Into the Absurd
By Gregory Gravelle
"To question reality and existence. To be stuck between meaning and non-meaning. To exist as both a unique human consciousness and a conglomerate of identical atoms. This is what it means to live within the absurd. To that regard, I say this: Question everything and dive deeper into the absurd."
Into the Absurd May 17, 2023
#77: Audra Hazelwood (Philosopher's Guide to the Apocalypse)
How do we survive the apocalypse? Spoiler alert: there is no apocalypse.
Join Audra and I in this mind-bending conversation about philosophy's role in politics, cults, population density, and isolation.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya as per usual.
Still working on part 2 of The Stranger, but I should be able to get that out next weekend. I apologize for the delay.
Audra's podcast:
The Philosopher's Guide to the Apocalypse podcast
MERCH LINKS:
Check out my other channel, Gregory Eats
#76: The Stranger by Albert Camus: An Analysis (Part 1)
It doesn't hurt to be a stranger. The stranger is free to be anyone--including themselves.
You've asked for an analysis on the Stranger, and here you go. Part 2 will come out in 2-3 weeks. In the mean time, don't be a stranger...or do.
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
As always, outro provided by Brock Tanya
MERCH LINKS:
#75: Mr. Cryptonymous (Bitcoin, Money, Free Will, and Freedom)
An anonymous guest and I discuss bitcoin, the philosophy of money, freedom, and free will.
My next two episodes will be an analysis of Camus' "The Stranger". Stay tuned!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya, as always.
#74: Thought Surfing with Kevin Donahue
KEVIN DONAHUE RETURNS to thought surf through mysticism, lucid dreaming, social politics, and addiction.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
I am currently working on a book analysis for "The Stranger", which was requested from the survey in the last episode with Daniel. That should be out in 2-4 weeks.
#73: Aliens, Eric Weinstein, San Holo, roots, water, and the Tao with Daniel Torres
So, there's an uncontacted tribe off the coast of India that have no idea what civilization is, have no knowledge of technology (except the boats and planes they see), and don't even know there is such a thing called "India" that owns them. So, what if we're an uncontacted planet? What if an alien civilization owns us and they simply don't let other alien civilizations contact us, including themselves.
We also discussed the artist San Holo, and talked about water and roots in context of the Tao Te Ching. Peace out. Not sponsored by Elysian brewing, but I want to be.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya
Thoughts #6: On the Goal of Meditation
#72: Existential Weight: On Kundera's "The Unbearable Lightness of Being"
I discuss the concept of existential weight through the analysis of Milan Kundera's novel, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being". I draw from the writings of Frederick Nietzsche, Jean Paul Sartre, as well as a few others.
Check out On Death and God by clicking on the previous episode or simply going to my website at into-the-absurd.com
Outro provided by Brock Tanya
Peace out.
References:
Nietzsche's The Gay Science, "The Greatest Weight"
Milan Kundera's "The Unbearable Lightness of Being"
On Death and God (Full Audio Book)
Is your life worth more than your will to live?
Follow John on a mind-bending quest through Hell to slay the gods and save everything he ever loved.
PDF or ePub file download link
Chapter time stamps:
Intro – 00:00
Dear Reader – 05:43
The Dream – 07:35
Welcome to the Machine – 16:50
Dead and Dying – 43:16
Life and Living – 50:29
The Storm – 01:26:31
All The Way Down – 01:38:56
Under the Stars – 02:06:09
The Desert of High Noon - 02:12:43
The Forbidden Fruit – 02:22:06
Into the Abyss – 02:32:28
Ultimatums of a Dead Man – 02:47:43
The Souls of the Damned – 02:52:37
Eternity – 03:06:31
The Labyrinth – 03:19:21
The Eternal Flame – 03:44:27
The Light – 04:03:01
The Serpent – 04:13:13
The Man Who Killed God – 04:20:05
On Death and God – 04:23:23
Epilogue – 04:38:27
Notes from the Editor – 04:39:39
Referenced works (not read in audio book--only in written version):
Nietzsche’s The Gay Science, aphorism 125 “The Madman” Christopher Ryan in his podcast, Tangentially Speaking Netflix TV series, Black Mirror Carl Jung’s The Undiscovered Self Ted Kaczynski’s “Industrial Society and its Future” Dr. Chris Ryan’s Civilized to Death Camus’ The Stranger There is a very large number of translations of the Bhagavad-Gita that currently exist. “I am come as Death, destroyer of worlds.” Is said in many different ways across these translations. See Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil quote, “The good man sees the whole world as evil.” Also see Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael. See Nietzsche’s Twilight of the Idols, “How the ‘Real World’ at last became a myth” Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World See Sturgill Simpson’s “Turtles All the Way Down” from Metamodern Sound in Country Music. Twilight of the Idols , “The Four Great Errors”. Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha Philip Mainlander’s concept of the universe being the heat death of God Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus” Nietzsche’s “The Three Metamorphoses” from Thus Spoke Zarathustra Sturgill Simpson’s “Make Art Not Friends” from Sound and Fury See history of the first assassins: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/assassins Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil Nietzsche’s quote, “One repays a teacher badly if one always remains nothing but a pupil.” From Thus Spoke ZarathustraMentioned Songs
“Come as You Are” by Nirvana
“A Horse with No Name” by America
“The Trip” by Still Corners
#71: What is Morality?
