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Naked Humanity — Philosophy
Naked Humanity

Existentialist philosophers such as Albert Camus and Hannah Arendt once said the modern world has rendered us naked: we are stripped of traditional beliefs, grasping for truths constantly out of reach, and devastatingly aware of our finitude. Is this true? Where do we go from here? Who are we? Who COULD we be? For Season I of this podcast (all currently posted episodes) I ask historians, psychologists, sociologists, and biologists: what does it mean to be human in the modern world?

Latest Episodes:

9x: Solving Nature vs Nurture Dec 13, 2018

Show notes

Which is more important, nature, or nurture? In this short episode Stefani explains the debate, weighs the pros and cons of each, and explains why each is ultimately wrong. What are we left with, then? Finally good science--and a revolution in how we understand humanity--that’s what.

9: The Mystery of the Brain with Nat Barrett Dec 10, 2018

Show notes

We often talk about the brain like a computer, but is that really how it works? This week Stefani chats with philosopher Nat Barrett who argues that most cognitive scientists completely misconceptualize the brain. There's some radical change underway today in terms of how we understand the brain--and Barrett is at the cutting edge of understanding. Tune in and learn both how we become the way we are and the role the brain plays in our thoughts and feelings.

8x: How Racist Are You? Dec 06, 2018

Show notes

Did you know there are more than 190 biases that plague every one of us? Try as you might to be objective, it is impossible. To even THINK you are unbiased is itself a bias. In this episode Stefani explores the concept of bias trough racism, her perspective on how to handle racism, and a test you can take to find out how racist you are -- even if you are certain you are not. Head over to http://stefaniruper.com/podcast for details on how to get books from my personal library!

8: Putting Bias in its Place with Steph Sasse Dec 03, 2018

Show notes

Bias is arguably the biggest problem facing the modern West. As the world globalizes and political divisions intensify, it becomes easier and easier for us to become entrenched in our biases. In this episode, Stefani chats with organizer and founder of The Plenary Steph Sasse about how instinctive and unavoidable human biases are, and what we can do to manage them in the modern world - from using state-of-the-art neuroscience to throwing themed parties. Head over to http://stefaniruper.com/podcast for instructions on entering the book giveaway!

7x: The Dark Side of Science Nov 28, 2018

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Admittedly, there are a lot of dark sides of science. But today, Stefani discusses one way we completely misunderstand science that has given rise to problematic cultural phenomena such as fundamentalist Christianity and many cultural issues such as insularity, defensiveness, polarization, anxiety, anguish, loss, and more.

7: Scientific Epistemology and Ignorance with Stuart Firestein Nov 25, 2018

Show notes

Usually we think of ignorance as a bad thing--but what if appreciating and cultivating ignorance is the key to our success? Stefani chats with Columbia neurobiologist and best-selling author Stuart Firestein about our cultural obsession with facts and why that’s so limiting. Professor Firestein is a lively and entertaining guest who spills all about his journey as a scientist, the balance between the known and the unknown, and what we need in order to thrive. Enter the giveaway at http://stefaniruper.com/bookgiveaway!

6x: Losing Faith with Grace Nov 21, 2018

Show notes

How do you cope when you lose religious faith? How do you live in times of ambiguity or despair? In this podcast Stefani shares what she’s learned working with religious people and groups over time and discusses real strategies for reinventing your spiritual life without religion. Find the show notes at stefaniruper.com/6x and enter the book giveaway at stefaniruper.com/podcast!

6: Spirituality without Religion with Eric Steinhart Nov 18, 2018

Show notes

Can you have religious ideas and feelings without God? Stefani chats with philosopher Eric Steinhart who believes you can have wonder, morality, spirituality, and even immortality without God. He does it by thinking about the universe like one giant computer. Tune in for this fascinating ride and learn how people are reinventing spirituality in the twenty first century. Show notes can be found at stefaniruper.com/6. Learn about the book giveaway at stefaniruper.com/podcast!

5x: Sources of Wonder Nov 14, 2018

Show notes

Popular culture today focuses on science as a source of wonder--but is that enough? What else is wonderful in our world, and how can you experience it? In this episode Stefani briefly adds context to the earlier discussion of science and wonder and suggests intentionally seeking out a wide variety of forms of wonder to engage.

5: Wonder in a Scientific World with Lisa Sideris Nov 11, 2018

Show notes

What happens when you treat science like a religion? Stefani chats with Professor Lisa Sideris about our cultural infatuation with science and what happens when we become overly invested in it: religion. One significant by-product is science becomes a source of wonder--but Professor Sideris demonstrates how dangerous that can be not just for our spirituality but also for the future of animal life and the planet. Head over to stefaniruper.com/podcast for the shownotes or instructions on how to enter the book giveaway!

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