16 February 2025
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MeaningofLife.tv videos
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Sep 29, 2016 — Robert Wright & Roger Petersen
Roger’s work on emotions that drive ethnic conflict
Perceived threats that unite Trump supporters
The new identity of the white working class
The “basket of deplorables” and the politics of indignation
How Middle American and liberal elites see each other
Are the perils of our time exaggerated?
TAGS
Donald Trump
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economics
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empathy
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fear
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human nature
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identity
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Islam
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moral imagination
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nationalism
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politics
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psychology
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tribalism
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violence
Sep 26, 2016 — Josh Summers & JP Sears
Meet JP Sears, the New Age Stephen Colbert
Josh receives ultraspiritual guidance from JP
Shining a light of satire on the “shadow side” of spiritual practices
Where JP’s comedy comes from
Stepping out of the comfort zone, and other spiritual disciplines
Watch Josh transform into an ultra-ultra-post-spiritual guru
TAGS
dreaming
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enlightenment
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meditation
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mindfulness
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psychology
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spirituality
Sep 21, 2016 — Robert Wright & Erik Braun
Erik’s book
The Birth of Insight
and its hero, Ledi Sayadaw
Three marks of existence: impermanence, suffering, and not-self
Origins and characteristics of American Buddhism
How Burmese politics shaped Western Buddhism
Ledi’s take on how meditation leads to enlightenment
The ethical side of Buddhist practice
Erik’s meditation practice
TAGS
Buddhism
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consciousness
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enlightenment
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history
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human nature
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meditation
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mind
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mindfulness
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philosophy
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politics
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psychology
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religion
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science
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self
Sep 19, 2016 — Daniel Kaufman & Massimo Pigliucci
David Hume’s life and work
How Hume influenced Massimo’s thinking
What Hume got right about causality, and what he got wrong
What shapes our moral instincts?
Why Dan regards Arthur Danto so highly…
…and what he thinks Danto got wrong
The end of art history?
TAGS
ethics
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human nature
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philosophy
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psychology
Sep 12, 2016 — Robert Wright & Robert George
Why Robby refuses to support Trump
Is history shaped more by social forces or human agency?
Robby gives an insider’s view on why Appalachia is Trump country
The declining influence of religion
How a lack of humility poisons politics
Contempt in current political rhetoric
Robby: Politicians need to get out of the identity politics game
TAGS
Christianity
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ethics
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free will
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history
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moral imagination
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philosophy
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politics
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psychology
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religion
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tribalism
Aug 23, 2016 — Robert Wright & Daniel Ogilvie
Why Dan decided to teach a course about soul beliefs
Almost all Americans believe in an undying soul
When did religion become infused with morality?
Greek philosophers on the soul
How to challenge beliefs in a smart way
Is religion a convenient way to deny death?
TAGS
ancient philosophy
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death
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ethics
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history
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monotheism
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New Atheists
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philosophy
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psychology
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religion
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Richard Dawkins
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science
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soul
Aug 9, 2016 — Robert Wright & Liane Young
The loving Us and the hateful Them
Understanding a rival is easier when you’re paid for it
Why we misunderstand the motivations of others
Why we’re confused about our own minds
Study: We tend to think immoral behavior is voluntary
The psychology of victim blaming
TAGS
ethics
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foreign policy
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moral imagination
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politics
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psychology
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science
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tribalism
Aug 8, 2016 — Robert Wright & Susan Schneider
The most intelligent life in outer space may be artificial
Should we be worried about AI?
Shopping for a scientific path to eternal life
“Protomentality,” matter’s (hypothesized) latent sentience
Would your self survive uploading to a computer?
What if we never understand consciousness?
TAGS
cognitive science
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compassion
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consciousness
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death
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free will
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human nature
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identity
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mind-body problem
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philosophy
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physics
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psychology
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science
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technology
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the future
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transhumanism
Jul 27, 2016 — Oliver Burkeman & Susan Piver
When rage intrudes on meditation
The internal logic of bad acts
Susan explains the uses of lovingkindness meditation
Resisting the temptation to take pleasure in anger
Seeing terrorists as humans
Susan: don’t flee from bad feelings
TAGS
anger
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Buddhism
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compassion
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Donald Trump
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empathy
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evil
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fear
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happiness
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love
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meditation
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mindfulness
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moral imagination
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psychology
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tribalism
Jul 13, 2016 — Robert Wright & Cristina Bicchieri
What is a social norm?
