Ep. 1 - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - Introduction

In this inaugural episode of a series, John Vervaeke, a professor at the University of Toronto, introduces a comprehensive exploration of what he identifies as a profound "meaning crisis" in contemporary culture. He aims to unify his previous work by examining the confluence of interest in Buddhism, cognitive science, wisdom, psychedelics, happiness, and meaning, alongside the rise of mental health issues, nihilism, and distrust in institutions. Vervaeke contends that these positive and negative trends share a unifying explanation, which he will explore through historical, cognitive scientific, and practical lenses. The series will delve into the evolution and history of the meaning crisis, its connections to wisdom, self-transcendence, altered states of consciousness, self-deception, and existential experiences. He begins by situating the origins of meaning-making in the Upper Paleolithic Transition, highlighting the emergence of art, music, and enhanced cognition alongside new social rituals and shamanic practices as responses to environmental pressures and expanding social networks. Vervaeke introduces the concept of "psychotechnology," using shamanism as an example, and emphasizes the role of disruptive practices in fostering insight and altering perceptions of reality.