The Here and Now Podcast (Dave Monds)
Explorez tous les épisodes de The Here and Now Podcast
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05 Feb 2022 | Materialism | 00:26:18 | |
The prevailing philosophical paradigm underpinning the physical sciences is materialism, also known as physicalism. Simply, everything that exists is material in some sense. However there are many concepts which seem immaterial so how are these reconciled? In this episode we briefly explore materialism and it’s issues. | |||
| 13 Feb 2022 | Behaviorism | 00:23:01 | |
Behaviorism is a tradition within the field of psychology which came to prominence during the early to mid 20th century through the work of John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner. It includes the theories of classical and operant conditioning and was considered to explain all of human behavior. It has since been superseded by the cognitive revolution, however the principles of behaviorism can be found throughout modern psychology and society itself which we explore in this episode. | |||
| 05 Apr 2022 | Cognitivism | 00:29:34 | |
The cognitive revolution in psychology began in the mid 20th century and supplanted behaviourism as the dominant theoretical paradigm explaining human cognition and behaviour which continues today. We explore the origins of cognitive psychology, what it has revealed about the workings of the mind, cognitive maps and mental models, why it is like a computer but not like a computer, neural networks, and why despite great advances, it fails to capture the totality of what it means to be human. | |||
| 07 Apr 2022 | Sanctuary | 00:08:55 | |
In this brief reflection, I consider the idea of psychological sanctuary, it's importance and its dangers. | |||
| 16 Jul 2022 | Phenomenology | 00:28:27 | |
You are an experience machine, everything that has ever happened to you and everything that will ever happen to you is experience. Reflecting on your experience offers a unique insight into the nature of reality and forms the basis for the philosophical methodology of phenomenology. In this episode we explore phenomenology from its inception by Edmund Husserl in the early 20th century, to Martin Heidegger's exploration of being-in-the-world, the embodiment of phenomenology as described by Maurice Merleau-Ponty and its influence on the applied phenomenology of Iris Marion Young's work on femininity. | |||
| 27 Nov 2019 | The Tinder Paradigm with Hamish Williams | 00:35:24 | |
The inaugural Here & Now Podcast explores the Tinder culture and asks questions of whether it reflects our digital lives or is merely an extension of our humanity. My guest Hamish Williams explains how Tinder works and offers his insight into the world of app based dating and how it takes advantage of our psychology and innate desire for validation. | |||
| 15 Jan 2020 | Making Babies (or not?) | 00:19:45 | |
This episode discusses the concept of antinatalism, a position which considers the morality of creating life. You may find the ideas presented challenging, but it is a good introduction to moral philosophy. The Here and Now Blog | |||
| 04 Dec 2019 | Passion | 00:17:55 | |
What is it about passion? It drives us, it defines us, it is the source of our obsession. But, how important is it? Here is my take on the strengths and pitfalls of passion with a personal anecdote and a little Picasso thrown in for good measure. | |||
| 25 Dec 2019 | Life on Mars | 00:15:03 | |
For millennia humans have looked to the heavens and wondered, “are we alone?” There is a very good reason to hope we are, but let’s keep looking anyway. | |||
| 11 Dec 2019 | Happiness | 00:24:29 | |
Happiness. It’s elusive but we are all searching for it. In this first part of the navigating life series I look at why happiness may sometimes be unobtainable, why that shouldn’t bother you, and how you can find true happiness in the most extreme of circumstances. | |||
| 18 Dec 2019 | Negativity | 00:17:46 | |
Some days are harder than others but there is good news and bad news. The good news is, it's all in your head. The bad news is, it's all in your head. Here is a little advice to help you manage those dark days we all have sometimes that just seem too hard. Understanding where negative thoughts come from is the first step in moving past them. | |||
| 08 Jan 2020 | Ego | 00:14:18 | |
Our ego can be the source of our confidence or our biggest weakness. We explore the ego, ask some hard questions, and talk about chewing. | |||
| 01 Jan 2020 | Navigating life with Wesley Reid | 00:46:03 | |
Personal trainer, entrepreneur and professional pilot Wesley Reid joins me to discuss his thoughts on finding happiness and navigating life. | |||
| 22 Jan 2020 | The Sixth Sense | 00:17:04 | |
Proprioception is the sixth sense. It connects the mind to the body and there are remarkable implications when it is lost. | |||
| 29 Jan 2020 | Effective Altruism | 00:22:44 | |
How can you be sure that your contribution will do the greatest amount of good? A compelling answer is effective altruism. | |||
| 12 Feb 2020 | Overpopulation (or not?) | 00:19:52 | |
How we think about our place in the world is in large part influenced by how we perceive it. What we are exposed to day in and day out builds a picture in our minds but reality is often quite different. In this episode we ask the question ‘is the earth becoming overpopulated?’ The answer might not be what you think as we explore some surprising facts about population growth which aren’t obvious in the daily news cycle.
