Alex Tsakiris: Evil, Objective Morality, and the Limits of Materialism

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Curt Jaimungal

Physics, Philosophy, Society & Culture, Science

4.6 • 606 Ratings

🗓️ 2 February 2021

⏱️ 89 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Alex Tsakiris joins Curt Jaimungal to examine the nature of evil, objective morality, and post‑modernism, using Curt’s documentary Better Left Unsaid as a focal point. The conversation also explores Alex’s book “Why Evil Matters,” critiques rationalist and humanist ideologies, and delves into topics from consciousness to the Horseshoe Theory.0:00 Introduction1:21 Alex’s introduces Better Left Unsaid (trailer)3:01 Comments on Alex's book "Why Evil Matters"4:56 Curt's theoretical background7:21 Discussion on Donald Hoffman13:30 The problem in Academia13:21 Alex’s on "why are we here?"15:21 The problem with rationalists (quote from Hildegard De Bingen)21:01 Humanists ideologies... What do they believe?22:01 Is Curt a Christian?23:21 If values are a social construction, then what happens to morality?25:21 Consciousness is an illusion28:21 Near death experiences34:27 Alex on Dennett and Dawkins being part of a conspiracy37:01 "No, you didn't meet Jesus."41:21 Alex's breakdown of Curt's film Better Left Unsaid42:29 On utilitarianism43:26 Curt on his own "destructiveness"46:21 Who will you be judged by?48:07 Unbounded forgiveness50:21 What does "Psy-Ops" mean?53:51 Feminism was co-opted by the CIA (Gloria Steinem story)57:21 A bit more on Alex's Book "Why Evil Matters"58:01 Love vs Power (a Jungian perspective)58:40 Is the world supposed to be unintelligible? Should we not know all the answers?1:02:59 Why does this world exist at all?1:03:47 Kierkegaard on what it means to be a Christian1:04:36 Doubt and faith as essential in spirituality1:06:58 What is Better Left Unsaid's target audience?1:08:41 The Horseshoe Theory1:12:44 Curt's fasting -- why does he do it?1:17:21 Alex's / Curt's meditation -- what do they do? (Wim Hof)1:23:14 Where to find Better Left Unsaid?RESOURCES:- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/xrkQumFzwS0- Alex Tsakiris is the host of Skeptiko (a podcast with guests such as Donald Hoffman, Michael Shermer, and others. It's can be found here): https://www.youtube.com/user/skeptiko- The film Better Left Unsaid can be followed here: http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com- Patreon for conversations on Theories of Everything, Consciousness, Free Will, and God: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal- Help support conversations like this via PayPal: https://bit.ly/2EOR0M4- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e- Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Id3k7k7mfzahfx2fjqmw3vufb44 Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. SPONSOR: I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today's episode is a bit different, so if you will allow me, I'm going to read.
0:04.5	Alex Akiris from Skeptico asked to interview me about consciousness, morality, and my upcoming
0:09.8	documentary, Better Left Unsaid, which is about the extremism that characterizes the political
0:14.5	left and the political right, but we do focus predominantly on the left for reasons of intellectual
0:19.6	curiosity. That is, it's fairly easy to
0:22.4	discern when the right, quote unquote, goes too far because it manifests itself in something
0:27.0	like ostensive racism, whereas on the left, it cloaks itself, or at least seemingly does,
0:32.7	in benevolence, such as wanting more equality, and so on. Because I'm most comfortable when eliciting the views of others,
0:40.3	this interview became more of an exchange between myself and Alex.
0:44.3	I found it to be a fascinating, fascinating discussion about religion,
0:48.3	what constitutes God, what constitutes a Christian or a Buddhist,
0:51.3	does consciousness survive death, as well as all the other topics you've grown accustomed to on this channel except for physics, which I will be returning to in the next few weeks.
0:59.0	In fact, soon I have the pleasure of speaking to Bernardo Castro, so if you have any questions there, please leave it in the Reddit link below.
1:06.0	If you find this conversation to be interesting, then let me know. And I'll start posting more of me being
1:11.0	interviewed by other people and me interviewing them simultaneously since the release of the documentary
1:16.1	Better Left Onset is ever closer and press starts ramping up closer to that date. Enjoy.
1:22.0	Welcome to Skeptico where we explore controversial science and spirituality with leading
1:27.3	researchers, thinkers, and their critics.
1:30.4	I'm your host, Alex Akaris.
1:32.6	And today we welcome Kurt Jamungle, the Skeptico.
1:35.6	Kurt is a very accomplished filmmaker and actor based in Toronto.
1:41.3	You know, I initially contacted Kurt because I was super impressed with his
	...

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