What is morality? I discuss Mill, Kant, the 10 Commandments, Hammurabi's code (I mistakenly call him "Morabe"), hunters and gatherers, Nietzsche's "Beyond Good and Evil", as well as Zapffe's "The Last Messiah".
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
PSA: On Death and God release
#70: Morality and the Myth of Progress (Christmas Special)
I discuss the concept of morality, Jung's sacred word, the myth of "progress", and the savior/hero architype.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
On Death and God: https://into-the-absurd.com/2022/12/20/on-death-and-god/
#69: Gratitude and Universal Beauty (Thanksgiving Special!)
I discuss the importance of gratitude as well as the arguments for and against universal beauty (tackling free will, God vs atheism, the biological explanation, whether beauty actually is universal, etc.). I also go over my view on religion, and why I think atheists don't give theists enough credit.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
#68: Schopenhauer's "The Wisdom of Life"
An analysis of Schopenhauer's essay, "The Wisdom of Life".
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Read essay here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10741/10741-h/10741-h.htm
Thoughts #5: It’s gonna be okay
#67: Royce Johnson (Twilight of the Idols - Education)
Mr. Royce Johnson returns to the ITA podcast to discuss Nietzsche's Twilight of the Idols, "What the Germans Lack", aphorisms 6 and 7 on education. Royce is an English teacher at Coeur d'Alene high school, and I attended his class in my senior year. His English class served as my formal introduction to higher level philosophy, which is interesting being that Friedrich Nietzsche started off as a philologist--someone who studies language. Prior to recording the podcast, Royce suggested that I read "On Language" by George Orwell, which is an interesting essay regarding doublespeak, euphemisms, etc.
Sources: "Twilight of the Idols" by Friedrich Nietzsche, translated by R.J. Hollingdale
Thoughts #4: To Want
#66: On the Alienation of the Self from the Real World
An opinion essay which applies Nietzsche's work, "How the Real World at last Became a Myth" to the modern day. Prepare to be offended.
Sources:
Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus from https://www2.hawaii.edu/~freeman/courses/phil360/16.%20Myth%20of%20Sisyphus.pdf
Nietzsche's "How the Real World at Last Became a Myth" from Twilight of the Idols
I first heard the quote at the end from a Tweet my friend read to me. Yes, a Tweet. I have looked it up, but I cannot find an original source.
#65: Vincent Field (Astral Projection and Lucid Dreaming)
If you seek guidance on how to astral project/lucid dream, hit up Vincent on Discord at VinceField#3962.
His book is available on Amazon here: amzn.to/3xnwlXk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/vincentfieldauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/vincentfieldauthor
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@vincentfieldauthor
#64: Capitalist Realism with Ben Morris (Part 2)
Ben and I sat down to present part 2 of a discussion based analysis and summary of Mark Fisher's "Capitalist Realism". Enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher: https://files.libcom.org/files/Capitalist%20Realism_%20Is%20There%20No%20Alternat%20-%20Mark%20Fisher.pdf
#63: Daniel Torres (Alternative Medicine, Message Therapy, Adulthood, and Relationships)
Daniel Torres is a licensed massage therapist practicing out of north Idaho. We discussed massage therapy, alternative medicine, coming into manhood, and relationships. Enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Poem #1: Your Beautiful Eye
#62: Capitalist Realism with Ben Morris (Part 1)
Ben and I sat down to present part 1 of a discussion based analysis and summary of Mark Fisher's "Capitalist Realism". Enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher: https://files.libcom.org/files/Capitalist%20Realism_%20Is%20There%20No%20Alternat%20-%20Mark%20Fisher.pdf
#61: Uncle Nick (War, Addiction, Architecture, and Fatherhood)
After a long break, ITA returns with a very special guest: my Uncle Nick. We discussed his time in Korea and Iraq in the early 2000's as well as architecture and fatherhood. Enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
#60: Welcome to the Machine
WELCOME TO THE MACHINE! An opinion piece critiquing civilization with a short summary and analysis of Zapffe’s 1933 essay, The Last Messiah.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Peter Zapffe’s The Last Messiah: https://philosophynow.org/issues/45/The_Last_Messiah
The Undiscovered Self by Carl Jung: https://fleurmach.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/jung-the-undiscovered-self-1957.pdf
Every Trivial Fact podcast hosted by Mynaa Miesnowan episodes on The Undiscovered Self: https://www.bezabezar.com/post/every-trivial-fact-3-carl-jung-s-undiscovered-self-with-gregory-gravelle-on-psychic-epidemics
Pink Floyd’s “Welcome to the Machine” lyrics: https://genius.com/Pink-floyd-welcome-to-the-machine-lyrics
Sex at Dawn by Chris Ryan Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Sex-Dawn-Stray-Modern-Relationships-ebook/dp/B007679QTG
Civilized to Death by Chris Ryan Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Civilized-Death-Progress-Christopher-Ryan/dp/1451659113
