Ep. 21 - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - Martin Luther and Descartes

In this episode of "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis," Dr. John Vervaeke discusses the impact of the scientific revolution and the Protestant Reformation, particularly focusing on Martin Luther's ideas and their consequences. He argues that Luther's emphasis on individual conscience and the concept of "faith alone" inadvertently laid the groundwork for cultural narcissism, characterized by self-obsession and a hunger for unearned positive regard. Vervaeke also explores how the Reformation, alongside the rise of science and capitalism, contributed to a sense of existential dread and the secularization of culture, leading to a loss of traditional wisdom and an increased reliance on the state and politics for meaning. He contrasts Luther's ideas with those of Descartes and Hobbes, highlighting the shift from participatory knowing to propositional certainty and the emergence of artificial intelligence as a challenge to the concept of the soul.