The Symbolic World

Jonathan Pageau

Jonathan Pageau looks at symbolism in all its forms, from its source in sacred stories and images to contemporary culture and ultimately how it shapes the world we encounter.

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467 episodes
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Oct 3, 2023 · 1 hr 13 min
309 - Jacob Howland - Technological Cannibalism
I had an amazing discussion with Jacob Howland about the fundamental question of technology. We investigate from both the Biblical and ancient Greek perspectives what technology is and its effects on the human spirit. We discuss the notion of memory and recollection, Plato’s Phaedrus, the Biblical notion of garments of skin, ChatGPT and AI, work and leisure, technology’s effects on human capabilities, paganism and idolatry, intelligence, and “the matrix”, the internet, intuition, and much more. Jacob Howland is the Provost and Director of the Intellectual Foundations Program at UATX, commonly known as the University of Austin. His latest book is Glaucon's Fate: History, Myth, and Character in Plato's Republic (Paul Dry Books, 2018): https://www.amazon.com/Glaucons-Fate-History-Character-Republic/dp/1589881346 Jacob Howland’s website: https://www.jacobhowland.com/ His articles on Unherd: https://unherd.com/author/jacob-howlandunherd-com/ YouTube version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/o468OtytbVQ Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 01:02 - Intro music 01:28 - Introduction 01:59 - Different narratives about technology 04:09 - Technology from the Greek perspective 05:01 - Plato's Phaedra - and fixing words 08:16 - Egypt 09:29 - Suppressing recollection 11:13 - The garments of skin 15:02 - Work - sorting chaos 18:17 - Human capabilities diminishing 19:53 - ChatGPT cannibalizes itself 22:06 - A pagan god that feeds on humans 23:52 - Human batteries 26:03 - Intuition - direct access to reality 28:49 - What do we mean by intelligence? 30:47 - Understand AI as idolatry 32:19 - The gold of the golden calf 34:53 - The tabernacle 35:33 - A body of power 37:39 - card: Beasts in Revelation 39:16 - Work and leisure 47:45 - Monastic life and leisure 49:18 - Not anti-technology 50:54 - The Henry Adams curve 56:56 - The Beast kills the whore 1:00:17 - Plato's cave 1:01:19 - There is no "solution" 1:03:24 - Prometheus’ cycle of desire 1:05:58 - The flip side of all of this 1:10:15 - Paradise Lost 1:11:09 - The need for transcendence 1:12:26 - Re-engage at the human scale 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Sep 22, 2023 · 1 hr 5 min
308 - Fr. Stephen De Young - Biblical Symbolism: Uncovering Your Father’s Nakedness
Fr. Stephen De Young is writing an article for our upcoming publication, the Symbolic World Magazine, and he will also join us as a speaker for the Symbolic World Summit in February 2024. He is an amazing writer and speaker and has really helped me reach new heights in my understanding of Scripture. In this discussion we specifically discuss certain sexual and revolutionary symbolism in the Bible, starting with when Ham “uncovered” his father, Noah’s, “nakedness”. Understanding this is a key to understanding Genesis 9, and an important aspect of Biblical storytelling. Bio: Rev. Dr. Stephen De Young is Pastor of Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is also the host of the Whole Counsel of God podcast from Ancient Faith and author of the Whole Counsel Blog, as well as co-host of the Lord of Spirits podcast. Fr. Stephen holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Amridge University. Registration for the Symbolic World Summit in Tarpon Springs, Florida, opens TODAY! Date: Feb 29-Mar 2, 2024 Tickets start at $399: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit --- Fr. Stephen De Young: Lord of Spirits podcast: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits Fr. De Young’s books, podcasts, and blogs: https://www.ancientfaith.com/contributors/stephen_deyoung Previous discussions with Fr. De Young on this channel: - The Son of Man - with Fr. Stephen De Young - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8KkjD-sLQI - Gods, Angels and Demons - with Fr. Andrew Damick and Fr. Stephen De Young - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW_WlIurGtA - Hope for the Future and the Religion of the Apostles | with Fr. Stephen De Young - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsuxgepcNwQ --- Original YouTuber version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/GQgOYkzj0ek --- Timestamps: 0:00 // Preview clip 1:17 // Intro music 1:42 // Introduction 2:17 // Speaking at conference 3:28 // The legacy of Lord of Spirits 5:33 // Rediscovering the Old World 11:57 // A key in Genesis about Noah 16:23 // Uncovering the father's nakedness 20:09 // Why would Ham do this 25:03 // Usurpation in Scripture 30:06 // The positive side 31:10 // The sin at the beginning of a world 34:10 // Not too close or too far 39:10 // In Christ's story 40:57 // Conceding mediation 44:14 // A more mature understanding of unification 47:22 // Our conception of marriage and family 51:03 // St. Paul saying women must cover their heads 56:37 // Noah's sin 59:11 // Lot's sin 1:01:00 // Knowing your opponent --- 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Sep 15, 2023 · 1 hr 13 min