Tangentially Speaking podcast hosted by Chris Ryan: https://open.spotify.com/show/5tMHDm7XHkniXSCTVFDGuE?si=559653e65d2c4375
PSA: Every Trivial Fact, Jung’s “The Undiscovered Self”
I just recently finished a 2 part series on Jung’s “The Undiscovered Self” with Mynaa Miesnowan, a frequent guest of ITA, on his podcast, Every Trivial Fact. Go check out part 1 at the following links: https://www.bezabezar.com/post/every-trivial-fact-3-carl-jung-s-undiscovered-self-with-gregory-gravelle-on-psychic-epidemics
Thoughts #3: The Destroyer of Worlds
#59: Jam Session and Life Discussion with the Boys (Terron and Dietrich)
Skip to minute 50 for our philosophical discussion on finding freedom in industrial society and Dietrich's explanation of Christianity. Before this, we conduct a jam session where I poorly play the piano and sing, Terron plays the drums, and Dietrich plays the guitar. Enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
#58: The Butera Brothers (The Art and Philosophy of Film)
Caden and Rylan Butera join the ITA podcast to discuss the philosophy and art of film! Take that, DFW! These two are heavily involved in the production of indie films and are amazing at what they do. We acknowledged the influence of film on culture while also highlighting the potential it has to promote positive change within a society. We likewise examined the artistic process of both filmmaking and creative writing; most notably, we discussed the power which lies in the "flow state". Enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya
Caden's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCanIZUuftedBQBkE03bJuMA
Thoughts #2: On Freedom from the Ideal
#57: DFW's "E Unibus Pluram", an Analysis (Part 2)
An analysis of David Foster Wallace's "E Unibus Pluram", a thorough critique of US fiction and televisual culture written in the early 1990's.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Thoughts #1: Power, the Feeling vs Domination/Control
#56: DFW's "E Unibus Pluram", an Analysis (Part 1)
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
#55: Tom Hatsis, M.A.
Tom's website: psychedelichistorian.com/
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
#54: On Making All Things Equal
"All men are created equal." Sure, under the eyes of the law, this decree is necessary in creating a just, fair, and civil state. However, if taken literally, we are ultimately defining all people as the same--with no differences. This alienates the individual from themselves and gives them no reason for the pursuit for self-knowledge. In this episode, we will dissect the claim that "All men are created equal" and its implications. This will serve as an introduction for some later works on mass media and televisual culture as well as self-knowledge.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya
#53: Make Art Not Friends, An Analysis
An analysis on Sturgill Simpson's "Make Art Not Friends" from his album Sound and Fury. I bring up Jung's ideas on weights and measures as it relates the the value and desires of the individual versus the herd and Nietzsche's ideas on art and being misunderstood.
Check out Sturgill's "Make Art Not Friends" here: https://youtu.be/U0-mjAB_Mig
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
#52: Dr. Terry Soule (Artificial Intelligence and Evolutionary Computing)
Dr. Terry Soule is the computer science department chair at the University of Idaho, as well as a professor and video game designer. We discussed the ethical implications of artificial intelligence/automation, consciousness and the development of such, and evolution from a technological standpoint.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
#51: "Industrial Society and its Future" by Ted Kaczynski, an Analysis and Summary (Part 2)
For every solution, there is but another problem.
Ted Kaczynski was a philosopher, psychologist, mathematician, and unfortunately, domestic terrorist of the late 1900's, who destroyed the lives of multiple people in an attempt to start a revolution against techno-industrial society. His essay, "Industrial Society and its Future", though quite radical, contains amazing insights as to why our society is so broken, why mental health disorders are the norm, and why technological progress will continuously strip away our freedoms as individuals so long as it exists. Though I do not advocate for violence, I do advocate for the understanding of problems and the ability to open one's mind to their potential causes and solutions. With that said, I hope--for a moment--you can open your mind and consider Crazy Uncle Ted's description of industrial society and its future! Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not promote the use of violence, nor justify Ted's violent acts in any way, shape, or form. Additionally, I do not believe, what so ever that leftism is wrong, but rather seek to give people a better understanding of some reasons why leftism, in its extreme form, can lead to grave consequences for humanity--at least in Ted's view.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Information on Ted's life: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/unabomber
"Industrial Society and its Future" by Ted Kaczynski
#50: "Industrial Society and its Future" by Ted Kaczynski, an Analysis and Summary (Part 1)
For every solution, there is but another problem.