Why do norms like genital mutilation exist?
Ways to change norms (and ways to fail)
Change we have seen: smoking, gay marriage, bullying
Fear disrupts norms and helps people like Trump
The internet as a tool against “pluralistic ignorance”
Why the political establishment is in trouble
TAGS
crime
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Donald Trump
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economics
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game theory
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nationalism
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politics
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psychology
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violence
Jul 10, 2016 — Robert Wright & Kenneth Folk
The bell-curve of awakening
Being enlightened feels “meta-okay”
The benefits of experiencing life impersonally
Does enlightenment have to have a moral dimension?
Awakening as growing up
The lenses and filters through which we see life
TAGS
altruism
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Buddhism
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consciousness
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drugs
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enlightenment
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ethics
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happiness
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meditation
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mindfulness
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perception
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psychology
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religion
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sadness
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self
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spirituality
Jun 25, 2016 — Robert Wright & David Bryce Yaden
David’s recent research on “self-transcendent experiences”
Causes and effects of self-transcendence
Is the loss of self real?
Evolutionary explanations of mystical states
The neurology of meditation
Revisiting the mind-body problem
TAGS
Buddhism
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consciousness
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meditation
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mind-body problem
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psychology
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science
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self
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spirituality
Jun 24, 2016 — Robert Wright & Daniel Kaufman
Understanding Saddam Hussein ≠ sympathy for Saddam Hussein
The ethics of punishing bad people
Dan vs. evolutionary psychology
Is religion really behind Sunni-Shia conflict?
The good side of tribalism
What does “mindfulness” actually mean?
TAGS
Christianity
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ethics
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Islam
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meditation
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mindfulness
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moral imagination
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philosophy
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psychology
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religion
Jun 18, 2016 — Suzanne Koven & Jo Marchant
Why Jo wrote
Cure: A Journey Into the Science of Mind Over Body
The rift between alternative and traditional medicine
The real effects of “fake” medicine
Jo: Science needs to take alternative treatments seriously
The problem with focusing on pharmaceuticals
Bringing science and alternative medicine together
TAGS
drugs
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meditation
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psychology
Jun 1, 2016 — David Kyuman Kim & Brian McLaren
What is an “evangelical progressive Christian”?
Tribal tendencies in the evangelical community
The urge to annihilate the “other”
Do right beliefs lead to right actions?
The upside of despair
Our toxic political system
TAGS
Christianity
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compassion
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ethics
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love
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politics
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psychology
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tribalism
May 30, 2016 — Robert Wright & Paul Bloom
A theory of evil that isn’t supernatural
Could “moral imagination” have prevented the Iraq War?
Was saying “We are Charlie Hebdo” a bad idea?
Knowledge as a moral good
How “moral imagination” fits into a larger spiritual worldview
Paul Bloom interrogates Bob
Questions from the audience
TAGS
evil
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foreign policy
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moral imagination
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New Atheists
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psychology
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spirituality
May 27, 2016 — Robert Wright & Bernard Beitman
Bernard’s new book
Connecting With Coincidence
Debating whether coincidences are significant
Jungian synchronicity and archetypes
The weird coincidence involving the sun and the moon
Mental states that make coincidences seem meaningful
Should you take guidance from coincidences?
TAGS
consciousness
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mind-body problem
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psychology
May 25, 2016 — Robert Wright & Dacher Keltner
Dacher’s new book
The Power Paradox
How being nice can make you powerful
Gossip and other ways to keep leaders in check
How getting power can make you mean
The bully politics of Donald Trump
Stories the rich tell themselves
TAGS
Donald Trump
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politics
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power
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psychology
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science
May 13, 2016 — Philip Menchaca & Troy Campbell
A few theories about climate science skeptics
Troy’s “solution aversion” theory
Testing beliefs in the lab
Ideology as identity
How do you convince people that your cause is right?