307 - Gregg Hurwitz - The Search for Political Nuance
I sat down again with the American novelist and screenwriter, Gregg Hurwitz. Gregg was part of the Daily Wire+ Exodus series discussion panel with Jordan Peterson, so I thought it was a good time for us to talk about what we took away from those discussions, Exodus, Christianity, CS Lewis, the importance of ritual, temperance, and a nuanced approach to social matters. Previous discussions: - New Think - with Gregg Hurwitz: https://youtu.be/nR53MJd8VLI?si=AAIcbBjs4x1pHt9X - Patterns in Politics and Storytelling | with Gregg Hurwitz: https://youtu.be/ykDHAapyaZ4?si=pNF0KV7uIInAMiUs Exodus series with Daily Wire+ and Jordan Peterson: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL22J3VaeABQAppIsV0MmKYhGeFGJsy-dS&si=VxB_bJsEU-QvWHPW Gregg’s website: https://gregghurwitz.net/ Original YouTube version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/tOhS9Gm_a5I --- Timestamps: 00:00 // Preview 00:41 // Intro music 01:06 // Introduction 01:56 // Gregg's experience with the Exodus series 04:57 // Let the fringe be the fringe 13:06 // Layers of participation 15:04 // The essence of the laws 16:28 // Values and a foundation 20:20 // Humility 22:06 // A structure in which to navigate 25:39 // The necessity of ritual 31:04 // CS Lewis and The Great Divorce 35:28 // Freedom 38:25 // Hell 43:39 // Hypocrisy and accusation 48:09 // The Nine Worthies 54:34 // The messiness of life 1:03:22 // Guilt by association 1:08:54 // Pluralistic ignorance --- 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Sep 8, 2023 · 52 min
306 - The Search for Participation in Contemporary Art
Apologies for the audio quality. In this lecture, I take you through contemporary art history and its desperate search for a proper means of participation in a desacralized world. This talk is a follow-up to a previous video I did, The End of Desacralization in Art. This time I want to explore with you some specifics on how contemporary art has to confront alienation, power dynamics, and the minimization of yet yearning for ritual, participation, and community. Original YouTube version of this lecture: https://youtu.be/EWc7TKm9jho This lecture follows up on a previous video lecture I posted, The End of Desacralization in Art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WYh20sYBsQ&t=813s --- Timestamps: 0:00 - Preview 0:59 - Intro music 1:24 - Introduction 2:27 - The pendulum swing of deincarnation 3:12 - Brancusi: Find the essence 5:41 - More examples: Kandinsky and Mondrian 8:59 - Opposites attract: Idealism and constructivism 12:38 - Alienation of the art object 17:53 - One extreme calls the other 19:10 - Remember participation 21:12 - Marina Abramovic 28:56 - Resembling rituals 31:55 - Eating as ritual participation 36:37 - Joseph Beuys: Atonement 43:51 - Anselm Kiefer: The weight of history 47:02 - Trapped in the art world 50:55 - Hope --- 💻 Website and blog: http:-www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https:-linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https:-thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https:-thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http:-www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http:-www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http:-www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https:-www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https:-www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Sep 2, 2023 · 1 hr 29 min
305 - Richard Rohlin - How to Read Like a Medieval Person
In this episode of the Universal History series, Richard Rohlin presents a talk about 4 things we must take into consideration in order to think like a pre-modern Christian. This is a primer for approaching old texts like Beowulf, the topic of our upcoming online course on the Symbolic World website. Original YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/CyJaaX60QKw THE BEOWULF COURSE Learn more: https://thesymbolicworld.com/news/the-beowulf-course-by-richard-rohlin-and-jonathan-pageau Also, please note that the course will happen on our Symbolic World website Circle community, so please make sure that you’re signed up (Free): https://thesymbolicworld.com/login We are excited to present our very first online course hosted directly on The Symbolic World website! Richard Rohlin and