Two Guys Searching For Truth On The Road That Never Ends...

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CritoGlaucon

This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself - Chief Seattle of the Duwamish and Suquamish

In our second of two episodes on Artificial Intelligence (AI), we look at what it’s like to have conversations with ChatGPT and AI. We compare its functionality and use at its launch and how that has changed over time. We also take a close look at how it responds to historical questions, the antediluvian world, the ranking of the smartest animals, and folk music lyrics, among other topics. We ask it about Descartes, Leibniz, and others and it provided us with incredibly profound analysis – even comparing NuWa, Noah, and the I Ching!

Lastly, we examine its ability to pass a bar exam, it’s interaction with religions and religious figures, and what the future could look like as the human and AI world continue to integrate and co-exist. From here, we will begin discussing David Hume and slowly move into the modern philosophical period. Discussing individuals like David Hume and Immanuel Kant are necessary to be able to understand some of the more complex philosophies put forth in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CritoGlaucon

Man is condemned to be free because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. It's up to you to give life a meaning - Jean-Paul Sartre

In our first of two episodes on Artificial Intelligence (AI), we look at what AI has been in the past, what it is currently, and what it could be in the future. We also discuss whether AI can learn things, experience time, and what AI may be telling us about what it means to exist.

We also go over machine learning, deep learning, and the various types of AI: reactive AI machines, limited memory AI, theory of mind AI, and self-aware AI. We also look at some of the ways AI may revolutionize our future, including through technology, education, medicine, transportation, communication and so on. Lastly, we finish the episode with two AI-generated poems – one in the style of Dylan Thomas and one in the style of William Shakespeare.

In our next episode, we will discuss the ChatGPT bot specifically and try to understand what it can tell us about ourselves, AI, and the universe.

Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CritoGlaucon

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality - Dante Alighieri

In our forth episode on the Stoics, we enter into the world of Marcus Aurelius. A name that many have undoubtedly heard of, but can sometimes be misunderstood or overlooked amidst a packed Roman Emperor pool. But Marcus was different. He was a rare breed of Philosopher-Emperor and someone who, in the face of constant change, uncertainty, and restraint found freedom, happiness, and peace. He documented his inner thoughts in a journal that would later be called his Meditations, which unlike many of the works we have looked at thus far, was not intended for publication. In it, he speaks of those he is grateful for, those who have taught him so much, and those who allowed him to be the person he was.

Marcus also clearly spells out his version of Stoicism and builds on Seneca and Epictetus, as well as many others. He talks of our interconnectedness with the universe and the rational order of things. At length, he speaks of the temporary nature of fame and how little honor is in such a pursuit. He zooms in on everyday life, while also backing up and viewing ages, decades, centuries, and beyond all at once and tries to find the meaning of our existence and how to best live one's life. Lastly, we wrap up by contrasting his ideas with those of Plato's and Eastern Philosophy's Virtuous Ruler.

From here, we will have a two-episode series on AI, robotics, and philosophy and then begin our way working towards Contemporary Philosophy. We thank you all for your input in the polls, we will keep this in mind as we plan our episodes.

Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CritoGlaucon

Ah, fill the cup: What boots it to repeat how time is slipping underneath our feet: Unborn tomorrow and dead yesterday, why fret about them if today be sweet - Omar Khayyam

In this third of our four episodes on the Stoics, we continue our discussion of Seneca. We speak on excerpts from various chapters on one of his most well-known essays, "On the Shortness of Life." In it, we see Seneca continue emphasizing the importance of friendship, of living in the present moment, and not placing importance on material things. He reminds us of the importance of philosophy, and how it is almost like unlimited access to an unlimited library, traversing all ages and concerning nearly every topic one may need counsel and guidance on. He also writes on controlling the emotions and the importance that we not let worry or anxiety overcome us - they detract us from the present and prevent us from fully building the best future we can. This short essay is well-written and covers a lot of points that echoes central key ideas of Roman Stoicism.

We began our transition to discussing Marcus Aurelius by picking back up where we left off regarding the Roman Empire. We go over each emperor between Nero, at the time of Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. This background is important to understanding the background that Marcus Aurelius was brought into and how he was affected by the time he lived. It is also a quick reminder of the chaos, controversy, and expansionism that was, to some degree, the Roman Empire. It also provides a general understanding of the early Roman Empire, for those interested in the historical aspect of the podcast. Our next episode will discuss Marcus Aurelius' most significant work, The Meditations. 

Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CritoGlaucon

Railing against the past will not heal us. History has happened, it's over and done with. All we can do is to change its course by encouraging what we love, instead of destroying what we don't - Arundhati Roy

In this second of four episodes on the Stoics, we introduce Lucius Annaeus Seneca. Seneca, like Marcus Aurelius as we will learn in later episodes, had a life that an outsider may view as incredibly privileged, but was very restrained and difficult for someone trying to live a Stoic life. Later in his life, Seneca came out of exile to be appointed as advisor to the newly crowed Roman Emperor Nero. It is a telling story of not only what the Roman Empire political life was like, but a foreshadowing of what was to come. Rome rose quickly, became excessive, and eventually was untenable.

