're really ready for them, and not necessarily when we want them to happen. Basically, the muses of our greater destinies don't necessarily dance to the music of our immediate desires. In that regard, the process is a little like pregnancy. Babies are born mostly when they're ready to be born. And so are we. But of course, along the way, it's good for a pregnant woman to get good nutrition... to take care of herself, and to avoid toxins. So, when you describe listening to podcasts, etc... to me it sounds a lot like that... it's your way of nourishing yourself through a kind of pregnancy. That's great! And to continue with the analogy... it also helps not to get too impatient & discouraged with the process. Or perhaps to put it more accurately, when we *do* get impatient, it's not bad idea to ask whether our impatience is itself part of the challenge... itself an indicator of a place where we could improve ourselves. So, in that regard, I'd say that the usually under-rated skill of waiting becomes important. And that's not so easy for most of us, mostly because our society doesn't exactly encourage it. But personally, I have faith that with time your own moment of metamorphosis will arrive. I say that not because I know you personally, but because your comment makes it seem like you're very earnest and have a great capacity for reflective realization. And in my experience, when people have those two qualities in abundance, then it's only a matter of time and tenacity. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and I'm pretty sure that the world will open its arms for you. Anyhow... sorry about the TL;DR response... but I thought you were asking a *really* important question in a very articulate and reflective way (so a big round of applause for you). Anyhow, thanks for your presence in this universe. Gratitude. Eric D.
@@ericdodson2644 I really really appreciate your considerate and elaborate response, Eric! I have read it several times. The patience was so spot on. I just haven't considered that in terms of something like pregnancy--that analogy actually made me emotional as it suggests that my inertia is or can be eventually meaningful :)
I also think that sometimes shame drives or exacerbates my impatience worse, that there is something wrong about myself which can only be fixed if I change at a fundamental level. I guess it all comes down to one of your frequent points that we should first *accept* and move forward instead of changing out of resentment.
Anyways :)
I am endlessly grateful for all of your existence, time and wisdom! It's so relieving that I know I have at least one soulmate. Gratefully, Talha.
Hey man I found you through your philosophy videos was wondering have you ever gone over Alan watts or ram Dass I enjoy your insight and would love to see a video covering them :)
+1 I also want to know this. I recently read Alan Watts' The Wisdom of Insecurity and i must say WHAT. A. BOOK. A complete mindbender in a really good way.
The two dimensional plane and the forbidden space of the 'depth' axis, is such an illuminating way to think about life. It's going to be an important part of how i think of 'things' because it just clicked in my head as you explained this. Really enjoyed this and felt connected to your wisdom, as always.
One of things to watch out for is stigmatizing the weirdness. It puts it off to a distance and you miss out on the chance of understanding, depriving insights into why people believe/behave the way they do, and having that reflect back at you. Many equate stigmatizing the “right” thing as a form of personal growth..it never is or ever could be. It is about a form of punishment for the other. I’m not speaking on a societal level but that of the individual growth and experience in relation to others.
Yeah, I agree that there are definitely dangers inherent to stagmatizing weirdness. And even using the word "weird" might itself be a way of doing that. That's part of why at the end of this video, I'm talking about learning to see weirdness as an opportunity for growth and improvement -- both at the individual level, as well as at the level of our world's reality more generally. After all, transcending ourselves almost always involves living past the boundaries between what we are... and what seems "other," and hence foreign & unfamiliar (at least at first). In fact, I bet that when each one of us is born, it feels pretty weird to be surrounded by air and light and loud sounds... and what the hell happened to that soothing, rhythmic throbbing of the heart? But of course, all of that weirdness was really nothing more than our first few steps into this world. And probably the same basic logic applies to all of the other, figurative moments of birth we experience throughout our lives. Anyhow, it's good as always to hear your "voice." I hope that you're well and thriving. Gratitude. Eric D.
@@ericdodson2644 I generally use banal examples of cultural comparison to display and highlight that "weirdness" is dependent on familiarity, but your example of using a baby coming into the world hits on a deeper level as it is a common shared experience that is already considered "normal" but probably the strangest event to our baby selves. Love it.
You're one of my favourite UA-camrs !
When o when is the Prodigal Prof going to return?
Where are you Dr D? I miss you...
Dr. Dodson, I need to get in touch with you. I had a class with you about 10 years ago, and this is crazy but I need to see if you still have the syllabus. Do you have an email address, or a way to get in touch with you about this?
Hi professor, I miss your videos, I hope you are in good health!
I would love to know your thoughts on immanence or transcendence of existence.
Thanks!
(Sounded like a movie quote)
1:55 According with Reality
Rational Happiness
3:10 What’s causing this traffic jam?!
4:30 Addiction
• totally rational, needed, repeat 🔁
5:27 More Nuclear Weapons Strategy ☢️
6:45 Too many people?