Jonathan Pageau will build on their popular Universal History series by offering an in-depth exploration of the Epic Poem, Beowulf. Promo video: https://youtu.be/hUjxvEw3uCY?si=jozwytuh-tcHQe7i You are invited to participate in this 6-week live online course every Thursday starting on Thursday, September 7th, at 2:00pm Eastern Time. Each session will be 2 hours long. The course will conclude on October 19th. (Note: No class on September 21th.) All materials will be provided, except for a copy of R.M. Liuzza's translation of Beowulf: https://www.amazon.com/Beowulf-Broadview-Literary-Texts-Liuzza/dp/1551111896 ------ Timestamps: 0:00 - Preview 0:44 - Intro music 1:08 - Introduction 4:35 - C.S. Lewis 7:09 - Modern VS Ancient 11:10 - Tourists in the Church 15:11 - 1) Authorship and textual "errors" 20:16 - Why do we have 4 gospel accounts? 22:52 - What is a book? Pre-modern, Modern, and Post-Modern 30:13 - Authorship 33:11 - Transmission 37:40 - 2) The meaning of words and things 55:47 - 3) Heaven above, earth below 1:04:00 - Moved by love 1:5:25 - Space and time 1:7:39 - The metric system 1:10:20 - Chronos and Kairos 1:17:11 - Meaning in hindsight 1:20:55 - 4) The anthropocosmic vision ------ 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Aug 25, 2023 · 22 min
304 - The Subtle Bodies of Angels
Many of the Church Fathers talk about the notion that angels have what we call "subtle bodies", that angels are not completely incorporeal (God only is completely incorporeal) but their bodies are also not circumscribed in flesh, but in mind. In this formerly patron video, I explain what the Church means with this description of angels and how it's something we can relate to in the general human experience. Original YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/MTuDl7o-1bE The discussion with Rafe Kelley I mention near the end: https://youtu.be/06Osa0EmJVc ---- Timestamps: 0:00 // Introduction 0:43 // Intro music 1:08 // What are subtle bodies? 2:13 // St. John Damacene 6:32 // Perelandra by C.S. Lewis 9:19 // Our subtle bodies and the hierarchy of angels 14:06 // True analogies 15:23 // Jesus prayer 18:13 // Continue: True analogies 20:17 // Examples --- 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Aug 17, 2023 · 57 min
303 - Ted Lewis - The Technological Society
I sit down with Ted Lewis to discuss the work of Jacques Ellul and his views, on technology, Christianity, civilization, and transpersonal agency. Ted Lewis is Executive Director of the International Jacques Ellul Society. Full bio: https://restorativechurch.org/about-ted-lewis/ International Jacques Ellul Society: https://ellul.org/ The Ellul Forum: https://ellulforum.weebly.com/ Original YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/JIsypT45UVM List of books mentioned: - The Technological Society, by Jacques Ellul - The Secular City, by Harvey Cox - The Empire of Non-sense, by Jacques Ellul - The Humiliation of the Word, by Jacques Ellul - The Ellul Forum - I See Satan Fall Like Lightning, by René Girard - The Space Trilogy, by CS Lewis - The Technological Bluff, by Jacques Ellul - The Technological System, by Jacques Ellul - The Abolition of Man, by CS Lewis - Presence in the Modern World, by Jacques Ellul — Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Preview 00:01:15 - Intro music 00:01:40 - Introduction 00:02:40 - Jacques Ellul's warning 00:05:40 - Ellul's influences 00:06:56 - Biblical images of the city 00:09:03 - Ellul's suspicion of imagery 00:10:45 - Reconciling the word and image 00:12:41 - Ellul: Principalities and powers 00:19:10 - Symbol and the lie 00:24:55 - The positive Image in Scripture 00:31:34 - Ellul now: The Technological Bluff 00:37:26 - The Tower of Babel 00:41:10 - That Hideous Strength phrase 00:43:12 - The divine council 00:50:50 - Ted's work and advice in the modern world 00:56:17 - Closing words — 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Aug 11, 2023 · 19 min
302 - My Participation in a Worldwide Conspiracy
How conspiracies work. It's time to change how we think about conspiracies and get a more nuanced view. While secretive conspiracies also exist, many of them emerge quite spontaneously and openly according to incentives and common attention. You don't have to imagine top-down control at every level of operation for the conspiracy to still be in effect. Original YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/FLxU33EPJWk Follow my brother Matthieu Pageau on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PageauMatthieu My discussion about conspiracies with Mary Harrington: https://youtu.be/D__CrY3FaWA 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Aug 3, 2023 · 51 min
301 - Aidan Hart - Transfiguration: The End of Symbolism
