This episode stresses the importance of acquainting ourselves deeply and meaningfully with reality through philosophical inquiry, above and beyond our cultural assumptions that are the mindless product of social conditioning.

This episode sets the question of truth against the backdrop of consciousness, as the stage upon which truth is conceived about reality, based on our perceptions of it. The language of reality is thus translated in the language of our sensitivity, besides other human languages posing a problem of fidelity to their model.

This episode highlights fragmentation as a feature of rational thought that relates to the practice of analysis and the use of language. It also encourages a holistic approach to the conceptualization of reality: one that is consistent with both the complexity and the unity of things.

This episode on some points overlaps my previous episode entitled ULTIMATE FOUNDATIONS. I nevertheless offer it to my listeners because it includes additional insights that they may find intellectually stimulating. 

This episode provides an analytical breakdown of our self as composed of three distinct but indivisible aspects: our acquired habits, our genetic makeup, and the fundamental creative principle at the heart of everything in the universe, including us.

This episode relates inner peace to the effort we make to honor our commitments in every area of personal and moral responsibility. 

This episode argues that–like a sculptor who carves an undifferentiated block of marble into a particular figure that has artistic value—we cannot achieve a worthwhile and meaningful life, in terms of relationships or occupations, without committing to a small subgroup of people and things that are best suited to our individual nature.

This episode makes a distinction between our genetic makeup, our vast human potential, and our habits, which realize a fraction of that potential and can change in accordance with a wide variety of circumstances.

This episode talks about the present as being our only point of access to reality and about the need to be mindful of it. It also calls our attention to the many ways in which we become distracted from the present and lose ourselves.

This episode highlights the intimate and often overlooked relationship between the ability to learn or face the truth, especially unpleasant ones, and the ability to cope. It also highlights this important fact: Humans are incredibly adaptable.