Bernardo KastrupIn this episode of Inception Dialogues I talk to psychologist Rick Stuart, Ph.D., who has a unique and refreshing approach to therapy and the ontology of the human mind. We discuss the human condition, the meaning of life, the nature of love, pain, suffering, as well as death. If you, like most of us, experience suffering in life, this conversation of a little over 1 hour and 20 minutes will offer you a few nuggets of helpful wisdom, earned by Rick through decades of first-hand experience as an anthropologist of the human soul.
Inception Dialogues 2: Psychologist Rick Stuart, Ph.D.Bernardo Kastrup2013-04-21 | In this episode of Inception Dialogues I talk to psychologist Rick Stuart, Ph.D., who has a unique and refreshing approach to therapy and the ontology of the human mind. We discuss the human condition, the meaning of life, the nature of love, pain, suffering, as well as death. If you, like most of us, experience suffering in life, this conversation of a little over 1 hour and 20 minutes will offer you a few nuggets of helpful wisdom, earned by Rick through decades of first-hand experience as an anthropologist of the human soul.
Background animation "Universe, Space, Fantasy" copyright by 1one1. Licensed from clipcanvas.com.
Background music "Easy Lemon" and "Peace of Mind" copyright by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed from incompetech.com under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.On death: a conversation with Simona ZemaityteBernardo Kastrup2021-04-09 | This conversation was meant as background for an upcoming art project, but with the interviewer's permission, it's published here in full.Bernardo Kastrup on Deepak ChopraBernardo Kastrup2020-10-07 | In this brief, 5-minute video, Bernardo elaborates on his views on Dr. Deepak Chopra. Many thanks to Darren, from "Seeking I" (youtube.com/channel/UCahDL4vGStUnNlkZNqW6BLA)Goff vs Kastrup debate 2020, Part 1Bernardo Kastrup2020-06-07 | This is the first lightly-edited segment of my debate with panpsychist philosopher Philip Goff during the 'How the Light Gets In' philosophy festival, 2020. There is an accompanying essay where I elaborate more on critical points raised, but not sufficiently addressed, during the debate: bernardokastrup.com/2020/06/further-reply-to-philip-goff.html I strongly encourage you to peruse this essay.Lifes peaks: philosophy and hikingBernardo Kastrup2019-11-01 | Some time ago I had the honor to receive a visit by scholars from the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Mikhail Ilyin and Dr. Ivan Fomin. We met in a restaurant and had a great conversation. The audio of this video is a record of that conversation. The quality is limited but I decided to make it available anyway, since the contents should be worth it. The accompanying images are clips from mountain hiking trips I've done with my partner, who appears often in this video. Although some may find the combination of philosophy and mountain hiking odd, for me it is as natural as breathing, so I hope you enjoy it!Ph.D. presentationBernardo Kastrup2019-10-12 | My 10-minute presentation during my second Ph.D. defense, summarizing my thesis supporting metaphysical idealism, and including highlights of my supervisor's speech at the end. The full 1-hour-plus defense can be found here: youtu.be/XcMOape0PY8.2nd PhD Defense, Supervisor Speech HighlightsBernardo Kastrup2019-10-12 | Highlights of my supervisor's speech following the defense of my second Ph.D. It illustrates well how metaphysical idealism is seen in academia today, and the challenges faced by those who, like me, aim to show that it is not only a respectable metaphysics, but the very best hypothesis for making sense of mind and world today. I wish all leading academic institutions today would follow my supervisors' and Radboud University's (elected the best Dutch classical University in 2018) lead and look upon idealism objectively and open-mindedly. The full 1-hour-plus defense can be found here: youtu.be/XcMOape0PY8.Interview with Jon RestorickBernardo Kastrup2019-09-08 | Raw footage of an interview with Jon Restorick for his upcoming podcast. It contains about 2.5 hours of material. The conversation starts slow, begins to warm up fast towards the middle, and then enters some surprising territory in the last third or so. We discuss things I've never publicly talked about before, such as my views on mind's 'prime directive.'Bernardos defense of his second Ph.D.Bernardo Kastrup2019-04-30 | This is the complete record of Bernardo's defense of his second Ph.D., on philosophy of mind and ontology, at Radboud University Nijmegen (The Netherland's best classical university in 2018), plus the degree granting ceremony. It was recorded on 29 April 2019, in the 'Aula' of Radboud University. The defense was held in English. For the thesis, click on: philpapers.org/rec/KASAIA-3 The thesis is a companion volume to Bernardo's book 'The Idea of the World': johnhuntpublishing.com/iff-books/our-books/idea-of-worldThe Idea of the World, TeaserBernardo Kastrup2018-08-09 | Iff Books teaser for 'The Idea of the World'The Origin and Nature of Life: A conversation with Dr. Bruce DamerBernardo Kastrup2018-03-29 | This is a short clip from a long conversation I had with Dr. Bruce Damer, from the University of California at Santa Cruz, about the origin and nature of life. Bruce is co-creator of a theory of the origin of life that has been recently featured on the cover of Scientific American magazine (see: scientificamerican.com/magazine/sa/2017/08-01/). For more details on Bruce's theory, see his TEDx presentation: youtu.be/6qiW4aUqtvA.