| |||
| 10 Jan 2020 | The Why of The H&N Podcast | 00:04:11 | |
When starting a new journey it's important to have a why. Here is the why of The Here and Now Podcast. Show your support for the show by sharing it with your social network. | |||
| 05 Feb 2020 | Resilience | 00:28:05 | |
Resilience, it might be the most underrated superpower but is it something we are born with or can it be learned? We explore the quality of resilience through a case study of the special forces soldier and see how it can be found within all of us. https://www.facebook.com/thehereandnowpodcast/
| |||
| 26 Feb 2020 | The End of the World | 00:33:11 | |
The threat of nuclear war may have faded from the public consciousness, but the risks to humanity are higher than many people realise, including those who have the power to use them. https://www.facebook.com/thehereandnowpodcast/ | |||
| 04 Mar 2020 | Psychological Capital | 00:21:57 | |
We all have a balance of psychological capital, psycap, which influences how we interact with others. Unlike our personality, our psycap can change. Learn how in this episode. | |||
| 19 Feb 2020 | Decisions Decisions | 00:23:19 | |
We are faced with many decisions in life, some important, many not. So how can you tell the difference and navigate through tough decisions which may have lasting implications? | |||
| 11 Mar 2020 | Born or Made? | 00:31:36 | |
Are we born or made? The question of nature versus nurture is an old one but advancements in genetics and twin studies have given us new insight into this age old question. Genes are part of who we are but it is our environment which not only shapes our behaviour, but also determines how genes behave and whether they even turn on or off. We explore the state of the art understanding of how genes and environment together influence who we are and who we might become. | |||
| 18 Mar 2020 | The Pillars of Philosophy | 00:28:54 | |
You might not realise it, but you are probably a philosopher. If you’ve ever asked a “big” question and wondered about the mysteries of life and the universe, then you’re in good company. In this episode we introduce the four pillars of philosophy and their branches. It is a brief introduction but it will set the stage for future explorations of the many interesting topics to be found within the field of philosophy. | |||
| 01 Apr 2020 | Vulnerability | 00:20:25 | |
Vulnerability is a word that has connotations of weakness and fear yet it is a beautiful quality which underlies authenticity, openness and potential. Learning to embrace vulnerability, not to ignore or fear it, is an important step on the path toward finding happiness and joy. | |||
| 29 Apr 2020 | The Same But Different | 00:12:08 | |
This brief episode reminds us that despite our many differences, we have much in common and we should focus on those things to help us to find harmony and understanding in life. | |||
| 25 Mar 2020 | Coping with COVID-19 | 00:26:39 | |
We're all struggling to understand the situation. Listen in for some ideas on how to cope with COVID-19 and join me on a short guided mindfulness meditation. Let's support each other through this.
| |||
| 08 Apr 2020 | Obedience | 00:23:27 | |
We all feel a sense of agency but how easily can we be manipulated to act obediently? In this episode we take a look at the notorious Milgram experiments to understand how obedience can lead us to carry out abhorrent acts. https://www.facebook.com/thehereandnowpodcast/ | |||
| 15 Apr 2020 | Flow | 00:27:23 | |
Have you ever been so immersed in a task that you forgot about everything else, even your sense of self? This realm of optimal human performance is known as flow. In this episode I take a look at what flow is, how it is explained by science, and offer some tips on how you can unlock its potential. | |||
| 22 Apr 2020 | Authenticity | 00:20:29 | |
We might describe someone authentic with the phrase, “what you see is what you get." It makes us think of honesty and truth but the question is, authentic to what? So what does it really mean to be authentic and can we even get there? | |||
| 06 May 2020 | Psychological Entropy | 00:31:38 | |
Entropy is described by the second law of thermodynamics as the movement of a system from a state of order to disorder, perhaps that concept can also be applied to the mind. From cats to magic mushrooms, we unpack a lot in this episode.
