Ep. 38 - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - Agape and 4E Cognitive Science

In this episode of "Awakening From The Meaning Crisis," Dr. Vervaeke discusses addressing perennial problems through various practices and the importance of situating these practices within an encompassing worldview to avoid undermining their legitimacy. He explores the interaction between historical forces, such as the loss of the three orders (nomological, normative, and narrative), and perennial problems, referencing the work of Wolf on Meaning in Life and the concept of objective attractiveness. Vervaeke introduces the idea of agape, a transjective appreciation for meaning-making, as a response to the lack of objective value. He also discusses the insights of third-generation 4E cognitive science, drawing on the work of Francisco Varela, including embodiment, emergence, emotion, and excellence, to address the loss of the three orders and worldview misattunement, ultimately aiming for a post-narrative way of being grounded in wisdom and higher states of consciousness.