Feasts of Reason

What justifies believing something when you acknowledge that you don't have sufficient evidence to establish that it's true?

Sidney Pines, author of the Patriots Diary series, believes the 2020 presidential election was stolen. She's also remarkably candid about the possibility that she's wrong—or may even have been duped.

That combination made me curious.

In this episode of Feasts of Reason, Sidney and I use her experience investigating the 2020 election to explore how we form beliefs, evaluate evidence, decide which sources to trust, and distinguish what we believe from what we can reasonably claim to know.

Along the way, we discuss the influence of news media, social media algorithms, political polarization, and the growing divisions between friends and families.

We also explore a central challenge of collective knowledge: How do we distinguish a community of people discovering something together from a community reinforcing a mistaken belief?

Sidney and I don't agree about everything. But we find plenty of common ground in our willingness to ask questions, consider alternative explanations, and acknowledge the possibility that we might be wrong.

Books by Sidney Pines:

• Awakening: A Patriots Diary of American Deception
• Golden Age Rising

Link to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's report on the 2020 Election: https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/SEB2020-059%20ROI%20redacted.pdf
Article on Gulliani libel settlement with Ruby Freeman: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trial-over-rudy-giulianis-florida-home-is-delayed-due-to-the-former-nyc-mayors-unexplained-absence
Link to Pulitzer de-bunking: https://sos.ga.gov/news/fact-check-georgia-senate-masquerades-failed-treasure-hunter-hacker-and-election-security

#FeastsOfReason #CriticalThinking #Epistemology #IntellectualHumility #SidneyPines #2020Election #PoliticalPolarization

Was Spinoza Really an Atheist? | Philosopher Steven Nadler

Baruch Spinoza famously identified God with Nature, offered a proof of God's existence, and placed the intellectual love of God at the heart of human flourishing. So how could he possibly have been an atheist?

In this episode of Feasts of Reason, host Matt Ward welcomes Steven Nadler, philosopher, University of Wisconsin–Madison professor, and one of the world's leading Spinoza scholars. His latest book, Spinoza, Atheist, argues that despite Spinoza's frequent references to God, his philosophy leaves no room for genuine divinity.

But what makes something divine? Can our scientific understanding of Nature inspire a genuinely spiritual experience? And is calling Nature God a philosophical mistake—or simply a different way of understanding the divine?

Along the way, we explore Spinoza's distinction between wonder rooted in ignorance and wonder inspired by knowledge, his views on determinism and free will, the role of religion in promoting moral behavior, and what his philosophy can teach us about living a rational, virtuous, and fulfilling life.

We also discuss whether a religion based on acknowledged fiction can be morally valuable—and ask how Spinoza himself might react to Nadler's interpretation.

Support independent bookstores!

Steven encourages readers to purchase his books through independent booksellers.

Find a bookstore near you: https://bookshop.org/pages/bookstores

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About Feasts of Reason

Feasts of Reason explores the limits of human knowledge, the beliefs we form beyond those limits, and how curiosity, intellectual humility, and reason can help us navigate our differences.

#Spinoza #StevenNadler #Philosophy #Atheism #Pantheism #GodAndNature #PhilosophyOfReligion #Reason #FeastsOfReason

In this episode of Feasts of Reason, host Matt Ward brings together two thinkers with very different approaches to these questions.

Richard Krauland, mathematician, entrepreneur, and author of The Bridge from Science to God, argues that the remarkable consistency of physical laws and the discoveries of modern science provide compelling evidence for a divine creator. A former atheist, Richard also shares personal experiences that have convinced him of God's presence in his life.

Jeremy Sherman, evolutionary decision theorist and longtime collaborator of neuroscientist and biological anthropologist Terrence Deacon, pursues a different explanation: how life, agency, and the things that matter to us might emerge entirely through natural physical processes.

Their conversation begins with the origins of life and the laws of physics, but soon reaches a deeper disagreement about the nature of evidence, the limits of scientific knowledge, and the relationship between personal experience and objective truth.

Can an experience constitute proof for one person but not another? Does the comfort a belief provides tell us anything about whether it's true? And how do we remain open to different explanations without abandoning our commitment to critical reasoning?

At Feasts of Reason, we explore the places where our knowledge runs out and our explanations diverge—not necessarily to reach agreement, but to better understand how we reason.