We discuss Seneca's life, the state of the Roman Empire, and how he was able to fully implement his own brand of Stoicism as a guiding light in his otherwise difficult times. We each chose a few excerpts from Seneca's most well-known work, Letters on Ethics or Letters from a Stoic. In them, Seneca addresses topics such as life, time, being of good character, and so on with his dear friend Lucilius, who had his own struggles to be a Stoic as procurator of Sicily.  In our next episode we will continue with Seneca and introduce Marcus Aurelius to examine how a Roman Emperor relied to Stoicism to navigate his desires, power, and search for spiritual freedom.

Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CritoGlaucon

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world - Anne Frank

We venture into the world of Stoicism in this first episode of four in a mini-Stoicism series. We begin with the story of Zeno of Citium, one of the first Stoics. We then touch on Chrysippus and his many contributions, before discussing Epictetus’ Enchiridion at length. The Stoic handbook, like the Dhammapada or Dao De Jing, begin to form a new way of looking at things. A perspective that proponents of Stoicism have developed to live more in accordance with the present moment. Some of today’s topics include free will, the opinions of others, worldly pleasures, and temperance.

From here, we will begin discussing Seneca, his life, and his works, as well as with Marcus Aurelius. As we go into Roman Stoicism, the foundation remains the same, but the application varies slightly and it becomes a more refined and adopted philosophy, and shows appreciation and traces to its Greek roots throughout.

Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CritoGlaucon

It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong - Voltaire

The fourth episode of our four-part series on Baruch de Spinoza picks up where we left off with the last episode, and finishes our examination of his Ethics. Specifically, this episode focuses on parts two through five.

After understanding how Spinoza viewed God in our last episode, we then look at how he viewed the individual within the universe, or substance. We picked up our prior discussions of the monism v. dualism, or mind-body problem, as look further into Spinoza's claims of parallelism of mind and body. We consider how Spinoza argues for freedom, given his deterministic position, and how that differs from those who came before and after him, and point out the similarities and differences where appropriate.

Then we discuss Spinoza's view on emotions, and how it plays a central role in understanding individual freedom and that knowledge and control can allow for greater freedom, even in a deterministic world. From here, we will begin looking at the Stoics and their useful philosophy that will complement our discussion of Spinoza, who was strongly influenced by Stoicism, bridge the gap from prior episodes, and lay the foundation for future discussions.

Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CritoGlaucon

It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion, it is easy in solitude to live after our own, but the great man is he, who in the midst of the crowd, keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude - Ralph Waldo Emerson 

The third episode of our four-part series on Baruch de Spinoza takes a close look at his Ethics, and specifically focuses on the first part of the five parts within the literary and philosophical work. His idea of God, or as he referred to it "Deus sive Natura" (God or Nature), is closely examined.  For Spinoza God and Nature were interchangeable and God was not a creator of the universe but everything within the universe was God. We briefly discuss pantheism and panentheism, as well as the mind-body problem (monism vs. dualism) and demonstrate his formulation as a rational ontological-like argument for the existence of not only God but determinism, monism, and the nature of human existence. By this point, the consistency within his reason and his dedication, not only to philosophy, but to living a philosophical lifestyle, should be evident and persuasive. Spinoza made lasting contributions to the field of philosophy and is a testament to the link between Eastern and Western thought. In our next episode, we will look further into monism vs. dualism and discuss additional topics mentioned in parts two through five of the Ethics.

Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CritoGlaucon

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self - Ernest Hemingway

The second episode of our four-part series on Baruch de Spinoza is a continuation of his key philosophical ideas and his ideas regarding epistemology. We've selected excerpts of the text to help highlight Spinoza's thought process, and how he starts from being hesitant to give up certain things for an uncertain good and concludes by demonstrating there can be no other way to reach the good. Spinoza explains the concerns of fame, riches, and sensual pleasure, and how these barriers to the good hold more power over us than we think. Later in the episode, we introduce some ideas to make the next two episodes more useful by discussing what Spinoza means by "God" and the monist vs. dualist debate that was going on at the time and fundamentally divided philosophers and affected their approach to philosophy. Next, we will begin discussing his Ethics and hopefully shed greater light on the importance of his philosophy and the cohesiveness of his ideas.

Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments or on Twitter! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!

We can judge our progress by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers, our willingness to embrace what is true rather than what feels good - Carl Sagan

We begin the first episode of a four-part series on Baruch de Spinoza, a Dutch philosopher of Portuguese origin and one of the great rationalists of early modern philosophy. In our first episode, we recount his life and some of the key events that would go on to shape his philosophy and relationship with religion, rational thought, and God. One such event was his excommunication at the age of 24. It would mark a turning point in his life, where he would spend much of his days crafting state-of-the-art telescopic lenses and his philosophic legacy. We also briefly introduce some of the ideas we will expand on during discussions of his two monumental works: the Emendation of the Intellect and the Ethics. We also highlight his way of life, and his saintly character that separated him from his contemporaries in a way that lends further credibility and strength to his philosophy.

Always feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any episode requests. We would love to hear from you in the comments! Thank you for listening and as always we’ll see you next time as we search for truth on the road that never ends!