I mention in the video that studies have shown that the universe, at its largest scales, is structurally similar to a biological nervous system. Here are some related links:
Background music 'Light Awash' by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), used under Creative Commons license.Religion, reason, time and space: introducing More Than AllegoryBernardo Kastrup2016-02-24 | This video introduces and discusses my new book 'More Than Allegory: On religious myth, truth and belief.' It argues that religious mythology is an extraordinary psychosocial phenomenon that cannot be simply dismissed under the label of delusion. Its appeal throughout the ages arises from the fact that religious myths do convey truth, but truth that is neither literal nor merely allegorical. Religious myths embody, instead, a transcendent form of truth that cannot be captured in conceptual schemas or language narratives. The video also discusses the three key roles religious myths can, and must, play in contemporary society. Finally, it touches on the delicate challenge -- addressed head-on in the book -- of hinting at a worldview according to which time and space are constructs generated by the intellect, having no autonomous reality of their own. This is a challenge I have carefully avoided in my earlier five books, but whose time has now come.
The book 'More Than Allegory' can be purchased here:
At the closing of the seminars, I was honored to be invited to take part in a Q&A with the participants. This video is a record of that Q&A session, held in the evening of 28 October 2015. I'm grateful to Prof. Kripal and the participants for this opportunity.
Many of the subjects covered in this video are elaborated upon in the book 'Brief Peeks Beyond,' which can be purchased here:
In contrast to science fiction, however, there is the cold science fact of our complete failure to articulate, even in principle, how particular arrangements of matter could possibly generate consciousness. But instead of forcing our culture to revise its mistaken metaphysics, this failure is leading to a new delusion: panpsychism, or the notion that consciousness is in all matter, as opposed to all matter in consciousness. Under panpsychism, consciousness is fundamentally fragmented, just as matter appears to be. Single atoms allegedly have very simple consciousness, while more complex psyches, such as our own, can be built bottom-up by connecting atoms together.
In this video, we will see how both panpsychism and our dreams of artificial consciousness arise from a delusory interpretation of the facts of reality, as available to experience. We will see that consciousness isn’t created, but the framework wherein all creation happens. We will see that consciousness isn’t fundamentally fragmented, but fundamentally one. We will see that individual psyches don’t arise from bottom-up integration, but from top-down dissociation of a single consciousness. Finally, we will see how all this follows directly from true nondualism.
The contents of this video are based on the book 'Brief Peeks Beyond,' which can be purchased here:
Fred and I sat together a few times during a sunny autumn weekend in Oisterwijk, an idyllic southern Dutch town, to talk about life, the universe and everything. This episode is the result of those dialogues. Because it was recorded in person, I was sitting behind the camera this time and edited out my own voice. Fred's discourse is best enjoyed pure and uncontaminated.
Background animation "Universe, Space, Fantasy" copyright by 1one1. Licensed from clipcanvas.com.