7:35 _Same old story, different guises_
8:17 *Not Wholistic*
9:17 *Dimensionality*
Productivity -- Consumption
Entertainment - Boredom
10:32 Depth - Shallow
11:25 Alive - not Alive
12:41 More Dimensions
13:50 *Homelessness/Alienation/[Outside The Picture]* 15:44 Why you grinding the axe partner?🪓 🎸
16:10 -Badgering- Think about it in your own mind (you already made an I believe video)
*Weirdness*
17:47 Narrow-Myopic Viewing of Life (personal fault in ability)
18:05 2 Dimensions doesn’t reflect The Depth of Mankind’s Souls (lacking wider insight?)
18:23 Alienation (denying to understand?)
19:34 🙂Appreciation of your time 😁
Well, Mr. Temporal Philatelist... thanks once again for listening so intently to what I'm saying, and for helping other people make sense of it. As usual, I appreciate your willingness to do that. Gratitude. Eric D.
1. OUR RATIONALITY IS WEIRD
2. WE ABANDON OUR SOULS
3. OTHERS BECOME ENEMIES
"Psychiatry: The Marketing of Madness: Are We All Insane?" very very sick video
Random request here as I’m not sure where else to post it 😂!
As a sort of throwback to your older material have you ever or could you do a video on Jose Ortega please? I’ve only recently discovered him & he strikes me as a bit of a free thinker too? Thanks a lot. Looking forward to your next video regardless. Hope all is well in the house of Dodson.
Hey dr. Dodson. I graduated 6 years ago and was just wondering if you are still teaching at west Georgia.
Oh man I needed that today. Keep your eyes on authenticity and love. Thank you Pastor. Hey I wonder… are you into Krishnamurti? A lot of what you said about logocentric thinking and seeing others without image are very much aligned with his talks. Also, with the Matrix stuff, do you enjoy Baudrillard? I believe he influenced that director. I love his writing but it almost killed me spiritually. I’d say he is the high priest of the two dimensional image based world you describe. I almost did a PhD on him but thankfully Krishnamurti healed me from that. Love to know whether those two tickle you.
Have a great day
Yes, I've read both Krishnamurti and Baudrillard, and I appreciate both -- but of course for very different reasons. Yeah, I'd agree that the latter is pretty much the high priest (not merely a Pastor) of the two dimensional image, although the whole idea that life has become an ongoing play of superficial surfaces appears in other post-modern texts, too. And yeah, _Simulacra & Simulation_ did appear in the first Matrix movie for a second or two (it was the book from which Neo pulled a couple of diskettes). However, personally, I've never felt like his ideas & writing were killing me spiritually. I guess that's because I see spirituality as a much larger category than simulation & the hyper-real. Of course, I recognize that he'd argue that spirituality has itself been subsumed by the rising tide of simulation, along with the rest of the Real. However, it just doesn't seem that way to me. And at the end of the day, we have to go with how life feels to us, rather than just nodding obsequiously whenever some famous expert makes a proclamation. And if that makes me a non-postmodern dinosaur, wandering on the ice-floes and waiting for the death-knell of extinction... well, so be it. I'd say that there are far worse fates in this world. Anyhow, I'm probably hazarding the TL;DR limit at this point... so I'll just say thanks as always for your thoughtful comment. Gratitude. The Pastor of Muppets™
@@ericdodson2644 Never TL and never DR. I’m very grateful to engage with you and to read your replies. Have a great day
We miss you, Professor Dodson :(
The Nightwish shirt is what makes this even more fun.
Its change, right? Its never changed this fast before. So much new that we can't get comfortable before its gone and changed again.
Yeah, I'd say that a lot of it is interwoven with the rapidity of change in our world, which I'd agree is pretty much unprecedented. Maybe I'll talk a bit a bit about that in my next video, which I think will be on where technology is taking us (and how). Anyhow, thanks for listening. Gratitude. Eric D.
thank you for this video professor dodson :)
Hey Eric! Wondering if you could do a video on parenthood! I think you could provide a lot of insight on the topic. :) especially for those that might be considering whether or not to become parents.
Greetings Eric Dodson,
What do you think the internet will look like in 50 years? Will the content on UA-cam still be accessible? Will people still be able to watch this video?
If humanity could permanently record history from this point forward, have you thought about the positive impact your "permanized" videos could have on the future us? I enjoy them.
Cheers brother
Dude... I think that you're giving me a great topic for the next video... where is technology taking us? (or something like that). As for the more specific question of what will become of these videos... I suspect that the unflattering answer is that they'll very quickly be consigned to the dustbin of history. That's mostly because in an age where we're all bobbing in an endless ocean of Too Much Information, practically all of it ends up being utterly forgettable. But still, it makes me happy that YOU are enjoying these videos in this moment. And for me, that's enough. Anyhow, thanks for giving me that seed of an idea for my next, ultimately forgettable video! Much gratitude. Eric D.