Ted Kaczynski was a philosopher, psychologist, mathematician, and unfortunately, domestic terrorist of the late 1900's, who destroyed the lives of multiple people in an attempt to start a revolution against techno-industrial society. His essay, "Industrial Society and its Future", though quite radical, contains amazing insights as to why our society is so broken, why mental health disorders are the norm, and why technological progress will continuously strip away our freedoms as individuals so long as it exists. Though I do not advocate violence, I do advocate for the understanding of problems and the ability to open your mind to their potential causes and solutions. With that said, I hope--for a moment--you can open your mind and consider Crazy Uncle Ted's description of industrial society and its future! Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not promote the use of violence, nor justify Ted's violent acts in any way, shape, or form. Additionally, I do not believe, what so ever that leftism is wrong, but rather I seek to give people a better understanding of some reasons why leftism, in its extreme form, can lead to grave consequences for humanity--at least in Ted's view.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Information on Ted's life: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/unabomber
"Industrial Society and its Future" by Ted Kaczynski
#49: On Being You with Mynaa Miesnowan
They tell you to "be yourself", "listen to yourself", "express yourself"...yet, what happens when you do? Do they scorn you? Do they attack you? Do they tell you that you're acting strange or rude? Indeed, how can one be themselves in a world that wants you to lie--that wants you to be an actor? In this episode, Mynaa Miesnowan and I dive deep into the art of "absolving unto yourself", where we revisit the central themes of Emerson's "Self Reliance" in order to recap on our 8-part series on the essay all about "being yourself" in the most radical way possible.
Outro provided by Brock Tanya
Emerson's "Self-Reliance": https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/self/self.pdf
Express Yourself: https://youtu.be/u31FO_4d9TY
#48: Self Reliance, an Analysis with Mynaa Miesnowan (Finale)
The series finale of Self Reliance! Dissolve unto thyself! Trust thyself! BE YOURSELF! Cliché, I know, but all cliché's emerge into this dimension of reality by their utility. With that said, stop the act, get the lies out of your ass, and pour out unto this world your full, unfiltered, and honest SELF, for it is sincere, brutal honesty that holds the torch which can guide you out of the labrynth of slavery, decadence, and weakness and INTO THE ABSURD! With that...enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Self Reliance: https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/self/self.pdf
#47: Self Reliance, an Analysis with Mynaa Miesnowan (Part 7)
It's time to dive deep into the absurd with a thoroughly precise and absurdly tangential analysis and dissection of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, Self-Reliance. Almost as if the GODS of eternal recurrence have commanded it, Mynaa Miesnowan returns to dive deep into the nature of "trusting thyself"!
Behind? Each episode stands on its own, so fear not! We discussed the warm and cozy blanket of repression and self-deception/herd-reliance as well as the power in being yourself. Enjoy.
Self Reliance: https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/self/self.pdf
Background music provided by Brock Tanya.
#46: Matthew Hazelwood (Democracy vs Anarchism, US Politics, and Consciousness)
Matthew Hazelwood is the cohost of the Beyond Talking Points podcast and the host of The Philosopher's Guide to the Apocalypse podcast. We discussed the problems with democracy, overpopulation ("I am inevitable!") vs love in respect to the COVID-19 epidemic, American politics, and the debate on "cleaning your own room" featuring Jordan Peterson. Enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Beyond Talking Points: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Hag3O3dJr64F6VNs7rF3w?si=18cYp-yeQHKyIpd4gYpc_Q&dl_branch=1
The Philosopher's Guide to the Apocalypse: https://open.spotify.com/show/0022dxux6LS7t0NDJpQu6Q?si=KNR1gX4hRd-g3CV-1qlAag&dl_branch=1
#45: Self Reliance, an Analysis with Mynaa Miesnowan (Part 6)
It's time to dive deep into the absurd with a thoroughly precise and absurdly tangential analysis and dissection of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, Self-Reliance. Almost as if the GODS of eternal recurrence have commanded it, Mynaa Miesnowan returns to dive deep into the nature of "trusting thyself"! Behind? Each episode stands on its own, so fear not! We discuss culture, corruption of the mind, slavery with extra steps, and much more. Enjoy. Self Reliance: https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/self/self.pdf Create Your Own Religion: https://www.amazon.com/Create-Your-Own-Religion-How/dp/1938875028 The Nietzsche Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ZARzVCRfJZDCyeKjvIEfE?si=CX2y7gZOQ2yOFG6jMAm3Nw&dl_branch=1 Background music provided by Brock Tanya
#44: Self Reliance, an Analysis with Mynaa Miesnowan (Part 5)
It's time to dive deep into the absurd with a thoroughly precise and absurdly tangential analysis and dissection of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, Self-Reliance. Almost as if the GODS of eternal recurrence have commanded it, Mynaa Miesnowan returns to dive deep into the nature of "trusting thyself"!
Behind? Each episode stands on its own, so fear not! Enjoy.
Self Reliance: https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/self/self.pdf
Background music provided by Brock Tanya.
#43: Self Reliance, an Analysis with Mynaa Miesnowan (Part 4)
It's time to dive deep into the absurd with a thoroughly precise and absurdly tangential analysis and dissection of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, Self-Reliance. Almost as if the GODS of eternal recurrence have commanded it, Mynaa Miesnowan returns to dive deep into the nature of "trusting thyself"!