When you should get aggressive with your message
TAGS
climate change
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cognitive science
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identity
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politics
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psychology
May 12, 2016 — Daniel Engber & Robert Kurzban
Is willpower a limited resource?
When scientific results can’t be replicated
“The bigger the idea, the less I trust it”
Where has science gone wrong?
The legacy of bad ideas
Separating good science from bad
TAGS
cognitive science
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psychology
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science
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social science
Apr 12, 2016 — David Bryce Yaden & Alex Belser
Treating cancer-related anxiety with psilocybin
How do you study a mystical experience?
A bad trip as a path to catharsis and resolution
Drug-induced vs. natural mystical experiences
Will magic mushrooms become a prescription drug?
Spirituality is collective work, says Alex, not a solo journey
TAGS
psychology
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spirituality
Mar 8, 2016 — Robert Wright & Susan Gelman
The psychology of essentialism
Is your dog an essentialist?
The essence of good, evil, and Donald Trump
Why we value some objects more than others
Religion and essentialism
Do we perceive reality accurately?
TAGS
ancient philosophy
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Donald Trump
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family
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philosophy
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psychology
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religion
Mar 6, 2016 — Robert Wright & Daniel Ingram
What is it like to be an arhat?
Perspectives on the self: It’s nothing, it’s everything
What enlightenment is, and what’s so great about it
Dwelling in enlightenment is easy, but getting there can be hard
Does enlightenment entail moral improvement?
Can meditation save—or impede salvation of—the world?
TAGS
Buddhism
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Christianity
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consciousness
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enlightenment
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happiness
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Hinduism
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meditation
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mysticism
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psychology
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religion
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self
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spirituality
Feb 22, 2016 — Miguel Farias & Russell Razzaque
How mental breakdown could prime one for spiritual awakening
Russell: Cracks in our sense of self are helpful
Why mental health prognoses are worse in the West
Has meditation become commodified?
How practicing mindfulness can make you a better therapist
Can mindfulness replace traditional therapy?
TAGS
identity
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meditation
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mental health
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mindfulness
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psychology
Feb 18, 2016 — Aryeh Cohen-Wade & Jesse Singal
Jesse’s article on the closure of a gender identity clinic
The rise of #firejessesingal
The real-world consequences of abusive online discourse
The social dynamics driving internet vitriol
Why engage at all?
Life lessons from being shamed on Twitter
TAGS
gender
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psychology
Feb 16, 2016 — Robert Wright & Melanie Brewster
Melanie Brewster and other
Atheists in America
Can atheism be a source of community?
What about hope, consolation and wonder?
Melanie’s book and why it was originally titled
The Other Closet
Why do New Atheists tend to be white, male and angry?
Are atheists understudied?
TAGS
atheism
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Christianity
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ethics
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Islam
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psychology
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religion
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spirituality
Feb 13, 2016 — Daniel Kaufman & Massimo Pigliucci
What constitutes an explanation in the natural sciences?
Looking for a categorical difference between natural and social sciences
Biological and social explanations of human behavior
The difference between the narratives of social and physical sciences
Does social science explain events or their interpretations?
Must a science have “laws”? Are there social scientific laws?
TAGS
biology
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evolution
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philosophy
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physics
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psychology
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social science
Feb 7, 2016 — Robert Wright & Paul Froese
What do we mean by a meaningful life?
Finding purpose in being a part of something bigger
How social context determines our understanding of meaning
Fantasies about uniting humanity: one cause, one God, one reality
Are we making moral progress?
Is it empowering or terrifying to think we create our own meaning?
TAGS
atheism
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happiness
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human nature
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mindfulness
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philosophy
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psychology
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religion
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spirituality
Jan 6, 2016 — Robert Wright & Annabella Pitkin
Buddhism in a nutshell
The meaning of life according to Tibetan Buddhism
The key to liberation
Talking about tantra
If science is power, what happens to religion?
What does renunciation mean for Buddhists?
TAGS
Buddhism
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meditation
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psychology
Dec 13, 2015 — Robert Wright & Donald Hoffman
Natural selection doesn’t build brains to see the truth
How perception is like a graphical computer interface
Don’s theory: It’s consciousness all the way down
Is there a chicken-and-egg problem with this theory?