Sometimes I think, i don't have what it takes to be free.
All my life I'm trying to get rid of that slave inside of me, to become master of myself, but It's like a castle on the sand, there's no solid foundation to back me up , which creates uncertainty of my position.
I'm no longer a puppet, but not master either.
Hmm... well, I think that all of that's not necessarily a bad sign. In fact, it seems like you're simply in the process of recognizing how subtle & difficult the challenge really is. And actually... it's not an easy thing to be free, partly because of the responsibility that comes along with it. However, it's also difficult because when we realize some measure of freedom within our being, there are always many other layers underneath it where we're basically enslaved. So, laying claim to freedom is basically like an asymptotic function in Mathematics. We can approach it, but there's always more work to be done. And perhaps that's part of what you're referring to with your "sand-castles" simile... that there's never a definitive moment of completion. But on the other hand, at points a relatively free spirit can also say, "So what?"... because it's the journey *toward* freedom that makes it worthwhile -- rather than the illusion of final attainment. And you seem to be on exactly that sort of journey. Just a thought. Anyhow, thanks for the thoughtful comment. Gratitude. Eric D.
Hello Eric, my name is Ed Lewis, not sure if you remember me but I'm a former student of yours at West Georgia from over 20 years ago. Glad to see you're doing well. Was wondering if you have an email address that you're willing to share as I can't find a contact online.
Can you make a video that elaborates on your religious beliefs?
You’re not in traffic, you are traffic
Lao Tsu
Haha, I really liked his traffic jam example. Never heard of that one before.
Ha ha... Yeah, nice "quote." And yeah, I was trying to start with something pretty much everyone can relate to, and then move to larger, more systemic phenomena in our world. But the thing is... that once you realize the basic idea of the disjunction between our small, rational decisions and their larger, irrational effects... well, it's easy to notice the same basic thing happening in many areas of our world. So it goes... Eric D.
I’d like to quote from children of dune for the 1st talking point of worlds weirdness: “Muad’Dib’s teachings have become the playground of scholastics, of the superstitious and the corrupt. He taught a balanced way of life, a philosophy with which a human can meet problems arising from an ever-changing universe. He said humankind is still evolving, in a process which will never end. He said this evolution moves on changing principles which are known only to eternity. How can corrupted reasoning play with such an essence?”
Hi Eric I’m not sure if/when you may see this. Been wondering if you are ok as you’ve been silent on UA-cam for a long while.
Hello sir. I want to ask you a question. I want to know your views on the advantages/limitations of acquiring knowledge with regards to having enlightening insights through direct observation. The kind of insights that free us from our enslavement and from the narrow confines in our mind. And by knowledge I mean studying truely deep philosophical or spiritual text like Jung, Dostoveysky, J Krishnamurti or even Buddha. Isn't it true as they themselves say that Knowledge is an obstacle on the way to Truth. That when we gather insights from outside, we become attached to them.
And as with every form of attachment, we lose our objectivity around it and it's a form of corruption ultimately?
Well, I'd say that acquiring knowledge becomes a form of corruption only insofar as we let it be that. And here I'd agree with you that the issue has mostly to do with how we attach to it. On one hand, if we make knowledge our fetish or our be-all-end all, then it very quickly becomes our prison -- basically the kind of enslavement you're describing. But on the other hand, if we're able to hold onto our so-called knowledge loosely... if we're still able to laugh, and to transcend ourselves, even in the midst of thinking that we know X, Y or Z... then knowledge can become another portal into the beyond, and a real entry into greater liberation -- just like everything else in the universe. Hmm... The Jewish theologian Abraham Heschel once claimed that, "Everything holds the secret." And I believe that the same is true of our knowledge. It's really mostly a matter of treating it properly... of not fixating on it too eagerly. And while I'd agree that while Western culture doesn't exactly encourage that, it's still well within the bounds of possibility (and sometimes actuality). Anyhow, who says that we need to take our culture's limitations as our own? Anyhow... cool question. And it's always good to hear your "voice" through the mists of cyberspace. Gratitude and greetings from Georgia, U.S.A. (in the Southeast part of the country). Gratitude. Eric D.
@@ericdodson2644 I'm from India and though not far from the capital, I'm the first generation of learner in my family. So I feel a sense of great 'achievement' occasionally when I happen to read/listen something of value. Like I got something more to decorate myself with. So I know I have to be vigilant around it.
Thank you for your reply sir.
Epic "Once" shirt!
You also have to take into account that the axis in the case of our own lives to not go out to infinity. At least not the parameters you are measuring.
Yeah, limitation is definitely part of the human equation... across pretty much every dimension that defines us -- perhaps most obviously time. Anyhow, speaking of time, thanks for taking a few minutes out of your finite allotment of time on Earth to watch this video. Gratitude. Eric D.