We continue our series on page 10 from the essay link below:
Self-Reliance: https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/self/self.pdf
#42: Len McCoy, Psy.D. (Mental Health, Flow States, and Selflessness)
Dr. Len McCoy is a psychologist and private-practice therapist. We discussed the relationship between therapists and their clients, the flow state vs instructions, and selflessness. Enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
#41: Keegan Kjeldsen (Art and Religion)
Keegan Kjeldsen is the host of The Nietzsche Podcast, a philosophy podcast featuring explanatory narratives and interviews centered around the philosophical works and ideas of German philosopher, psychologist, and philologist, Friedrich Nietzsche. We reviewed passages from Nietzsche's Human All Too Human which explored the relationship between art and religion. Enjoy!
The Nietzsche Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ZARzVCRfJZDCyeKjvIEfE?si=gj-x7GqlQeyS8A_oGMWeag&dl_branch=1
#40: Daniele Bolelli (How Civilizations Collapse)
Daniele Bolelli is a historian, philosopher, MMA fighter, and a professor. Go check out his podcasts, The Drunken Taoist and History on Fire for fresh looks on both society and history; he has episodes pertaining to some of the most interesting people who ever lived including Bruce Lee, Marcus Aurelius, etc. He is also the author of Create Your Own Religion, On the Warrior's Path, Not Afraid, and 50 Things You're Not Supposed to Know: Religion.
We went deep into the absurd on the ways in which civilizations collapse, the dangers of dogmatic thought, and why building a decent government is so incredibly challenging.
Bolelli's website: http://www.danielebolelli.com/
The Drunken Taoist: https://thedrunkentaoist.com/
History on Fire: https://luminarypodcasts.com/listen/daniele-bolelli/history-on-fire/10c7f0c4-18a7-44e8-ab47-0ba1a54a4c09?gclid=CjwKCAjwybyJBhBwEiwAvz4G7y8zSAvKjMQe4CFEKZtCjXGiAgVFMb_JdUgv-VqZvr-7e9sWj9BfrBoCUSwQAvD_BwE&country=US
His books are on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Daniele-Bolelli/e/B001K896MO%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
#39: Self-Reliance, an Analysis with Mynaa Miesnowan (Part 3)
It's time to dive deep into the absurd with a thoroughly precise and absurdly tangential analysis and dissection of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, Self-Reliance. Almost as if the GODS of eternal recurrence have commanded it, Mynaa Miesnowan returns to dive deep into the nature of "trusting thyself"...enjoy!
Self-Reliance: https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/self/self.pdf
The Genius of the Crowd: https://genius.com/Charles-bukowski-the-genius-of-the-crowd-annotated
#38: Self-Reliance, an Analysis with Mynaa Miesnowan (Part 2)
It's time to dive deep into the absurd with a thoroughly precise and absurdly tangential analysis and dissection of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, Self-Reliance. Almost as if the GODS of eternal recurrence have commanded it, Mynaa Miesnowan returns to dive deep into the nature of "trusting thyself"...enjoy!
Self-Reliance: https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/self/self.pdf
Tender by Blur: https://open.spotify.com/track/42cxPm9jgbaxIVN77XA1m6?si=b71ca1fd86e34538
#37: Self-Reliance, an Analysis with Mynaa Miesnowan (Part 1)
It's time to dive deep into the absurd with a thoroughly precise and absurdly tangential analysis and dissection of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, Self-Reliance. Almost as if the GODS of eternal recurrence have commanded it, Mynaa Miesnowan returns to dive deep into the nature of "trusting thyself"...enjoy!
Self-Reliance: https://math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle/docs/self/self.pdf
Sturgill Simpson's, "You Can Have the Crown": https://youtu.be/jMkhsamX-2I
NWA's, "Express Yourself": https://youtu.be/u31FO_4d9TY
Cover art: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson
Episode #36: Ruel Mannette (Following the Path of Least Resistance and the Myth of Progress)
Ruel Mannette returns to ITA to discuss the Taoist idea of "following the path of least resistance", how phenomenology can be used to make sense out of Skinwalker Ranch and other paranormal activity, and why it is so difficult to create a peaceful, functioning, and "progressing" society. Enjoy!
Tao Te Ching quote was read from Wayne Dyer's translation.
Episode #35: Mynaa Miesnowan (On Wearing Masks)
Mynaa Miesnowan returns to discuss authenticity, the will to power, and disguising one's true self behind masks. Enjoy!
Check out Mynaa's amazing website, bezabezar.com, where you can read his original philosophical writings which cover everything from politics to finding meaning in the universe.
Enjoy!
Outro provided by the BROCK TANYA.
Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man Audiobook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HduNUU3B8g0&list=PL0n6M8V_lHIua_QuXbbYfIIi-3-N4535m
Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man PDF: https://bpi.edu/ourpages/auto/2010/5/11/36901472/Ralph%20Ellison%20-%20Invisible%20Man%20v3_0.pdf
Slayer's song Disciple: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN8HgHoCuzI
Sturgil Simpson's song Turtles All the Way Down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XzDDRZo7CY
Tyler Childers' song All Your'n: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrHd3nkCIz4
NWA's Express Yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u31FO_4d9TY
Rand Paul rips wasteful government spending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCCLOXzQrWY
Episode #34: Thomas Hatsis, M.A. (Entheogenic Spiritual/Healing Practices of Early Europeans)
Episode #33: Mynaa Miesnowan (WILL TO POWER)
Mynaa Miesnowan is a modern philosopher whose main focus areas lie in Nietzsche's works--especially Thus Spoke Zarathustra--and various branches of existential philosophy. He has also written extensively in regards to various philosophical ideas; you can view some of his incredible works at https://www.bezabezar.com/post/liberated-ruminations-timely-meditations-i
Link for the The Epic of Mwindo: http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/057.html
Link for the video of Steven Sandison confessing to murdering a child molester in prison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YawI85U7QtA
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: There are times where we briefly lost internet connection.