For More Information About Richard Krauland and his Book "The Bridge from Science to God" https://www.enlightenedinthe21stcentury.com/

For information about Jeremy Sherman visit: https://jeremysherman.com/

#FeastsOfReason #ScienceAndReligion #Epistemology #CriticalThinking #Philosophy #GodAndScience #RichardKrauland #JeremySherman

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the Debate on Science and Divinity
• 04:55 Richard's Argument for a Divine Enforcer
• 10:15 Jeremy's Perspective on Natural Processes
• 14:06 Exploring the Fork in the Road: Science vs. Divine Agency
• 18:12 The Role of Personal Experience in Belief
• 27:58 Steel Manning Richard's Argument
• 30:10 The Human Condition: Navigating Reality and Imagination
• 32:02 Navigating Personal Beliefs and Reality
• 34:25 The Distinction Between God and Religion
• 37:07 Experiences of Faith and Spirituality
• 39:19 The Role of Personal Experience in Belief
• 42:00 The Intersection of Science and Faith
• 44:14 Testimonies and Their Significance
• 48:54 Understanding God's Role in Human Experience
• 50:06 Reflections on the Nature of Belief
• 55:45 Closing Thoughts on Faith and Understanding

The conversation features Michael Makatura, a former military officer, discussing his experiences during Desert Storm and the complexities of military intelligence. He emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, the challenges of interpreting incomplete information, and the moral dilemmas faced by military personnel in high-stakes situations. The conversation explores the importance of radical candor in military operations, the challenges of discerning truth in civilian life, and the implications of AI in decision-making processes. Michael Makatura shares personal experiences from his military career, emphasizing lessons learned and the need for self-correcting mechanisms in both military and civilian contexts.

For more information on Captain Makatura and his book "The Fightin' Tenth" https://www.michaelmakatura.com/

Takeaways

• Critical thinking in military intelligence
• Moral dilemmas in decision-making Radical candor fosters improvement
• AI's dual potential for good and bad

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Military Intelligence and Experience
• 01:59 Navigating Incomplete Information
• 07:49 The Role of Beliefs in Intelligence
• 10:54 Communicating Confidence in Uncertainty
• 13:56 Decision-Making Under Pressure
• 17:52 Balancing Risks and Ethical Choices
• 21:05 Addressing Confirmation Bias in Intelligence
• 24:42 The Power of Radical Candor
• 27:15 Lessons Learned from Mistakes
• 32:35 Navigating Truth in Civilian Life
• 38:52 AI: A Double-Edged Sword
• 43:54 The Future of AI and Humanity

What happens if Iran's current regime falls — and who gets to decide what comes next?

Iranian human rights activist Zolal Habibi joins me to discuss her remarkable personal story, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Reza Pahlavi — son and grandson of Iran's last two shahs and a would-be shah himself — and competing visions for Iran's political future.

We explore a question that's easy to ask but much harder to answer: How can Iranians — and outsiders like me — determine which path offers the best chance of producing a genuine liberal democracy?

We also discuss the difficulty of knowing what Iranians actually want, competing polling and evidence, the NCRI's proposed transition to democratic elections, the role of the United States, and a crucial democratic test: If free elections produced an outcome the NCRI strongly opposed, would it accept the result?

For more information on the Iranian resistance:
https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/
https://oiac.org/
https://www.maryam-rajavi.com/
Outside the US: https://iranfreedom.org/en/

#Iran #NCRI #RezaPahlavi #IranianResistance #Democracy #HumanRights #ZolalHabibi #FeastsOfReason

How do we find truth without simply trading one ideology for another?

Author and former business executive James Keena joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about capitalism, socialism, free markets, institutional power, and the systems humans have built to cooperate on an enormous scale.

James argues that political and economic “isms” can become self-reinforcing dogmas, and that increasingly powerful institutions have weakened individual freedom and concentrated control in the hands of what he calls “the elites.” We explore what he means by socialism, why he sees free markets as one of humanity's most powerful systems of cooperation, and whether science, democracy, and markets succeed because they contain mechanisms for finding and correcting their own mistakes.

Things get particularly lively when we turn to banking and the Federal Reserve. James argues that private banks have been given extraordinary power to create money and questions whether we need the Federal Reserve, or even banking in its current form, at all. I push back, and we find an interesting fork between his preference for replacing the existing system and my inclination to reform it.

We finish where Feasts of Reason so often ends up: How do we recognize when our own beliefs might be wrong—and what does it take to change our minds?

For more information about Jim, his blog and his books go to: https://jameskeena.com/

For more than three decades, Amjad Tadros had a front-row seat to history as a Middle East field producer—known in the business as a “fixer”—for CBS News and 60 Minutes.

He helped arrange Dan Rather's interview with Saddam Hussein, reported from wars and revolutions across the Middle East, interviewed Osama bin Laden's former bodyguard, and helped investigate one of the most consequential intelligence failures of the Iraq War: the Iraqi defector code-named “Curveball.”

Curveball's claims about mobile biological-weapons laboratories became an important part of the WMD case presented by Colin Powell at the United Nations. Years later, Amjad finally sat across the table from Curveball himself.

But this conversation is about much more than Iraq.

Amjad and I talk about how journalists decide whom to believe when everyone has an agenda; how 60 Minutes tried to verify stories before putting them on the air; whether journalists should ever stop being observers and intervene; how atrocities can be used to manipulate public opinion; why important stories like Yemen are so often ignored; and what more than 30 years behind the scenes taught him about which news sources to trust.

