Dr. John Vervaeke

The Crisis of Being   James Filler is a philosopher, theologian, and leading voice in metaphysics and post-Cartesian thought, specializing in substance ontology, the meaning crisis, and relational models of reason. With a PhD in philosophy and expertise in ancient and contemporary ontology, Filler is the author of Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being Relation as Ontological Ground and Substance Ontology and the Crisis of Reason. His work traces the genealogical roots of modern nihilism and skepticism while advancing a powerful case for relationality, participation, and non-discursive forms of knowing. As a teacher and scholar, he brings clarity and compassion to some of the most pressing philosophical and spiritual questions of our time. James Filler: Academia.edu [https://uga.academia.edu/JamesFiller] | Substance Ontology (Book) [https://www.amazon.com/Substance-Ontology-Crisis-Reason-Filler/dp/3031754115]   Each quarter, John engages in thought-provoking extended conversations with a leading expert in psychology, philosophy, and spirituality. Each season offers a unique exploration, bringing together their diverse fields of knowledge to create fresh insights and understanding. These in-depth discussions, chaptered for your convenience, offer nuanced perspectives and integrative approaches to navigating our complex world.   The first episode is free and publicly available. To follow the rest of the season as well as gain access to previous discussions, you can sign up at the Beta Tier (and above) on The Lectern at the Lectern Lounge [https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lectern-lounge].   If you would like to donate purely out of goodwill to support John’s work, please consider joining our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke]. The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Learn more about our work [https://vervaekefoundation.org/].    If you would like to learn and engage regularly in practices that are informed, developed and endorsed by John and his work, visit Awaken to Meaning’s calendar to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships. Join Practice [https://awakentomeaning.com/join-practice/].   John Vervaeke: Website [https://johnvervaeke.com/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke/videos] | Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke]   John Vervaeke is joined by philosopher and theologian James Filler to expose the hidden roots of the modern meaning crisis. Together, they trace a powerful philosophical arc from ancient substance ontology to today’s widespread nihilism, skepticism, and isolation. James reveals how centuries of prioritizing “being” over “relation” have led to an inward collapse of reason, relationality, and the self. John and James unpack how non-discursive knowing, theosis, and participatory truth can restore wholeness beyond representational models of mind. They explore the role of liturgy, love, and vertical epistemology as practices that reawaken our connection to what is most real. This Lectern is a profound inquiry into what it means to become truly human—and how we might recover the sacred not through belief, but through transformation. Notes:  * (00:00) Welcome to The Lectern * (00:30) James Filler's Work * (02:30) Impact of Substance Ontology * (07:00) Cartesian Dualism and Its Consequences * (10:30) Critique of Modern Rationality * (13:30) Relationality and Knowledge * (16:00) The Role of Non-Discursive Reasoning * (24:00) Ethics and Becoming Truly Human * (40:30) Participatory Knowing and Liturgy * (42:00) Secularism and Substance Ontology * (44:30) The Buffered Self and Modernity * (48:00) Self-Transcendence and Theosis * (51:00) Critique of Substance Ontology (01:00:00) The Role of Liturgy in Modern Churches

This conversation marks the beginning of a deeper inquiry for Dr. John Vervaeke: What if pilgrimage is not a retreat from the world, but a return to what is most real? Joined by Ethan Hsieh, John explicates his intent to preregister his intellectual and philosophical orientation before beginning his metaphorical pilgrimage. Drawing on parallels with psychology's preregistration practice, John's aim is to document his internal state at various stages of his journey. The conversation delves deep into the concepts of theoria, theophany, and theosis, advocating for a pilgrimage that is not merely a lecture series but a 'meta-noetic passage.' The dialogue anticipates John's encounters with historical figures, sages, and the individuals who embody and interpret their legacy. John expresses his openness to how these encounters might transform him, acknowledging the potential psychological and physiological challenges involved. The dialogue also touches upon themes of the imaginal and the importance of community and fellowship in the pilgrimage process. Ethan contributes by drawing connections to broader themes of perception and philosophical inquiry. The conversation culminates in the hope that this philosophical and spiritual journey will not only deepen John's understanding but also inspire others to embark on their own explorative journeys. —- Notes: (00:00) Introduction to the Philosophical Silk Road (00:30) The Concept of Preregistration in Philosophy (01:00) Defining the Pilgrimage and Its Purpose (02:00) Introducing Ethan and the Dialogical Approach (04:30) Exploring the Original Orientation (05:30) The Challenge of Propositional Tyranny (07:00) Theoria and Theophany: Renewing the Senses (13:30) Meta Noetic Passage and Pilgrimage (20:00) Engaging with Sages and Geographical Perspectives (24:00) Personal Challenges and Psychological Defects (31:30) The Fellowship of the Pilgrimage (33:00) Interlocutors and Sages: A Deeper Dive (54:00) Introduction to Theosis (55:00) Historical Continuity and Henosis (56:00) Henosis and Kenosis in Christian Mysticism (57:30) The Paradox of Self-Transcendence (01:00:30) Theosis and Inner Athea (01:05:30) Personal Reflections and Burnout (01:09:00) The Concept of Unbinding (01:11:00) Non-Theism and Theism (01:25:00) Pilgrimage and Transformation (01:38:30) Reflections on Personal Growth (01:48:00) Concluding Thoughts and Future Questions If you would like to donate purely out of goodwill to support John’s work, please consider joining our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke]. The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Learn more about our work [https://vervaekefoundation.org/].  If you would like to learn and engage regularly in practices that are informed, developed and endorsed by John and his work, visit Awaken to Meaning’s calendar to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships. Join Practice [https://awakentomeaning.com/join-practice/]. John Vervaeke: Website [https://johnvervaeke.com/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke/videos] | Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke]