| |||
| 13 May 2020 | Lying | 00:22:51 | |
We learn to lie at a young age and we do it so much we take it for granted. But all lies are not equal and some we might even bring upon ourselves. This could be the best episode yet, or I could be full of it, there's only one way to find out... | |||
| 20 May 2020 | Failure | 00:22:46 | |
We fail frequently but whether we let failure consume us, or propel us forward to success is a question of framing. In this episode we explore framing failure, honest self-assessment, the failures of NASA and a word on my evolving why and how we can help each other. | |||
| 27 May 2020 | Influence - Reciprocation, consistency, and social proof | 00:27:16 | |
While it might appear we have free will, much of our behaviour is determined by principles of social influence beyond our control. In this two part series, we consider the six principles of social influence described by social psychologist Robert Cialdini in his best seller Influence: The Science of Persuasion. In this episode we cover the principles of reciprocation, consistency and commitment and social proof. | |||
| 03 Jun 2020 | Influence - Liking, scarcity, and authority | 00:21:15 | |
The second part in this two part series on the psychology of influence. We conclude with the principles of liking, scarcity and authority. | |||
| 17 Jun 2020 | Coming back to life | 00:02:53 | |
We all have moments in life which change us and for me, this was one of them. This is a preview of a reflection episode. To listen to the whole story, head on over to patreon and become a supporter of the podcast to access more exclusive content like this. | |||
| 10 Jun 2020 | Science Communication with Dr. Sam Illingworth | 00:39:23 | |
Dr. Sam Illingworth of the University of Western Australia joins me to discuss the importance of science communication, breaking down of silos in science, making scientific research and its communication consumer centric and his fantastic weekly podcast 'The Poetry of Science' where he uses the medium of poetry to communicate the findings of recently published scientific papers. | |||
| 01 Jul 2020 | Contemplative landscapes with Niles Heckman | 00:51:09 | |
Niles Heckman is a documentary filmmaker and podcaster. His works include the visually stunning philosophical endeavour 'Transmutation', ongoing series 'Shamans of the Global Village' and a series of short films available on YouTube. He hosts the podcast, ‘An Infinite Path’ which includes interviews and reflective essays on philosophy and spiritualism. We discuss Niles' films, the contrasts between nature and the urban landscape, and the importance of process over goals among other topics. | |||
| 23 Jun 2020 | Free Will | 00:38:09 | |
The question of free will has been on the mind of deep thinkers for thousands of years but we are no closer to finding an answer. In this episode we take a look at the three main positions on free will: determinism, libertarianism and compatibilism and consider the consequences of each. This is a long episode and I barely scratched the surface so consider this a gentle introduction. Maybe you're destined to push play, maybe you're about to make a conscious choice, by the time you reach the end of episode you might have a better sense of which explanation feels most correct to you. Determinism | |||
| 08 Jul 2020 | Stories | 00:27:12 | |
Humans have told stories for tens of thousands of years through cave art, the narration of myths and legends and in written form. Storytelling is more than just entertainment, it forms the basis of culture and our socially constructed reality. In this episode we explore storytelling and try to understand why it makes us uniquely human. Tanē Mahuta: separator of heaven and earth – Tourism New Zealand | |||
| 15 Jul 2020 | The Scientific Method | 00:23:31 | |
What makes science, science and pseudoscience, not? We explore a brief history of the scientific method and how it is used to increase our understanding of reality and where it falls short. History of the scientific method – Martyn Shuttleworth https://www.facebook.com/thehereandnowpodcast/ | |||
| 22 Jul 2020 | Needs | 00:39:35 | |
Abraham Maslow gave us a model for human motivation with his ubiquitous 'Hierarchy of Needs.' We explore Maslow's model in this episode and spend some time on the highest levels of human motivation: self-actualisation and transcendence, often characterised by peak experiences. https://www.facebook.com/thehereandnowpodcast/ | |||
| 29 Jul 2020 | The Replication Crisis | 00:21:25 | |
We put a lot of faith in science but in recent years it has become evident that many findings are unable to be replicated. This has become known as the 'replication crisis' and it has thrown the credibility of some areas of science into question. It hasn't been all bad though as it has helped many scientists to rethink how they conduct research and report their results, improving the veracity of findings. We explore a few of the reasons behind the replication crisis and discuss the concept of statistical significance. | |||
| 05 Aug 2020 | Curated futures with Daniel Miessler (Power I) | 01:11:28 | |