Background music "Easy Lemon" copyright by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed from incompetech.com under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.Bernardo Kastrups Small Theory of EverythingBernardo Kastrup2015-06-09 | This is a brief, idiot-proof, to-the-point overview of Bernardo's philosophical views; his 'theory of everything,' so to speak. It's "small" because it's based on one simple, straight-forward idea, on the basis of which the whole of reality can be explained without reference to any postulated universe outside mind. A corresponding essay touching on the same ideas can be found here:
Photos of the Alzheimer Symposium: The Future of Brain Health 2015 by Roy Borghouts. Background animation by clipcanvas.com. Background music by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com.
This upload in authorized by the Chopra Foundation, which owns the copyright of this video. Sincere thanks go to Carolyn Rangel and Deepak Chopra for making all this possible! This has been a fantastic event that deserves much wider attention than it gets.Science and Consciousness panel at Sages and Scientists 2014 (shortened)Bernardo Kastrup2014-10-22 | This is a shortened cut of the "Science and Consciousness" panel held in the first evening of the "Sages and Scientists '14" Symposium, which took place in Carlsbad, California, in August of 2014. The participants in the panel, sitting from left to right, were:
This upload is authorized by the Chopra Foundation, holder of the copyright. Many thanks to Deepak Chopra and Carolyn Rangel for making this whole thing possible! This was a fantastic event that doesn't get the coverage it deserves.
Video thumbnail credit: Diggy Lloyd.In defence of theologyBernardo Kastrup2014-09-10 | This video essay is a rational defence of the legitimacy and importance of theology as a discipline. It summarises a monistic idealist metaphysics and then offers a reply to the criticisms against theology made by Jerry Coyne on 9 September 2014. It also explains what 'God' is in the context of this idealist philosophy. The essay on which this video has been based can be found here:
Background music "Easy Lemon" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.
Copyright 2014 by Bernardo Kastrup. All rights reserved.The Greatest Contradiction of Common SenseBernardo Kastrup2014-08-12 | The greatest contradiction of our common sense is the absolute incompatibility between the views that reality has qualities -- like color, taste, smell -- and that consciousness ends upon physical death.
This video is an introduction to Bernardo Kastrup's philosophy aimed at those who have never had contact with it before.
For more details of the book behind this video, see:
Background music "Deliberate Thought" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.
Copyright 2014 by Bernardo Kastrup. All rights reserved.All is in consciousness, but not necessarily consciousBernardo Kastrup2014-07-16 | Why Idealism isn't, and doesn't imply, panpsychism. Why life -- and only life -- is the image of a dissociative process in the one mind underlying all reality, but inanimate objects are simply excitations of that one mind. Inanimate objects are in consciousness, but life is conscious.
For more details of the book behind this video, see:
Copyright 2014 by Bernardo Kastrup. All rights reserved.A Few Thoughts on Mind and NatureBernardo Kastrup2014-07-08 | Some comments on recent online discussions about my articulation of Idealism. For more details of my proposal that the so-called 'unconscious' mind is actually in consciousness, see the following article:
Copyright 2014 by Bernardo Kastrup. All rights reserved.Modern Idealism: Way Beyond BerkeleyBernardo Kastrup2014-07-01 | Overcoming the main criticisms of Berkeley's idealism with a modern articulation of the idea that all reality is a phenomenon of consciousness, in consciousness.
Credits: Background music "Light Awash" by Kevin MacLeod (http://www.incompetech.com). Some of the stock footage licensed from http://www.clipcanvas.com.
Copyright 2014 by Bernardo Kastrup. All rights reserved.Materialism versus IdealismBernardo Kastrup2014-06-20 | Thoughts on comparisons between materialism -- the metaphysics stating that matter is outside mind and generates mind -- and idealism -- the metaphysics that all reality is in mind, including matter. For more details on the book behind this video, see:
Credits: Background music "Light Thought var 3" by Kevin MacLeod (http://www.incompetech.com). Some of the stock footage licensed from http://www.clipcanvas.com.
Copyright 2013-2014 by Bernardo Kastrup. All rights reserved.Top 10 Materialist FallaciesBernardo Kastrup2014-05-26 | The top 10 most fallacious arguments used by materialists. For more, check out the book "Why Materialism Is Baloney":
Credits: Background music "The Path of the Goblin King" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.
