My Soapbox

During my fifth conversation with Dave, we begin with the question of "do we exist?"  During this conversation we also discuss other topics, including the difference between possibility and probability, the notion the universe is probabilistic rather than strictly deterministic, and what this might mean with respsect to determinism and free will.  We also take a look together at the issue of presuppositions through the lens of probability. 

---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-cross/support

In this episode, I contemplate some of the problems with presuppositions and why it is important we question them to better ensure we are being intellectually honest in our inquiries about reality.  

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/john-cross/message

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-cross/support

In my fourth conversation with Dave, we discuss notions of identity, how identity might happen, and some of the consequences of what it means to identify with a self, an ego.  

---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-cross/support

In this episode, I begin with the question of what is volition, or the feeling of actions being intentional or voluntary, rather than unintentional or involuntary, and attempt to unravel the question of what makes actions feel this way despite the fact free will is an illusion, rendering all action ultimately "involuntary." Also explored is the the fact that we, like all apparent things in the universe are actually impermanent processes and not "beings" or "things," contrary to popular opinion, and how this fact takes all notions of souls, spirits, and gods off the table on any discussion about reality.  

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/john-cross/message

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-cross/support

In this episode, I reflect on some of my thoughts from the past week or so, including my conversations with Dave, and some discussions at the church where I work. The title of this episode "So that..." was inspired by a church discussion in which our interim pastor used this phrase to help members of this declining church where I work better define why it is they do the things they do and what they want for the future. Some topics explored are some of my views on the arrogance of "evangalism" and missionaries, and how the "buy in" to the illusion of ego is itself a "prior cause" which gives rise to other causes. 

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/john-cross/message

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-cross/support

In my third talk with Dave, we discuss consciousness and some varying definitions of consciousness, including that of philosopher Thomas Nagel which essentially describes consciousness as "something that is is like to be an organism." Dave and I discuss some of the problems with this definition, and also discuss our thoughts on some of Annaka Harris' new book "Conscious."  

---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-cross/support

This episode is a conversation between myself and my best friend from college Dave, with whom I spoke on the last episode.  This is actually our first recorded conversation, which I had not intented to release due to some of the poor sound quality, but later thought better to release the parts of our conversation I felt were of acceptable sound quality and most importantly quite valuable. Topics discussed include consciousness, conscious “AI,” survival bias, “spiritual” fraud, the fundamentals of stasis and change, evolution and entropy, some of the problems with "total honesty" and the futility in defining "moral absolutes."  

---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-cross/support

On this episode, I speak with my best friend Dave whom I’ve known since 1993 during our college years, and with whom I have had and continue to have the most profound conversations of my life. During our discussion we talk among other things about life being a kind of “game” if you will, since our illusory sense of self is the foundation of this entire play of responsibility, accountability, and ownership in the human experience of life as we know it, and how knowing one is a “player” in the game can profoundly affect our experience of life. Also discussed is why we need to “buy in” to the illusion of self for the evolutionary sake of survival, “natural ethics,” morality, and free will among other topics.

---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-cross/support

In this episode I explore the question on whether or not it is always “wrong” to lie and “right” to tell the truth, and the problem with notions of “moral absolutes.”

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/john-cross/message

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-cross/support

In this episode, I explore the profound asymmetry between men and women when it comes to the "cost" of sexual involvement, and how this asymmetry naturally tends to lean women towards preferring a single, stable, quality partner of which she will usually be quite selective, while men tend to be less selective and more open to multiple partners since the sexual cost to men is far less than it is for women. 

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/john-cross/message

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-cross/support