Also check out Rimworld. (And the mods.)
("... So whatever you do, don't be bored, this is absolutely the most exciting time we could have possibly hoped to be alive." ~Waking Life, 2001)
(And make more videos.)
hope you're doing well
Do you think the issue can be historical as in rooted in some renaissance philosophical principle popularized by western culture such as duality and the platonic ideal of jesus, whilst simultaneously renouncing any eastern contact along with their philosophical foundations? Thereby invoking a sacrilegious social value and associated norm into popular culture, and as your final Zarathustra-like comments inspired, it seems Nietzsche saw this societal transformation clearly. But I'm an optimist and believe we'll get this transition right.
Yeah, I believe that we'll get it right eventually, too -- especially by starting to treat it as an opportunity for Nietzschean overcoming, much like I'm describing toward the end of this video. And yes, I'd also say that part of our world's weirdness, especially in the West, has to do with our resistance to incorporating some of the wisdom that comes to us from the East. I'd say that that's especially true of meditative traditions, such as those of Buddhism and Hinduism. But it also runs through things like Taoism and Confucianism. We could definitely seek out a much larger and more realistic integration by incorporating those sorts of insights into our Western trajectory. But of course, it's one thing to say something like that. But it's another to do it. Anyhow, thanks for listening. Gratitude. Eric D.
The world is weird because we define weirdness by our ability to predict something, and the real world will be always more unpredictable than our expectations of it (this includes the minds/expectations by others).
I found this one a bit too preachy btw
Yeah, I'd say that the distance between our predictions and the world's inherent unpredictability is another source of our life's weirdness. And because of our penchant for hubris, it's usually difficult for us to acknowledge the fact that the world's complexity far outstrips our ability to understand and control it. Anyhow, as for being "preachy," well, as the saying goes, "One man's meat is another man's poison." And in any case, I don't think I've encountered a human being yet who doesn't get on a soapbox every now and then. At the end of the day, I suspect it's just another variable in the long and complex equation of human existence. Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to listen. Gratitude, and a big "Meow" to you! Eric D.
Professor, can you do a video about Socialism and Capitalism?
Distraction - The Ego's Favorite Defense Mechanism...............however........keep making vids......you could admit there are things you can't say and keep your soapbox
I'll discuss any conspiracy theory with interest and curiosity I just won't plan crimes
Talking about overpopulation in 2022 is like talking about there being too many ... in 1939. You definetely don't know whats going on in the world If you have slept on the fact that birth rates are rapidly declining almost everywhere.
I live in a medium/big democrat city and things are falling apart all around. Crime is through the roof, homeless are everywhere on the streets, I hear mentally ill men walking around and yelling outside at night on almost daily basis. Police isn't doing their job because they're being demonized and defunded. I don't feel safe going outside.
If you think the police is the solution to societal issues, then you haven’t realized much of history. The police don’t do anything except exacerbate societal issues.
Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same coin, both are negligent and malicious. If we want change, it’ll come from US, you and I and everyone else whose upset with our government not doing anything for us. Is it fair that Ukraine has gotten billions of dollars while babies can’t get enough formula in America? There’s money for war but not for the poor!
then move to the middle of ohio
@@allwecanseeisaboveusnow FYI youtube censored your comment.
@@trucid2 wow...
@@allwecanseeisaboveusnow UA-cam AI does the censorship. Some ideas you are not allowed to express on youtube.
I'd like you're help on existentialism with science.
Albert Camus said something like "Everything human beings do is to avoid suicide"
I want a time machine to bring Camus and Satre to today to meet my ex wife.
She now lives in America with Type 1 diabetes. I mention America for the super high costs.
Satre had type 2 diabetes, but that doesn't have the same philosophical quandary.
Science is allowed these human beings with this disease to stay alive. Science also might argue that evolution of natural selection has dictated that they should not be alive. This has to be an emotional mind fuck. The gift of life because of the perspective that you're not supposed to be alive.
How would Camus and Satre respond to the scientific idea that this human being needs to develop a lot of financial resources, knowledge of a limited scientific subject, etc to "avoid suicide"
I certainly believe that the concept of freedom relative to facticity and the abundance of freedom can be helpful to accept your disease not as a cursed label, but just apart of who you are.
But the factual nature that, if they cannot get insulin, they will die within hours or days or with fasting maybe a month.
The collection of wealth and resources in modern times for necessity, combined with the physical and mental stress of the lifelong emergency situation your in, requires a lot more literal effort and toll on the body and the mind then others without it, just to "avoid suicide"
A lot of existential thought is critical of the factual claims of science. Type 1 diabetes is a factually scientific reality within our reality. I'm trying to avoid the existential concepts of things like what if we're in The matrix.
Hoping that wasn't too many words and that you have some thoughts on these concepts.