Episode #32: Bryce Blankenship, M.A. (The Absurdity of Existence)
The man, the myth, the legend...BRYCE BLANKENSHIP has returned to the ITA podcast to give forth his wisdom unto me and you. WHAT IS THIS WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE? What does it mean to live? How do we face the fact that death is but inches away--that our lives hang with utmost fragility over the abyss of inexistence? I'm not sure...it seems, however, that Bryce has a couple ideas up his sleeves. Enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Bryce's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYukClZsrW6IUW_NrOAIBIA/featured
Episode #31: Nihle Alexander (Nihilism and Existentialism)
Nihle is the host/creator of the Nihilist Enigma YouTube channel, where he explores nihilism, absurdism, and existentialism through the lens of beautifully written philosophical narratives. We discussed the common misperceptions of nihilism, coming to terms with death, and finding meaning and truth in an objectively meaningless and truth-less world. Enjoy!
Outro kindly provided by Brock Tanya.
NihilistEnigma: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE0TUXIUkoptAEXH4V4hUcA/featured
Episode #30: Martin Goodson (Buddhism and Overcoming Death)
Martin Goodson is the host of The Zen Gateway YouTube channel, and he has been teaching Buddhism for over 20 years. We discussed Buddhism, overcoming death, and regaining connectivity to the universe. Enjoy!
Outro provided by Brock Tanya.
Martin's website: https://www.thezengateway.com/
Episode #29: Jamal Lyksett, M.A., J.D. (Nietzschean Epistemology)
JAMAL IS BACK! Jamal Lyksett is a professor of philosophy at the University of Idaho, and he returns to ITA to explode unto the world his thoughts on Nietzsche VS Descartes and Nietzsche VS the Buddha. Enjoy!
Intro and outro were generously provided by Nick Beck and Terron Tvrdy, respectively.
Episode #28: Royce Johnson (Buddhism, Education, and Dystopias)
Royce Johnson is an English teacher at Coeur d'Alene High School. I had the blessing of being in his class my senior year, where I was introduced to Siddhartha, The Stranger, 1984, Brave New World, The Canterbury Tales, Candide, and various other enlightening, interesting, and beautifully written novels. We discussed Buddhism, Royce's travels in the East, the subtle accuracies in Huxley's predictions of the future, and how kids have changed. Enjoy!
Intro and outro provided by Nick Beck and Terron Tvrdy, respectively.
Episode #27: K. Brad Wray, PhD (Epistemology of Science)
Dr. Brad Wray is a philosophy professor at Aarhus University in Denmark! His main areas of expertise lie in the epistemological implications of scientific discoveries and social epistemology. He has also written a vast array of essays and even books including Resisting Scientific Realism and Kuhn's Evolutionary Social Epistemology. We discussed the anti-realism/realism debate, the limits of human knowledge, "collective intentionality", and the limits of unobservable phenomena in science.
Intro and outro provided by Nick Beck and Terron Tvrdy, respectively.
Episode #26: Philip J. Walsh, PhD (Phenomenology, Eastern Thought, and Phil. of Tech)
Intro and outro provided by Nick Beck and Terron Tvrdy, respectively.
Episode #25: Greg Stoutenburg, PhD (Epistemology)
Dr. Greg Stoutenburg is a visiting assistant professor of philosophy at the York College of Pennsylvania. We discussed luck, an epistemological explanation of luck, and epistemological internalism. Enjoy!
The intro and outro were provided by Brock Tanya and Terron Tvrdy, respectively.
Episode #24: Casey R. Johnson, PhD (Social Epistemology)
Dr. Casey Johnson is an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Idaho. We discussed MANSPLAINING, the illocutionary force, and a few other brain busters. Enjoy!
Intro and outro was provided by Brock Tanya and Terron Tvrdy, respectively.
Episode #23 Steven Umbrello, MA, MSc (Philosophy of Technology)
Steven Umbrello is the managing director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and he is pursuing a doctorate in philosophy studying the ethics and design of AI at the University of Turn, Italy. The west is a victory, but at what cost? Learn of the perils of social media manipulation, murderous world leaders, and KILLER ROBOTS with Steven Umbrello!
The intro and outro were both generously provided by Terron Tvrdy; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music.
Enjoy!
Episode #22: Nkrumah Grant, PhD (Ethics of Biology)
Dr. Nkrumah Grant is a post-doctoral researcher of evolutionary biology at the University of Idaho. We discussed bacterial evolution, geo-forming the Martian atmosphere, and the ethical implications of CRISPR technology.