Don describes his consciousness formula, sans math (phew)
With this theory, life is more interesting—and painful
TAGS
cognitive science
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consciousness
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evolution
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mind-body problem
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perception
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psychology
Dec 12, 2015 — Robert Wright & Pamela Cooper-White
Clergy as front-line therapists for parishioners
Personal guilt about God’s judgment
Using faith to counter a traumatic religious upbringing
Neoliberal capitalism and its discontents
A psychological reading of the Christian Trinity
Are humans making spiritual progress?
TAGS
Christianity
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psychology
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religion
Dec 4, 2015 — David Bryce Yaden & Roy Hamilton
Roy explains non-invasive brain stimulation
Assessing the safety of this technology
Can brain stimulation make you smarter?
Does increasing memory decrease creativity?
The possibility of unlocking savant-like abilities
An ethical question about cognitive enhancement
TAGS
cognitive science
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psychology
Nov 30, 2015 — Robert Wright & Steven Pinker
Why humans are becoming less violent
The dark side of our moral sense
Just how deluded are we?
Bob tries to get Steve to say something nice about religion
How science gives Steve’s life meaning
The problem with “evil”
TAGS
altruism
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Buddhism
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empathy
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ethics
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evil
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psychology
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spirituality
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violence
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war
Nov 15, 2015 — David Bryce Yaden & David Vago
Science and mindfulness meditation
Dave: “Self” and “other” are societal constructs
Teaching cognitive neuroscience to Tibetan monks
Understanding the self as “500 milliseconds of selfing”
Are mindfulness and creativity in conflict?
New technology to facilitate meditation
TAGS
Buddhism
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cognitive science
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meditation
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mindfulness
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psychology
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religion
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self
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spirituality
Nov 14, 2015 — Robert Wright & Jonah Goldberg
Finding meaning in faith and family
How to be political yet non-tribal
Friendship as a source of corruption
What Donald Trump gets wrong about the value of money
Our special connection with dogs
On confronting the inevitability of death
TAGS
death
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family
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happiness
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psychology
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tribalism
Nov 9, 2015 — Robert Wright & Oliver Burkeman
Oliver’s book on happiness and negativity,
The Antidote
What’s the worst that could happen? Imagine it!
Similarities between Stoicism and Buddhism
What our fear of death is really about
What’s the connection between money and happiness?
Why you should “hang out” in negative situations
TAGS
ancient philosophy
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Buddhism
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death
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happiness
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meditation
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poverty
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psychology
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self
Nov 5, 2015 — Robert Wright & Gregory Hickok
The theory of mirror neurons…
…and why Greg believes this theory is wrong
How the mirror neuron theory became so popular
Explaining “embodied cognition”
Quantum physics and our perception of reality
Is consciousness a fundamental property of the universe?
TAGS
cognitive science
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empathy
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evolution
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physics
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psychology
Oct 21, 2015 — Joshua Knobe & Abigail Marsh
Abby’s research on children with psychopathic traits
Why psychopaths are good manipulators
Are psychopaths born or made?
Inside the brain of a psychopath
“Anti-psychopaths”—people with very high empathy
The link between empathy and recognizing fear
TAGS
altruism
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cognitive science
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fear
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mental health
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psychology
Oct 20, 2015 — Robert Wright & Jay Michaelson
Jay’s new book on sadness,
The Gate of Tears
The most common mistake we make in dealing with sadness
Examining the contours of your negative emotions
Connections between Jewish and Buddhist teachings
Jay: Pushing away the difficult is 90% of the difficult
Spirituality and the power of negative thinking
TAGS
Buddhism
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foreign policy
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happiness
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Judaism
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meditation
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psychology
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sadness
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spirituality
Oct 19, 2015 — Robert Wright & Jorge Ferrer
Do all religions have the same “esoteric core?”
The psychedelic origins of transpersonal psychology
Aligning your instincts, consciousness, and heart through “participatory spirituality”
Constructing reality through “embodied cognition”
Why Jorge would object to making participatory spirituality a religion
The complicated morality of “enlightened” spiritual teachers
TAGS
Buddhism
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consciousness
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psychology
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religion
|
spirituality
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