Physics vs Mysticism - Dr. M.S. DeLay & A. V. Bendebury, DS Pod #279

We sit down for a discussion about the futility of rationalism,
by way of William James' Varieties of Religious Experience. We
start with the question of utopias, and try to diagnose why, if
they're doomed to fail, it's still worth trying to create them,
and then move on to the question of the scientific project -
which seems to be an attempt to create a rationalist utopia.
James' take on mystical experiences - that they're nearly
universally accessible, though rarely long dwelt in - seems to
suggest that there is something about the tremulous experience of
being alive that will leave us with the feeling of being part of
something larger than ourselves no matter how rational we get.
So, then, if we can never escape the mystical experience, is it
worth trying? And if it is, and we take the project of science to
be worthwhile, where does the mystic live? Sign up for our
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shopping through this link: https://amzn.to/4g2cPVV (00:00:00)
Go! (00:08:52) Capitalism vs. Utopia (00:20:06) The Nature of
Utopian Projects (00:23:16) The challenges of maintaining utopian
communities (00:26:21) The importance of starting small for
larger projects (00:30:30) Navigating local laws and governance
in new communities (00:34:13) The inherent risks of utopian
projects (00:39:05) Embracing flexibility for successful
organizations (00:44:04) Exploring the interface of science and
mysticism (00:46:48) Exploration of Mystical Experiences and
Science (00:51:25) Science and the Unseen (00:59:04) The
Challenge of Defining Consciousness (01:06:00) Technology and
Labor Dynamics (01:10:52) Dealing with Technology's Impact on
Human Experience (01:13:11) William James and the Nature of
Poverty (01:16:27) The Relationship Between Mystics and Society
(01:20:21) Personal Accounts of Mystical Experiences (01:25:15)
Balancing Mystical Insights and Practicality (01:30:21) Critique
on Integrating Mysticism into Science (01:34:08) The interplay of
belief and the unseen in religious and scientific contexts
(01:37:00) The mystical dimensions of quantum physics and human
experience (01:39:38) Art and mysticism: the limitations of
science in capturing experiences (01:45:09) The inadequacies of
science in addressing consciousness and existence (01:50:45) The
pursuit of knowledge and the limits of scientific authority
#sciencepodcast, #longformpodcast, #UtopianVision,
#ScienceVsMysticism, #WilliamJames, #Philosophy, #Mysticism,
#Rationalism, #DavidGraeber, #Utopia, #Psychology,
#PhilosophicalDebate, #DemystifyingScience, #PodcastDiscussion,
#CulturalCritique, #HumanExperience, #ConsciousnessExploration
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https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S PODCAST INFO: Anastasia completed her PhD
studying bioelectricity at Columbia University. When not talking
to brilliant people or making movies, she spends her time
painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions. Shilo also
did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic properties of
molecular water. When he's not in the film studio, he's exploring
sound in music. They are both freelance professors at various
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