Ritual, Wisdom, and What’s Lost Sebastian Morello was trained in philosophy by Sir Roger Scruton and Andrew Pinsent. He is a lecturer, columnist, and popular public speaker in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. Morello has previously co-authored books on subjects of philosophy and education. He lives in Bedfordshire, England, with his wife and children.   Each quarter, John engages in thought-provoking extended conversations with a leading expert in psychology, philosophy, and spirituality. Each season offers a unique exploration, bringing together their diverse fields of knowledge to create fresh insights and understanding. These in-depth discussions, chaptered for your convenience, offer nuanced perspectives and integrative approaches to navigating our complex world.   The first episode is free and publicly available. To follow the rest of the season as well as gain access to previous discussions, you can sign up at the Beta Tier (and above) on The Lectern at the Lectern Lounge [https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lectern-lounge].   If you would like to donate purely out of goodwill to support John’s work, please consider joining our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke]. The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Learn more about our work [https://vervaekefoundation.org/].    If you would like to learn and engage regularly in practices that are informed, developed and endorsed by John and his work, visit Awaken to Meaning’s calendar to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships. Join Practice [https://awakentomeaning.com/join-practice/].   John Vervaeke: Website [https://johnvervaeke.com/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke/videos] | Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke]   Sebastian Morello: LinkedIn [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-morello-b3393569] | The Gnostalgia Podcast [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/gnostalgia]   "What practices and philosophical frameworks can help us recover a sense of the sacred in an age dominated by disenchantment and institutional collapse?" John Vervaeke and Sebastian Morello engage in an expansive dialogue that traverses the authority crisis in the Catholic Church, the enduring wisdom of Neoplatonism, and the transformative power of Hermetic practices. Anchored in Morello’s provocative new book, Mysticism, Magic and Monasteries, the conversation unpacks the “double crisis” of our time- one of meaning and one of sanctity, and argues that modernity functions like a spell that must be broken. Together, they examine how monasticism once offered a stable and embodied sanctity, and why recovering mysticism, ritual magic (in the Hermetic sense), and lived devotion might be essential for collective reawakening.  Notes:  * (0:00) Welcome to The Lectern * (0:30) John reconnects with Sebastian Morello  * (3:00) Sebastian Gives a Brief Introduction of Himself * (6:00) Diagnosing the Double Crisis - Meaning and Authority * (9:00) Critique of Modernity and the Catholic Church * (12:00) The Loss of Embodied Wisdom in the West * (20:00) Neoplatonism and the Need for Relational Ontology * (26:30) Philosophical Anthropology and Cosmic Personhood * (31:00) Modernity’s Ontological Truncation * (38:30) Sacred Authority and the Failures of Clericalism * (42:00) Monasteries as Alternatives to Institutional Collapse * (49:00) Christian Liturgy as Baptized Theurgy * (54:00) Hermetic Cognition - Practicing the Theocentric Vision * (1:00:00) Recovering Sacred Imagery - Tarot, Ritual, and Mystical Space * (1:04:00) Digital Gnosticism and the Threat to Embodiment * (1:07:00) The Future of Privacy - Personhood, Property, and Charity * (1:11:00) The Philosophical Silk Road - East-West Interpenetration