For our first episode in power month I'm joined by Daniel Miessler, online security expert and curator of the popular newsletter, and podcast, Unsupervised Learning. Daniel has over 20 years experience in the world of online security and technology and wrote the book The Real Internet of Things which explores the future for humanity in a connected world. We explore a range of topics including what data breaches mean for society, whether companies take security threats seriously, what happens to the data, and what an increasingly online world means for society at large. We go deep on the future of big data and the curated reality that is emerging from a tech driven world that, as Yuval Noah Harari puts it, knows us better than we know ourselves. | |||
| 12 Aug 2020 | Traditional Power (Power II) | 00:19:45 | |
In the second episode of power month we begin by defining soft and hard power and asking not just what it is, but why it is the way it is. We consider the traditional conception of power as hierarchical, held by a sovereign or religious figure, and endorsed by its subjects until this balance is disturbed. We then explore the darker side of power through a classic novel and discuss how this version of power is influenced by the time period in which it is situated. | |||
| 19 Aug 2020 | Structural Power (Power III) | 00:29:23 | |
In part three of power month we explore the postmodern conceptualisation of power as existing within the institutions and structures of society. Rather than something held by individuals, power is intangible and diffused throughout our social norms and values. We consider how this line of thinking came to be and what it means for our understanding of power in the modern world. | |||
| 02 Sep 2020 | Sacrifice and purpose with Patrick Bronte | 00:43:13 | |
Patrick Bronte has a unique story which has led him to dedicate his life to capturing the voices of New Zealand military veterans through his website and trust, Nga Toa, Maori for, 'many warriors'. In my conversation with Pat we discuss how the project came about, the importance of capturing forgotten voices, and his journey to find meaning and purpose through the voices of the many warriors who have represented the New Zealand defence force in conflicts around the world. | |||
| 26 Aug 2020 | Individual Power - (Power IV) | 00:32:40 | |
In this final episode of the series on power we consider the power of the individual. We explore Nietzsche's 'will to power', Adler's theories of individual psychology and the social contract of Rousseau. We bring French and Raven's power bases back to the conversation and consider the ways in which power traits vary in individuals. We conclude by linking the individual and the group through the need to belong as theorised by social identity theory. https://www.facebook.com/thehereandnowpodcast/ | |||
| 09 Sep 2020 | How to Pack a Suit Case | 00:19:30 | |
Those who travel a lot get pretty good at packing but it is easy to overpack or to carry a lot of things that aren't needed. Life is much the same way, we all carry with us emotional baggage, false ideas and misconceptions which hold us back. Examining those thoughts and letting them go is a great way to lighten the load. | |||
| 16 Sep 2020 | The Myers Briggs Type Indicator | 00:35:23 | |
The Myers Briggs Type Indicator or MBTI is a popular personality testing instrument which categorises personality according to 16 possible types based on four dimensions: Extraverted or Introverted, Sensing or Intuition, Thinking or Feeling, and Judging or Perceiving. The MBTI purports to help individuals choose the right careers, improve personal relationships, and to better understand themselves while critics argue it is an elaborate form of entertainment. In this episode we take a close look at the MBTI to see if it meets the criteria of validity and reliability used for evaluating all psychometric tests. Myers Briggs Personality Types | |||
| 23 Sep 2020 | The Big Five | 00:24:51 | |
The Five Factor Model of personality, also known as the big five, is the mostly widely accepted model of personality in psychology. We explore the origins of the FFM, evidence of its validity, how it has informed theories of personality and what a model of personality means for the individual. | |||
| 30 Sep 2020 | Moral Relativism | 00:30:29 | |
Are there universal moral absolutes or does right and wrong vary by culture, society, or individuality? We delve into the complex and challenging philosophical topic of moral relativism to try to make sense of this question. Some of the examples will be hard to to stomach, but in order to understand how we should think about moral questions for everyone, we must first consider how they feel to us. | |||
| 07 Oct 2020 | Anxiety | 00:23:14 | |
We all experience anxiety at different times throughout our lives but for many people it becomes a serious issue requiring treatment. There are five types of anxiety disorder and together they are the most commonly diagnosed mental health issues. In this episode we take a look at what causes anxiety and consider two specific anxiety disorders, panic disorder and generalised anxiety disorder and discuss the forms of treatment available. | |||
| 04 Nov 2020 | Getting Curious with Ollie Martin | 01:12:52 | |
Ollie Martin spent 10 years as a constable with the Sussex police force operating in high risk covert surveillance and intelligence roles. After suffering burnout, Ollie resigned from the force and has since developed a range of programmes and peer support groups to help police officers and men from all walks of life 'get curious' about their own mental health and start talking. We discuss Ollie's journey from his career in the police, to the emotional impact of a traumatic event he witnessed on the job, to how he rekindled his spirit and has used that experience to help other men to open up, share their stories, and improve their mental and physical health. | |||
