What lies beyond our words, our labels, our stories? 

At 91 years old, Professor Emeritus Algis Mickunas has lived through war, exile, steel mills, and lecture halls. He’s authored over 50 books, taught across continents, and carries the wisdom of someone who sees the universe in a single drop of morning dew.

In this rare and timeless conversation, Zivile Ein sits down with the legendary Lithuanian-American philosopher to explore identity, perception, memory, freedom, and what it means to live in truth. From escaping Soviet-occupied Lithuania to studying Zen archery in Japan, Mickūnas shares a journey that redefines mastery, education, and presence.

We ask: Who are we without our words, roles, and labels? What happens when we stop trying to control life — and simply witness it unfold?

This is not just a podcast episode. It’s a living dialogue about wonder, reality, democracy, and the cosmic rhythm of being human.

🌀 Part of the first live Perception Paradox community event

About Prof. Emeritus Algis Mickunas

Algis Mickunas is a prolific scholar, earning a B.S. in engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology (1955-58), a B.A. and an M.A. in Classical Philosophy at DePaul University (1958-63), an M.A. in Contemporary European Philosophies at Cologne University (1963-64) and Freiburg University (1964-65), an M.A. in the Philosophy of Language at the University of Chicago (1965-66), and a PhD in Modern Philosophy from Emory University (1966-69). He has published over 400 articles in five languages, has authored, co-authored, and co-edited over 40 books in philosophy, social and political theory, and communication. Further, Dr. Mickunas has established several international scholarly organizations, including The Husserl Circle, The Merleau-Ponty Circle, the Japan-West Phenomenology Consortium, and the International Jean Gebser Society for the Study of Comparative Civilization.

Connect with Professor Algis: [email protected]

🎙️ Hosted by Zivile Einikyte:

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🎵 Music by Luca Nioi: 

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:38 Exploring Identity and Perception

08:55 The Nature of Discourse and Reality

17:14 Reflections on Self and Cosmic Identity

26:25 Philosophical Insights on Vision and Memory

37:16 Timeless Images and Self-Perception

42:12 The Search for Identity and Invariant Human Nature

48:59 Philosophical Foundations of the Self

57:14 Democracy and the Role of Philosophy

1:06:43 The Tragedy of Human Existence

1:15:49 The Nature of Silence and the Transcendental Self

1:25:11 Echoes of the Universe

1:27:10 The Cosmic Dance of Time

1:32:31 Curiosity and Love for Life

1:38:05 Navigating Identity Through Adversity

1:42:34 The Rhythm of Life and Sleep

1:48:16 Experiencing the Universe

1:57:10 Education and Democracy