Can artificial intelligence truly become wise? In this landmark lecture, John Vervaeke explores the future of AI through a lens few dare to examine: the limits of intelligence itself. He unpacks the critical differences between intelligence, rationality, reasonableness, and wisdom—terms often used interchangeably in discussions around AGI. Drawing from decades of research in cognitive science and philosophy, John argues that while large language models like ChatGPT demonstrate forms of generalized intelligence, they fundamentally lack core elements of human cognition: embodiment, caring, and participatory knowing. By distinguishing between propositional, procedural, perspectival, and participatory knowing, he reveals why the current paradigm of AI is not equipped to generate consciousness, agency, or true understanding. This lecture also serves as a moral call to action: if we want wise machines, we must first become wiser ourselves. Connect with a community dedicated to self-discovery and purpose, and gain deeper insights by joining our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke]. — 00:00 Introduction: AI, AGI, and the Nature of Intelligence 02:00 What is General Intelligence? 04:30 LLMs and the Illusion of Generalization 07:00 The Meta-Problems of Intelligence: Anticipation & Relevance Realization 09:00 Relevance Realization: The Hidden Engine of Intelligence 11:30 How We Filter Reality Through Relevance 14:00 The Limits of LLMs: Predicting Text vs. Anticipating Reality 17:00 Four Kinds of Knowing: Propositional, Procedural, Perspectival, Participatory 23:00 Embodiment, Consciousness, and Narrative Identity 27:00 The Role of Attention, Care, and Autopoiesis 31:00 Culture as Niche Construction 34:00 Why AI Can’t Participate in Meaning 37:00 The Missing Dimensions in LLMs 40:00 Rationality vs. Reasonableness 43:00 Self-Deception, Bias, and the Need for Self-Correction 46:00 Caring About How You Care: The Core of Rationality 48:00 Wisdom: Aligning Multiple Selves and Temporal Scales 53:00 The Social Obligation to Cultivate Wisdom 55:00 Alter: Cultivating Wisdom in an AI Future — The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Become a part of our mission: https://vervaekefoundation.org/ Join Awaken to Meaning to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships: https://awakentomeaning.com/ — Ideas, People, and Works Mentioned in this Episode: * Jeff Hinton * Jordan Peterson * Keith Stanovich * Michael Levin * Stroop Effect * Bertrand Russell * Plato (Republic, Symposium) * Predictive Processing * Relevance Realization * Spearman (1926) * DeepMind (DeepSeek) — Follow John Vervaeke: https://johnvervaeke.com/ https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke [https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke] — Thank you for watching!

Britt Hartley is a certified spiritual director, meditation teacher, and leading voice in secular spirituality, specializing in religious trauma, deconstruction, and nihilism recovery. With a Master’s in Applied Theology, doctoral work in Open and Relational Theology (ABD), and training across Sufi, Mormon, and meditation traditions, she is the author of No Nonsense Spirituality: All the Tools, No Faith Required and a respected scholar on Gen Z and the future of American religion.   Britt Hartley: Website [https://nononsensespirituality.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nononsensespirituality/?hl=en] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@nononsensespirituality]    Each quarter, John engages in thought-provoking extended conversations with a leading expert in psychology, philosophy, and spirituality. Each season offers a unique exploration, bringing together their diverse fields of knowledge to create fresh insights and understanding. These in-depth discussions, chaptered for your convenience, offer nuanced perspectives and integrative approaches to navigating our complex world.   The first episode is free and publicly available. To follow the rest of the season as well as gain access to previous discussions, you can sign up at the Beta Tier (and above) on The Lectern at the Lectern Lounge [https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lectern-lounge].   If you would like to donate purely out of goodwill to support John’s work, please consider joining our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke]. The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Learn more about our work [https://vervaekefoundation.org/].    If you would like to learn and engage regularly in practices that are informed, developed and endorsed by John and his work, visit Awaken to Meaning’s calendar to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships. Join Practice [https://awakentomeaning.com/join-practice/].   John Vervaeke: Website [https://johnvervaeke.com/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke/videos] | Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke]   "How can someone rebuild meaning, a sense of the sacred, and genuine connection after religion, without having to adopt beliefs they no longer hold?" John Vervaeke is joined by Atheist Spiritual Director, Britt Hartley to explore what happens after belief falls apart. Britt shares her personal journey through suicidal nihilism and how mysticism, resonance, and play led her to rediscover meaning and orientation in life without needing to return to religion. John and Britt challenge the limits of therapeutic models, explore the difference between propositional truth and lived wisdom, and ask whether modern secular culture has lost the capacity to sustain sacredness. This Lectern is a philosophical act of compassion, bridging ancient spiritual technologies and contemporary existential pain. John and Britt offer pathways for transformation that bypass belief while restoring depth, connectedness, and awe. Notes:  * (0:00) Welcome to The Lectern * (2:00) Meet Britt Hartley - Theological Background and Faith Crisis * (5:00) The Descent into Suicidal Nihilism * (10:00) Religion’s Collapse and the Meaning Crisis * (15:00) Philosophical vs. Clinical Healing * (16:00) Why Therapy ‘Fails’ the Nihilist * (21:00) Religion, Secularism, and Building Your Own Path * (26:30) Balancing Fundamentalism and Nihilism * (31:00)  ”The most spiritual atheist and the most deconstructed Christian, the space in between those two people when you actually look at their life is just a hair.” - Britt Hartley * (34:30) The Triple Transcendent and Sacredness * (40:30) Mysticism and the Sacred * (45:30) Building a Life Worth Experiencing * (53:00) The Role of Play and Resonance * (55:00) Embodied Knowing and Existential Shifts * (58:00) Trauma, Depression, and Resonance Recovery * (1:09:30) Exploring 'Holy Envy' and Interfaith Learning * (1:12:00) The Transformative Power of Sufism * (1:19:00)  Feminine Perspective on Religion * (1:25:30) The Value of Tailored Spiritual Practices