Dr. John Vervaeke is an award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto in the departments of psychology, cognitive science, and Buddhist psychology.
Alphabetic
Date
Duration
Word Count
Popularity
Date
January 22, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
59:15
Views
64
This series explores the connections between meaning, wisdom, altered states of consciousness, and human cognition throughout history. Vervaeke discusses the “meaning crisis” faced by modern society and proposes that shamanism, psychedelics, and ancient practices like meditation may offer insights into overcoming this crisis. The goal is to provide a scientific account of how cultivating wisdom can alleviate suffering caused by a lack of meaning.
Date
January 23, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
58:04
Views
45
Vervaeke traces the development of human meaning-making abilities through two major transitions: the Upper Paleolithic when shamanic practices enhanced cognition and metaphorical thinking, and the Axial Age when literacy and abstract thought allowed greater self-awareness and self-transcendence. He connects these historical events to modern cognitive concepts like flow states, implicit learning, and metaphor to explain the origins of profound human capacities for finding wisdom and making meaning.
Date
February 1, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
55:59
Views
30
A discussion of the Axial Age (800 BCE–300 BCE) and the development of psycho-technologies like alphabetic literacy, coinage, and mathematics, which transformed human cognition and led to a shift in understanding the self, the world, and meaning-making. It examines the contributions of ancient Israel, Greece, and India in this transition, particularly the emergence of concepts like progress, rational argumentation, and self-transcendence, which continue to shape our thinking today.
Date
February 8, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
57:55
Views
20
Vervaeke discusses the ancient Greek philosophers Pythagoras and Socrates, and their contributions to the Axial Age, a pivotal period in human history characterized by a shift towards rational self-awareness and moral progress. Pythagoras explored patterns in the world through reason and mathematics, while Socrates emphasized self-knowledge, questioning commonly held beliefs, and aligning one’s pursuits with truth and wisdom. Their ideas laid the foundation for the Western philosophical tradition.
Date
February 15, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
56:45
Views
26
Date
February 22, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
54:38
Views
22
Date
March 1, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
56:09
Views
26
Date
March 8, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
54:30
Views
19
A talk about the Buddhist concept of mindfulness and its connection to the “meaning crisis” in the West. Vervaeke criticizes the simplistic definitions of mindfulness and argues for a deeper understanding of its cognitive processes and their potential for existential transformation, drawing from the life of Siddhartha Gautama. He suggests reformulating mindfulness to recover its capacity for awakening and transcending modal confusion.
Date
March 15, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
55:39
Views
26
In this lecture, Vervaeke discusses mindfulness and its connection to altered states of consciousness, mystical experiences, and finding meaning in life. He explores how practices like meditation and contemplation can lead to insights and transformative experiences through optimizing attention and awareness. He highlights the potential of these practices to alleviate existential distress and enhance one’s capacity for wisdom and a meaningful life.
Date
March 22, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
56:31
Views
24
Date
March 29, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
58:12
Views
18
Date
April 5, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
54:26
Views
17
Date
April 12, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
55:01
Views
52
Date
April 19, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
55:45
Views
19
Date
April 26, 2019
Format
Lecture
Duration
58:39
Views
22