The intro and outro were both generously provided by Terron Tvrdy; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (@into.the.absurd), Twitter (@AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
Episode #21: Jamie Derrick, PhD (Mindfulness and Jungian Dreamwork)
Dr. Jamie Derrick is an associate clinical professor of psychology at the University of Idaho. Her main focuses are mindfulness, emotional well-being, and developmental psychology. We discussed the benefits of deep, inner work such as mindfulness and Jungian dreamwork. Enjoy!
Dr. Derrick's website: https://www.zen-sunflower.com/
The intro and outro were both generously provided by Terron Tvrdy; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (@into.the.absurd), Twitter (@AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
Episode #20: Bert Baumgaertner, PhD (Symbolic Logic and Social Epistemology)
Dr. Bert Baumgaertner is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Idaho. We discussed the importance of symbolic philosophy in law, mathematics, and computer science, as well as some social epistemological questions such as vaccine hesitancy, political polarization, and echo chambers. Enjoy!
The intro and outro were both generously provided by Terron Tvrdy; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (@into.the.absurd), Twitter (@AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
Episode #19: Vincent Trombatore, JD (Philosophy of Government)
Juris doctor and attorney at law, Vincent Trombatore, discusses, in depth, the various problems with democracy today, which include unchecked corporations, social media manipulation, and political polarity. Enjoy!
The intro and outro were both generously provided by Terron Tvrdy; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (@into.the.absurd), Twitter (@AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
Episode #18: Gerald Fluhrer (Anthroposophy)
Gerald Fluhrer was a teacher at Waldorf school, which is a revolutionary type of schooling based on Rudolf Steiner's teachings of anthroposophy. We discussed Waldorf school, anthroposophy, and the various practical applications of anthroposophical thought. You can find some of Gerald's writings regarding anthroposophy here: https://www.rsarchive.org/
Also check out https://archive.org/details/@glfluhrer
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (@into.the.absurd), Twitter (@AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
Episode #17: Mike Silvio (Philosophy of Life)
Mike Silvio is a marathon runner, traveler, university instructor, auto-industry consultant, Lululemon brand ambassador and much more. In fact, Mike is one of the few people in the world that can say they've ran a marathon in all 7 continents...yes, that includes Antarctica. Enjoy!
Episode #16: Audrey Fu, PhD (Ethics of Technology and Data)
Dr. Audrey Fu is an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences at the University of Idaho. We discussed the various implications of biased data and solutions to fix it.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (@into.the.absurd), Twitter (@AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
For more information on what we discussed, check out these articles: 1, 2, 3
Episode #15: The Boy, the Rebel, and the Creator (Nietzsche's 3 Metamorphoses)
An explanation of Friedrich Nietzsche's "On the Three Metamorphoses" from Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
Written by Gregory Gravelle and narrated by Luchia Pike, the creator of the Two Takes Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fnAOd3cy6B2DtH06z2Qt5?si=RtxIaqfzRzKuV0Jzfu8sdw
Sources: Friedrich Nietzsche, The Portable Nietzsche. Translated by Walter Kaufman. Published by the Penguin Group in 1954. Copyright 1982. Image: Gerhard Lipold from this site: https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=375606&picture=silhouette-man-watching-stars
Episode #14: Mark Nielsen, PhD (Philosophy of Mathematics)
Dr. Mark Nielsen is the Associate Dean of the College of Science and a professor of mathematics at the University of Idaho. We discussed the complex nature of mathematics as it pertains to the natural world and the way we think. To that regard, Dr. Nielsen explained the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics, "the mathiverse", and the fundamental limitations of the human intellect in regard to the structure of mathematical systems.
The College of Science at the University of Idaho has a podcast which Dr. Nielsen is a part of; it is called The Vandal Science Experience. Check it out!
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (@into.the.absurd), Twitter (@AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
Episode #13: Ruel Mannette (Eastern and French Philosophy)
Ruel Mannette is a graduate student at the University of Hawaii, pursuing a doctorate in philosophy. His philosophical interests range from Structuralism and French philosophy to religious studies, bioethics, and eastern philosophy. We discussed memory and how it relates to authenticity and alienation, and we analyzed the many ways that language affects the way we see and interact with the world.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (into.the.absurd), Twitter (AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
Episode #12: The Knight of Faith (Fear and Trembling Explanation)
A simple analysis of Soren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling, as well as a subtle praise for the power of belief. Written by Gregory Gravelle. Narrated by Strutity, the host of the Simply Life podcast; find him on Twitter @strutity. The background music in the middle portion of the episode was a courtesy of Brock Tanya; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music. Thank you for listening!