Copyright 2014 by Bernardo Kastrup. All rights reserved.Why Materialism Is BaloneyBernardo Kastrup2014-01-15 | This is a teaser of the book "Why Materialism Is Baloney," by Bernardo Kastrup. Book pages:
Credits: Background music "Felicitatem Dotatus" by Lino Rise - Free Music Production, http://www.linorise.de. Stock footage licensed from http://www.clipcanvas.com.
Copyright 2013-2014 by Bernardo Kastrup. All rights reserved.The Biggest Error Ever Made in the Name of ScienceBernardo Kastrup2013-10-18 | Mistaking the _image_ of a process for the _cause_ of the process is the biggest error ever made in the name of science. This video shows how this error has gripped Western thinking when it comes to the relationship between mind and brain. It also shows how reality is much simpler than the contrived worldview derived from the error. The video is an excerpt from Bernardo's Science and Non-Duality (SAND) Europe 2013 presentation. Thanks to the SAND organization for permission to use the images.Bernardos presentation at the Science & Non-Duality conference, 2013Bernardo Kastrup2013-08-07 | This is an edited re-upload of the original video available at the official Science & Non-Duality channel (http://youtu.be/7_Z92teHw6M). This version has improved sound and high-definition inserts of the original slides. The moments when I paused to cough (I was sick) were edited out. The presentation was titled: "Idealism Reloaded: The End of the Perception-Imagination Duality."
This video summarizes some of my key arguments against materialism, as discussed at length in my upcoming book 'Why Materialism Is Baloney,' which is now in advanced production at Iff-Books and should be available before the end of 2013.
In this episode I talk to science journalist and author John Horgan about the revolutionary philosophy of Thomas Kuhn, perhaps the greatest philosopher of science of the 20th century. Kuhn has introduced the concept of a 'paradigm' in science and shown that the positivist view of scientific development as steady progress towards the ultimate truth is fallacious. Science, according to Kuhn, is driven not only by empirical evidence but also by psychological, social, and political factors. And even the interpretation of the empirical evidence is not neutral, but laden with the assumptions, values, and beliefs entailed by a paradigm. John has had the unique opportunity to sit together with Kuhn several years ago and discuss his ideas with the man himself. He shares his views of Kuhn with me and we then engage in a lively debate about our respective views of the significance, accuracy, and implications of Kuhn's revolutionary philosophy.
Background animation "Universe, Space, Fantasy" copyright by 1one1. Licensed from clipcanvas.com.
Background music "Easy Lemon" and "Light Awash" copyright by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed from incompetech.com under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.Inception Dialogues 5: Science journalist and author John HorganBernardo Kastrup2013-05-21 | In this episode I talk to science journalist and author John Horgan about the revolutionary philosophy of Thomas Kuhn, perhaps the greatest philosopher of science of the 20th century. Kuhn has introduced the concept of a 'paradigm' in science and shown that the positivist view of scientific development as steady progress towards the ultimate truth is fallacious. Science, according to Kuhn, is driven not only by empirical evidence but also by psychological, social, and political factors. And even the interpretation of the empirical evidence is not neutral, but laden with the assumptions, values, and beliefs entailed by a paradigm. John has had the unique opportunity to sit together with Kuhn several years ago and discuss his ideas with the man himself. He shares his views of Kuhn with me and we then engage in a lively debate about our respective views of the significance, accuracy, and implications of Kuhn's revolutionary philosophy.
Background animation "Universe, Space, Fantasy" copyright by 1one1. Licensed from clipcanvas.com.
Background music "Easy Lemon" and "Light Awash" copyright by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed from incompetech.com under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.Inception Dialogues 4: Author Robert PerryBernardo Kastrup2013-05-10 | In this episode of Inception Dialogues I talk to author and psychologist Robert Perry. We discuss 'synchronicities,' those meaningful coincidences in life that seem to convey personal and significant messages. Robert relates some amazing cases of synchronicities and describes his attempt to bring more objectivity to their study. We discuss the ontological nature of synchronicities, their relationship to the idea of a divinity, life purpose, and how society could be transformed if people paid more attention to what the metaphor we call reality is attempting to show us.