This is a discussion from the Princeton Scala Foundation conference that took place in April 2023 with the title, “The Transfiguration: Glory and Grace in the World”. I sat down with Margarita Mooney Clayton and iconographer and author Aidan Hart to discuss the Transfiguration of Christ, how God's glory fills the world, and that the ultimate goal of the spiritual life is encountering God face to face. Original YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/J3u9jWeA6BM - A previous discussion I had with Aidan Hart - The Dance between Sacred and Secular: https://youtu.be/hzQkolwWkwE - My talk at the conference - The Role of Art in Identity: https://youtu.be/mfDm4VefkJg - Aidan Hart’s talk - Liturgical Art as Prophecy and Priesthood: https://youtu.be/07KxzJABskY - Playlist of all the talks at the event: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRZHnw30gpFeBFtZE-wsj5or0BdQtIMjh - Scala Foundation website: https://scalafoundation.org/ - Aidan Hart's icons and books: https://aidanharticons.com/ — Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Preview 00:00:45 - Intro music 00:01:10 - Introduction 00:01:58 - The value of images 00:03:08 - Principles of liturgical art 00:04:25 - The Nous 00:05:57 - How do I know this isn't just imagination? 00:07:32 - The Transfiguration and Light 00:10:04 - The culmination of symbolism 00:12:38 - Poetry and Typology 00:13:46 - Clothes of glory / The Feast of Tabernacles 00:16:17 - Anti-Symbolism 00:17:09 - The point of symbols 00:19:31 - Word/logoi 00:21:48 - The basic elements of the Transfiguration icon 00:24:27 - What are Moses and Elijah doing there? 00:26:04 - Peter, James, and John 00:27:29 - The sandal falling off 00:30:03 - The person and the divinity of Christ 00:32:26 - Divine Darkness 00:35:12 - His garment is transfigured 00:44:37 - The tension between extremes 00:51:41 - Scala — 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Jul 28, 2023 · 1 hr 12 min
300 - The Role of Art in Identity - Princeton Scala Conference
This is a talk I gave in April at the Scala Foundation's April 2023 conference on Art, the Sacred, and the Common Good held at the Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey. Featuring in-depth discussions with artists Jonathan Pageau, Aidan Hart, and Rifle Paper Company Co-Founder Anna Bond. In this talk, I address art and its relation to memory and identity, especially as applicable on the civil level. Public art forms part of and is a reflection o our common identity. I also discuss the unique opportunity in sacred art, which connects us not only to each other but also objective reality, the ultimate source of all identities. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/mfDm4VefkJg — Original post by Scala Foundation: Jonathan Pageau at Scala Conference 2023: "Memory and the Role of Art in Identity" - https://youtu.be/VvQH04Mhc2k — Warmup discussion: The Mother of God - Scala Foundation webinar - https://youtu.be/A68n2M4iFFY Playlist of all the talks at the event: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRZHnw30gpFeBFtZE-wsj5or0BdQtIMjh Scala Foundation website: https://scalafoundation.org/ ------------ Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Preview clip 00:01:17 - Introduction 00:03:38 - Start of talk: The start of his icon carving career 00:05:29 - The current perception of art 00:08:46 - A more universal vision of art 00:14:22 - Ancient art and coming together 00:17:54 - Art binds us to what's most important 00:20:01 - Secular participative art 00:22:53 - The breakdown of public art 00:27:10 - Identity and opposition 00:31:17 - Remembering the origin 00:34:57 - Art gone wrong: Babel and propaganda 00:40:21 - The Christian vision of art 00:50:03 - The final image 00:53:05 - End of talk 00:53:13 - Question: Heavenly Jerusalem 00:58:03 - Q: Are the arts up to the task? 01:07:35 - Q: What does repentance look like civically? 01:10:00 - Q: Connecting te Church and the home ------------ 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Jul 20, 2023 · 1 hr 1 min
299 - Dr. Paula Boddington - A.I. Ethics
Paula Boddington returns to the channel for us to discuss new developments in artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, ethics, healthcare, the meaning of intelligence, and how AI is exposing how some of our current ways of doing things don’t work, and maybe they haven’t been working for a while. Paula Boddington is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Healthcare at the University of West London where she works with a research group concerned with the quality of care for hospital patients who are also living with dementia. She has held academic posts at the Australian National University, Bristol University, Cardiff University, and Oxford University, and has degrees in philosophy, psychology, and law from Keele, Oxford, and Cardiff Universities. She has a long-standing interest in ethical and social questions in new technologies, including artificial intelligence. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/jj69RnoE9qI ---------- Previous discussions with Paula Boddington: - How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping Humanity - With Dr. Paula Boddington: https://youtu.be/jti77KQKYuc - Digital ID and Control | with Dr. Paula Boddington: https://youtu.be/a9VeKqd6szA - Biotech Creation Myths - with Dr. Paula Boddington: https://youtu.be/a9VeKqd6szA ---------- Her recent book on this topic, AI Ethics: A Textbook (Artificial Intelligence: Foundations, Theory, and Algorithms) by Paula Boddington: - Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Artificial-Intelligence-Foundations-Algorithms-ebook/dp/B0BSGKRYTW - Springer: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-19-9382-4 —-------------------- Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Preview clip 00:00:46 - Intro music 00:01:11 - Introduction 00:01:52 - Various aspects of AI 00:04:12 - ChatGPT 00:09:36 - Power and intention 00:11:02 - What it means to do something 00:12:52 - Imposing limitations 00:13:44 - Paula's book 00:17:35 - Intelligence is only one part of us 00:19:35 - Public trust in AI 00:26:37 - Embodied living 00:29:32 - Medically assisted dying 00:31:39 - Machine doctors 00:32:21 - "This is going to save time" 00:33:58 - A return to embodied experience 00:43:35 - Keeping the passions under control 00:49:57 - Fetishize —-------------------- 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Jul 13, 2023 · 59 min
298 - Mary Harrington - Conspiracies and the Return of Myth
I had a wonderful discussion with writer Mary Harrington about conspiracies, myth and memes, the internet, artificial intelligence, and meaning-making. Mary Harrington is a columnist and editor for UnHerd and runs her own weekly Substack Reactionary Feminist. She's interested in the political and cultural side-effects of globalization, the replacement of class politics by identity politics, the joy of limits, and women’s rights in the biotech age, which is the subject of her first book, Feminism Against Progress. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/D__CrY3FaWA - Mary's Twitter: https://twitter.com/moveincircles - Substack: https://reactionaryfeminist.substack.com/ - UnHerd articles: https://unherd.com/author/mary-harrington/ - Book: https://www.amazon.com/Feminism-against-Progress-Mary-Harrington/dp/1684514878 ----------------------- Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the video 00:00:40 - Intro music 00:01:05 - How to understand conspiracies 00:05:17 - Eating babies 00:06:59 - Lizard elites 00:09:26 - Why myth is coming back 00:16:48 - Meaning-making and money 00:19:28 - Oral culture 00:21:28 - Artificial intelligence 00:22:40 - How does Mary see Ai and writing? 00:25:56 - Writers VS ChatGPT 00:28:28 - Teams and nation-states 00:31:58 - Crowdfunding and Crowdfeeding 00:34:09 - Weaponizing the conspiracy label 00:43:10 - Anti-normativity 00:46:38 - Making normal mainstream again 00:49:19 - There will be suffering 00:52:23 - Government and Ai ----------------------- 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Jul 3, 2023 · 31 min
297 - Rumpelstiltskin: Credit and Resurrection
This is the last video in the fairy tale series I am making public from my patron archive. This fascinating fairy tale has a lot to tell us about money, power, credit, turning death into glory, and resurrection. Support our Snow White and the Widow Queen Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/symbolicworldpress/snow-white-and-the-widow-queen YouTube version: https://youtu.be/73Olkr2y45Y Related videos: - Credit, Interest and the Acceleration of Time: https://youtu.be/gYc3pi01TH0 - Beauty and Meaning Today - with Andrew Gould: https://youtu.be/5TvJiSb0YHQ ---------------------- 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson. The Snow White promo video was made in collaboration with Dirt Poor Robins
Jun 28, 2023 · 15 min
296 - The Meaning Behind the Princess and the Pea
This is the fourth video of a series of fairy tale analyses I did for my patrons a few years ago. I meditate on the meaning of the story of The Princess and the Pea. Support our Kickstarter for the Snow White storybook: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/symbolicworldpress/snow-white-and-the-widow-queen YouTube version: https://youtu.be/QRXNV_bQzWk
Jun 26, 2023 · 22 min
295 - The Symbolism in Jack and the Beanstalk
This is the third video of a series of fairy tale analyses I did for my patrons a few years ago. I meditate on the meaning of the story of Jack and the Beanstalk and even how it relates to Jacob in the Old Testament of the Bible. Support our Kickstarter for the Snow White storybook: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/symbolicworldpress/snow-white-and-the-widow-queen YouTube version: https://youtu.be/pYo60wtDk28