Sources:
1. Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling
2. The Book of Genesis from the Bible
3. General absurdism information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism
4. Don’t Try-The Philosophy of Charles Bukowski: https://youtu.be/eMTDAHK-tkE5. Fredreich Nietzsche – Becoming who you are: https://pursuitofwonder.com/posts/becoming-who-you-really-are-the-philosophy-of-friedrich-nietzsche
6. The Pursuit of Happiness true story: https://www.voanews.com/archive/pursuit-happyness-tells-real-life-rags-riches-story-successful-businessman-chris-gardner#:~:text=%D0%A0%D1%83%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9%20golosameriki.com-,'The%20Pursuit%20of%20Happyness'%20Tells%20Real%2DLife%20Rags%20to,of%20Successful%20Businessman%20Chris%20Gardner&text=Will%20Smith%20stars%20in%20an,from%20homeless%20to%20successful%20businessman.
7. Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Abraham.jpg )
Episode #11: Andy Johnson (Intellectual Discussion of Physics and Mathematics)
Andy Johnson is an intelligent individual to say the least. We discussed some epistemological implications of physics and mathematics, as well as some other brain busters.
The background music was a courtesy of Brock Tanya; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (into.the.absurd), Twitter (AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
***CORRECTION*** Shakespeare invented/introduced 1700 words, not 10,000. Here's the source.
Episode #10: Tristan Morehouse (Being a stoic)
Tristan Morehouse is an experienced traveler, student, and a master of going with the flow. We discussed travelling, stoicism, having faith in yourself, and farming.
Background music in the beginning was a courtesy of Brock Tanya; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (into.the.absurd), Twitter (AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
Episode #9: The Dragon (Introduction to Buddhism)
A simple introduction to Buddhism. If you would like to learn more about Buddhism, I recommend reading Siddhartha by Herman Hesse and The Dhammapada.
This episode was written by Gregory Gravelle. The narration was a courtesy of Luchia Pike, the creator of the Two Takes Podcast. The background music from 4:13-6:04 was provided by Terron Tvrdy; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music. The background music from 6:05 to the end was provided by Brock Tanya; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (into.the.absurd), Twitter (AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
Sources: 1. The 8-Fold Path: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eightfold-Path 2. John Ross Carter and Mahinda Palihawadana, The Dhammapada, Oxford University Press, 2008.
Episode #8: David Goodwin (Felony Disenfranchisement)
David Goodwin is a philosophy student at the University of Idaho, who will be attending law school this upcoming Fall. We discussed felony disenfranchisement.
The outro background music was a courtesy of Terron Tvrdy, a musician and good friend; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (into.the.absurd), Twitter (AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
Episode #7: Tyler Moye (Self-discipline, struggle, and travel)
Tyler Moye is an entrepreneur and avid traveler. We discussed the philosophy of self-discipline, the benefits of a gap year, social media, environmental philosophy, and the meaning enveloped in struggle.
The outro background music was a courtesy of Terron Tvrdy, a musician and good friend; he is the sole owner and distributor of this music. Additionally, if you are interested in taking a gap year or want to learn more about gap years, go to Tyler's website at: gaptheyear.com.
For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (into.the.absurd), Twitter (AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening!
***CORRECTION: A Man’s Search for Meaning is by Viktor Frankl.
Episode #6: Jamal Lyksett (Buddhism, Taoism, and Nietzsche)
Jamal Lyksett, M.A., J.D, is a philosophy professor at the University of Idaho. He teaches Buddhism, Critical Thinking, Ethics, and Historical Figures of Philosophy. We discussed the ties between early Buddhism and Hinduism, Buddhist philosophy, Nietzsche, and the similarities between Buddhism and western existential thought. The outro background music was a courtesy of Brock Tanya--a music producer and good friend--he is the sole owner and distributor of this music. For any questions, comments, or suggestions, email us at into.the.absurd.podcast@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (@podcast.into.the.absurd), Instagram (into.the.absurd), Twitter (AbsurdInto), or Reddit (r/Into_the_Absurd). Thank you for listening.
Episode #5: Bryce Blankenship (Authenticity, Identity, and Environmental Philosophy)
Bryce Blankenship is a senior instructor in the Department of Politics and Philosophy at the University of Idaho. He is experienced in regards to existentialism, the philosophy of alcohol, personal identity, environmental ethics, and feminism. During this talk, we discuss environmental philosophy, authenticity in regards to Sartre, and the philosophy of alcohol. Bryce’s Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/mTa9mSXDM9o
Episode #4: The Yin and the Yang (Taoism Explanation)
A brief introduction to Taoism. Background music: Terron Tvrdy.
Information about the Yin Yang: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/27/comfort-reading-tao-te-ching-laozi#:~:text=Little%20can%20be%20said%20with,has%20been%20lost%20for%20ever
Lao Tzu: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/laozi/
Taoism: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/daoism/#toc
The Tao Te Ching, as read and translated by Wayne Dyer: https://youtu.be/73_Voet2fnc. You can find the transcript and audio file in the comments of the video.
Episode #3: Kevin Donahue (Mysticism and Lucid Dreaming)
Episode #2: The Eternal Recurrence
Episode #1: An Absurd Introduction
We give a brief description of absurdism, and give a surface-level analysis of two works of Nietzsche and Camus.
Sources: brilliant.org, scienceline.ucsb.edu, merriam-webster.com, The Portable Nietzsche (book, translated by Walter Kaufmann), and www2.hawaii.edu (Camus: The Myth of Sisyphus).