We also talk about Amjad's remarkable book, The Fixer: A Journalist's Accidental Journey Through the Middle East—part memoir, part history, and part behind-the-scenes look at how journalism actually works.

Feasts of Reason is about a simple question: Why do we believe what we believe? Few stories demonstrate the consequences of that question more dramatically than Curveball.

For more information on Amjad and "The Fixer" go to https://www.amjadtadros.com/

Chapters

• 00:00 Becoming the Fixer
• 02:23 The Role of a Fixer
• 04:11 Investigative Journalism and Collaboration
• 07:24 Ethical Challenges in Reporting
• 10:50 The Story of Curveball
• 23:21 Journalistic Integrity and Neutrality
• 25:46 The Power of Storytelling
• 26:42 The Significance of Overlooked Global Issues
• 28:36 Reporting from Conflict Zones
• 37:11 Determining the Credibility of a Story
• 43:47 Impact of Historical Context on Current Events

The conversation delves into the exploration of alternate histories, the process of crafting fictional worlds, character development and plotting, the impact of HOA mentality on society, and the examination of beliefs and free speech. The guest, Herman Forwood, shares insights from his experience as a fiction author and the thought-provoking themes in his novels.

The conversation delves into the importance of rethinking the status quo, challenging boundaries and quick fixes, the power of fiction to evoke thought, the dangers of bias in writing, balancing creativity and responsibility, exploring complex societal issues, the need for critical thinking, the complexity of government and laws, the impact of AI and lack of attention, the erosion of reason and complexity, and the author's desired impact of his books.

Takeaways

• Alternate histories offer valuable insights into the potential impact of pivotal events.
• Crafting fictional worlds involves balancing plot and character development.
• The HOA mentality and societal structures can have far-reaching consequences.
• Beliefs and free speech are complex topics that require critical examination. The importance of critical thinking in addressing complex societal issues
• The need to challenge quick fixes and consider the broader impact of decisions

To learn more about Herman and his work go to: https://www.hermanforwood.com/

Chapters

• 00:00 Exploring Alternate Histories
• 03:03 Crafting Fictional Worlds
• 06:07 Character Development and Plotting
• 09:11 HOA Mentality and Societal Impact
• 19:14 Beliefs and Free Speech
• 23:52 Rethinking the Status Quo
• 24:13 Challenging Boundaries and Quick Fixes
• 25:21 The Power of Fiction to Evoke Thought
• 27:01 The Dangers of Bias in Writing
• 28:20 Balancing Creativity and Responsibility
• 29:07 Exploring Complex Societal Issues
• 30:18 The Need for Critical Thinking
• 38:47 The Complexity of Government and Laws
• 40:44 The Impact of AI and Lack of Attention
• 41:22 The Erosion of Reason and Complexity
• 43:58 The Desired Impact of the Books

No, this isn't the start of a joke, it's the resume of this week's guest. Bob Martin, a former trial lawyer, social worker, and meditation teacher, shares insights into the human condition and the intersection of his diverse experiences. He discusses the nature of truth, the adversarial legal process, and the importance of understanding and empathy in social work and law. His journey reflects the complexity of human behavior and the impact of listening, understanding, and advocacy. The conversation covers topics related to addiction, mindfulness, and legal services. Bob Martin shares insights on addiction, the challenges of being heard, and the impact of mindfulness on empathy. He also discusses his new legal service approach and the importance of helpfulness over truth.

Takeaways

• Human behavior is complex
• Understanding and empathy are crucial in social work and law Addiction rationalization
• Mindfulness and empathy
• Helpfulness over truth

To learn more about Bob and his work go to: https://theflowmedia.com/

Chapters

• 00:00 The Three Bobs
• 02:29 Transactional Analysis and Natural Child
• 05:18 Adversarial Legal Process
• 08:23 Assessing Probabilities and Ethical Dilemmas
• 21:07 The Role of a Lawyer and Social Worker
• 26:24 Understanding Addiction and Being Heard
• 32:03 The Impact of Mindfulness on Empathy
• 43:53 The Shift from Truth to Helpful

Can We Really Think for Ourselves? | Damien Dubose

How much of what we believe comes from independent thought—and how much is shaped by personality, culture, institutions, and the people around us?

Damien Dubose, author of America’s Ethical Archetype and host of the iNTv podcast, joins me to explore the relationship between personality, philosophy, and individualism. Drawing on Carl Jung, Ayn Rand, and theories of adult development, Damien argues for a society built around rational, self-directed individuals.

We explore Jung and personality types, the limits of individual reasoning, the difference between consensus and collective knowledge, the role of education, individual rights and government, and whether stronger individuals or stronger institutions are ultimately the better path to human progress.

Along the way, we find some real areas of agreement—and some important differences over just how much faith we should place in our ability to reason for ourselves.

For information about Damien go to https://damientdubose.com/