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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.