Jun 20, 2023 · 22 min
293 - Pricked by a Spindle - Symbolism in Sleeping Beauty
This is the first of a series of videos I will release from my patron-only archive, analyzing symbolism in various fairy tales. We start with Sleeping Beauty and the meaning of being pricked by a spindle, how it might relate to a woman's cycle, sexuality, and broader patterns of change. I also give you a glimpse into how I tend to think about stories over a long time. Support our Snow White Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/symbolicworldpress/snow-white-and-the-widow-queen Music by the one and only @dirtpoorrobins YouTube version: https://youtu.be/iobn7oJGicM
Jun 15, 2023 · 1 hr 11 min
292 - Jordan Hall - Artificial Intelligence in Biblical Terms
I catch up with Jordan Hall in light of recent developments about artificial intelligence, how people are responding to it and conceptualizing it, Ai and ChatGPT in Biblical terms, understanding the weight and ramifications of terms like "god", agency, angels and demons, wisdom, virtue, and technical knowledge and application. Jordan's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMzT-mdCqoyEv_-YZVtE7MQ His writings: https://medium.com/deep-code Read Jordan's bio here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordangreenhall YouTube version: https://youtu.be/3Fpy42cdoB0 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Jun 6, 2023 · 50 min
291 - Heather Pollington - The Art Behind 'Snow White and the Widow Queen'
I had an interview with the wonderful artist, Heather Pollington. Together we created a book called 'Snow White and the Widow Queen' that is currently being crowdfunding through Kickstarter. Here we take you through our creative process, the inspiration behind the illustrations, and our grand vision for this and upcoming fairy tale projects. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/DFtACMCLMwA ------------ I believe what we're offering here is an important course correction in modern storytelling. Simultaneously rooted in classic tropes but also enjoying the best techniques that modern and postmodern storytelling has to offer, 'Snow White and the Widow Queen' begins an extended journey into a fairy tale world of cross-overs and repeating themes. We're telling the story in a different way: celebrating — not subverting — approaching classic stories not with cynicism or political moralizing, but with awe, love, and attention to the pattern. ------------ This video was released to my email list as a sneak peek last week. Support the crowdfunding campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/symbolicworldpress/snow-white-and-the-widow-queen Heather's website: https://www.heatherpollington.com/ Our previous discussion about her redesign of The Symbolic World logo: https://youtu.be/tzpvLekXy6U The music was done by the one and only Dirt Poor Robins: @dirtpoorrobins ------------ Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Snow White intro 00:01:03 - Introduction 00:05:30 - What brought Heather to this project 00:07:51 - Iconography and artistic language 00:12:01 - The language Jonathan uses 00:14:38 - The world of fairy tale illustration 00:16:12 - The golden age 00:18:29 - Previous iterations of Snow White 00:21:40 - Heather's research 00:22:26 - The cover of the book 00:23:47 - A Christian dream world 00:29:56 - Dormition 00:33:19 - Mirror mirror and social media 00:38:11 - The prince and the castle 00:40:53 - Framing 00:42:22 - The cycle 00:44:46 - The dwarves' house 00:45:31 - The Witch and the Apple 00:46:51 - The Kickstarter 00:48:35 - What's ahead ------------ 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe
Jun 2, 2023 · 1 hr 14 min
290 - John Vervaeke - How to See the End of the World
A discussion between me and John Vervaeke at The Quest for a Spiritual Home conference in Chino, California in May 2023. A big part of our discussion was about eschatological imagery, talking about death and sacrifice, the past, and the future, inventio, and resurrection. -Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/s5Y73Vig_ec -My talk at the same event: https://youtu.be/jPgV2yNEkcM -Event info: https://thesymbolicworld.com/news/estuary-chino-2023-event-with-jonathan-pageau-john-vervaeke-and-paul-vanderklay ------------ 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
May 30, 2023 · 35 min
289 - My Most Anti-Symbolic Talk - The Quest For A Spiritual Home Conference
My talk at The Quest for a Spiritual Home conference in Chino, California in May 2023 with Paul VanderKlay, John Vervaeke, and John Van Donk. Title: The Importance of Disappointment This was the second talk after Paul VanderKlay. Event info: https://thesymbolicworld.com/news/estuary-chino-2023-event-with-jonathan-pageau-john-vervaeke-and-paul-vanderklay -------------- 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.