Background animation "Universe, Space, Fantasy" copyright by 1one1. Licensed from clipcanvas.com.
Background music "Easy Lemon" and "Light Awash" copyright by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed from incompetech.com under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.ID4 Digest: Author Robert PerryBernardo Kastrup2013-05-10 | This is a 10-minute digest of episode 4 of Inception Dialogues. For the complete dialogue go to:
In this episode of Inception Dialogues I talk to author and psychologist Robert Perry. We discuss 'synchronicities,' those meaningful coincidences in life that seem to convey personal and significant messages. Robert relates some amazing cases of synchronicities and describes his attempt to bring more objectivity to their study. We discuss the ontological nature of synchronicities, their relationship to the idea of a divinity, life purpose, and how society could be transformed if people paid more attention to what the metaphor we call reality is attempting to show us.
Background animation "Universe, Space, Fantasy" copyright by 1one1. Licensed from clipcanvas.com.
Background music "Easy Lemon" and "Light Awash" copyright by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed from incompetech.com under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.ID2 Digest: Psychologist Rick Stuart, Ph.D.Bernardo Kastrup2013-05-06 | This is a 10-minute digest of episode 2 of Inception Dialogues. For the complete dialogue go to:
In this episode of Inception Dialogues I talk to psychologist Rick Stuart, Ph.D., who has a unique and refreshing approach to therapy and the ontology of the human mind. We discuss the human condition, the meaning of life, the nature of suffering, and death. If you, like most of us, experience suffering in life, this conversation will offer you a few nuggets of helpful wisdom, earned by Rick through decades of first-hand experience as an anthropologist of the human soul.
Background animation "Universe, Space, Fantasy" copyright by 1one1. Licensed from clipcanvas.com.
Background music "Easy Lemon" and "Light Awash" copyright by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed from incompetech.com under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.ID3 Digest: Author and filmmaker Jeremy VaeniBernardo Kastrup2013-05-02 | This is a 10-minute digest of episode 3 of Inception Dialogues. For the complete dialogue go to:
In this episode, I have a lively, fun, and in-depth conversation with author, filmmaker, and high-strangeness experiencer Jeremy Vaeni. We waste no time and kick off the dialogue delving straight into the so-called 'alien abduction' phenomenon and its possible ontological interpretations. Jeremy shares some amazing stories and his thoughts on them. We then move on to Jeremy's 'Kundalini Rising' experiences and all the transcendent insights they've given him, and which he lays out in his book Urgency. In the final third of the dialogue, we ponder about the human condition, our culture, and the future of civilisation.
Background animation "Universe, Space, Fantasy" copyright by 1one1. Licensed from clipcanvas.com.
Background music "Easy Lemon" and "Light Awash" copyright by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed from incompetech.com under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.Inception Dialogues 3: Author and filmmaker Jeremy VaeniBernardo Kastrup2013-04-30 | In this episode, I have a lively, fun, and in-depth conversation with author, filmmaker, and high-strangeness experiencer Jeremy Vaeni. We waste no time and kick off the dialogue delving straight into the so-called 'alien abduction' phenomenon and its possible ontological interpretations. Jeremy shares some amazing stories and his thoughts on them. We then move on to Jeremy's 'Kundalini Rising' experiences and all the transcendent insights they've given him, and which he lays out in his book Urgency. In the final third of the dialogue, we ponder about the human condition, our culture, and the future of civilisation.
Background animation "Universe, Space, Fantasy" copyright by 1one1. Licensed from clipcanvas.com.
Background music "Easy Lemon" and "Peace of Mind" copyright by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed from incompetech.com under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.Inception Dialogues 1: About Inception DialoguesBernardo Kastrup2013-04-21 | This is the introductory episode of Inception Dialogues, a video series and accompanying audio podcast dedicated to exploring the human condition through the imagination. The series comprises conversations about art, mythology, theology, philosophy, psychology, and more, with some of the more interesting and lesser known thinkers and visionaries of our time. The goals and character of the series are described in this short episode.