Know Thyself
Know Thyself
André Duqum
E85 - Alex O’Connor: Philosopher Reflects On Death, Atheism, Morality & Meaning
1 hour 30 minutes Posted Feb 27, 2024 at 2:00 pm.
Intro
What it Means to Live a "Good" Life
Defining Meaning and Purpose
What Makes Something Bad or Good
The Balance of Open Mindedness
Atheism & Theism: Where's the Line?
Is God Dead? Being an Agnostic vs Atheist
The Ignorance of Belief
Distinguishing Between Wisdom & Knowledge
What is God?
How Studying Theology Changed Alex's Perspective
Religon & Tribalism: Why We're Afraid of Opposing Opinions
What It Looks Like to Live Ethically
The Danger of Over-Intellectualizing
Materialism Facing off with Consciousness
Are Near Death Experiences Real?
Why The Fear of Death is Valuable
The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
Why He's Changed His Mind on Consciousness
Making the Most of Our Lives
Conclusion
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Show notes
Today we are joined by the Cosmic Skeptic, Alex O'Connor, for a fascinating look into philosophy, atheism, and the pursuit of an ethical life. Alex has gained recognition for his unique perspective on reality, which he interprets through the lenses of materialism and agnosticism. This makes for an intriguing conversation as André and him engage in a deep dive into various topics.
The discussion revolves around their viewpoints on God, religion, consciousness, and morality. They dissect the potential dangers of intellectualizing and its impact on our understanding of the world. Furthermore, they tackle an interesting question: can the study of ethics lead to an individual becoming more ethical in their actions?
Alex also shares his thoughts on near death experiences, artificial intelligence, and facing the fear of death.
André's Book Recommendations: https://www.knowthyself.one/books
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Alex J. O’Connor is founder of the “Cosmic Skeptic” YouTube channel, podcast and blog, platforms dedicated to the publication of philosophical ideas and debates in an accessible format.
A graduate of philosophy and theology from St. John’s College, Oxford University, Alex is an international public speaker and debater, having delivered addresses across multiple continents at conferences, universities, and local drinking groups, as well as debated ethics, religion, and politics with a number of high-profile opponents before college audiences, on radio talk shows and on national television.
Alex’s online videos have been collectively viewed around fifty million times, attracting over 500,000 people to subscribe to his regular content. He has produced videos with notable experts in respected fields, such as Peter Singer, Richard Dawkins, Bishop Robert Barron, and William Lane Craig.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosmicskeptic/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CosmicSkeptic
Website: https://cosmicskeptic.com
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Know Thyself
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Website: https://www.knowthyself.one
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André Duqum
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