Solution Space

On this show, I outline how much of today's politics can be sketched by the phrase "the personal is political," combined with Foucault's reversal of Clausewitz: "politics is the continuation of war by other means." What we have now is a renewed war of all against all, pursued through the transpolitics of identity. To flesh out this analysis, we delve into Transpersonal Psychology as an exploration of psychology beyond the individual, and Baudrillard's transpolitics as conflict beyond the social. In this spiritual emergency, the question is, what is emerging?

As anticipated, 2020 has turned out to be a year of radical upheaval. From the Covid-19 epidemic to economic tumult to the resurgence of #BlackLivesMatter and the controversy surrounding JK Rowling's posts about transgender people, nothing is being left unchanged. I delve into the murky waters brought to light by these rapid social upheavals, and cast what we've seen in 2020 so far as "the tip of the spear" when it comes to grappling with deep-seated veins of dehumanization in our society. I'm back to recording shows, and will supply some extra ones to help make up for the time I've missed (and evade the constraints of radio airwaves!).

I discuss COVID-19 in response to Hall's discussion of systems collapse and Zizek's recent articles on the virus as an opportunity for capitalism. I start to put these in context of Debord and Baudirllard's discussion of the fusion of state and corporations in the early 20th century post 1929, framing their analysis as arguing we are already Post-Capitalism. I frame this as COVID-19 shocking us into realizing that the public/private distinction has been overcome.

Part 2 of my interview with Dr. John Vervaeke. We discuss Romantic Poetry and elite psychology, articulating the problematics that accompany the Meaning Crisis in its political dimensions. In sum, we address issues related to the parts we must all play in generating the cognitive-affective conditions for a reciprocal opening and enriching among people and (psycho-)technology. Don't just solve problems: encounter the mystery.

In the second part of our interview, Dr. Vervaeke and I delve deeper into the societal function of "the elite," and the cognitive-affective economic reasons why a new golden age is easily within reach, even if the Meaning Crisis still leaves it out of our (optimal) grasp

Part 1 of my conversation with Dr. John Vervaeke of the University of Toronto. We discuss what Dr. Vervaeke calls the "meaning crisis," manifested in widespread despair and the sense of being stuck, and how Percy Shelley and Jean Baudrillard might harmonize with the content laid out in his "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis" series.

On this episode I give a rundown of my recent activities and lay down a concept I coined in my recent essay "The Metonymy Economy" (up at www.SpeakingBroadlyShow.com) called cognitive-affective protectionism. From putting on headphones to entering a safe space, protecting ourselves from overstimulation is perhaps the defining challenge of our times.

Paycheck by Adam Stephen Wadley

My show describing and elaborating on my paper “The Metonymy Economy: Cognitive-Affective (Poetic) Social Science.” I tried to drop off this paper at CIA headquarters. They were not amused. But I really do think it contains insights which help us adapt to the process of adaptation itself, and to see in change the chance to assume the position of the epic poet, who is able to see emerging patterns and guide others through unfolding events.

A selection from my conversations with Zummi when I went to visit him. We talk about linguistics, and how the development of writing led to cognitive-affective developments which are under-regarded by most cultural and political commentators. These reflections have relevance for generating post-political movements in our time and embracing the shift to the new paradigm.