| 14 Oct 2020 | Regret | 00:21:02 | |
We all have regrets in life but it's the things we didn't do that affect us the most. In this episode we take a look at the psychology of regret and learn from those reflecting upon their lives in their final days. | |||
| 11 Nov 2020 | Beyond the Battlefield with Tim Davies | 01:35:29 | |
Tim Davies served for twenty years as a fighter pilot and flying instructor in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. In addition to consulting to a number of private companies, Tim runs one-on-one and group training sessions through his company, Fast Jet Performance, where he helps people of all backgrounds find meaning and purpose using lessons he has learnt from his time operating high performance military aircraft. Our conversation is wide ranging and covers some of the challenges he faced during his military career including the importance of taking accountability for self actualisation through a focus on mental and physical health. | |||
| 21 Oct 2020 | The Other | 00:27:20 | |
In philosophy, the Other is the conception of the self as a distinct entity, but it is has another more sinister connotation in psychology and sociology as the subjugated altern characterised by difference. We explore the Other through the lenses of colonisation and neoliberalism and discuss how the western history of othering has influenced society in myriad ways, from racism and inequality to world war. The Here and Now Podcast on Facebook | |||
| 28 Oct 2020 | Accountability | 00:21:48 | |
It seems there has been a lot of focus on personal accountability in recent years. I've personally found this helpful for making improvements in my own life but I'm also conflicted about what the limits of personal accountability are. I explore that question in this more conversational type of episode. I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts on the topic. | |||
| 18 Nov 2020 | Episode 52 | 00:19:01 | |
It's been one year of weekly episodes of The Here and Now Podcast so I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the journey and what it has meant for me and to acknowledge the eight guests who have graciously shared their stories and time with me over this past year. Thanks also to you for listening and inspiring me to keep thinking, writing and recording. | |||
| 09 Dec 2020 | Workplace Psychology with Dr Austin Tay | 01:10:50 | |
In this episode, organisational psychologist Dr Austin Tay of Omnipsi Consulting and the podcast, PsyChat, joins me to discuss psychology in the workplace. We discuss a range of timely and important topics including: The psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our professional lives and what this might mean for a future version of 'normal'. The relevance of personality when recruiting employees and building teams, How corporate culture can both help and hinder employee performance and job satisfaction. How to deal with setbacks at work. Rethinking Maslow’s Theory of motivation. What motivates high performers to aim high and succeed. How to optimise relationships in the modern, multicultural, workplace. Omnipsi Consulting | |||
| 06 Jan 2021 | Creative Realities with Nathalie Wendt | 00:49:43 | |
Nathalie Wendt is a performing artist, puppeteer and all round creative talent based in Berlin. She is host of The Bullet by Nathalie Wendt, an intriguing podcast which explores philosophy and the nature of reality through the medium of performance audio. We discuss Nathalie's background and approach to the performing arts, the blurring of lines between the real and the imagined, the nature of objective and subjective reality and more. | |||
| 25 Nov 2020 | Identity | 00:24:07 | |
Who are you? Identity is about who we are but we are all made up of many parts. We develop a sense of individual identity during adolescence then begin to inhabit social worlds which inform our identity in ways that can be highly rewarding but leave us vulnerable when our life circumstances change. In this episode we explore the problem of building one's sense of self around a social identity and consider ways to overcome it. | |||
| 02 Dec 2020 | A Good Bastard with Dr. Dave Baldwin | 00:57:29 | |
Doctor Dave Baldwin is a GP and Aviation Medical Examiner known for his 'not-so-royal' flying doctor service and 'Healthy Bastards' campaign, which promotes men's health and well-being. We cover Dave's spiritual journey, his work in aviation and private medical practice, how he finds creative freedom, his thoughts on a devastating personal tragedy, his passion for flying and the outdoors and more in this engaging and at times hilarious conversation. | |||
| 16 Dec 2020 | Peace of Mind | 00:17:23 | |
I saw a meme recently that read, "anything that costs you your peace of mind is too expensive". At first glance it made sense, but something about it didn't feel right so I decided to explore that feeling in this final episode for 2020. | |||
| 23 Dec 2020 | Holiday Replay - Negativity | 00:17:46 | |
Merry Christmas! I wrote and recorded this episode of The Here and Now Podcast in a hotel room in Shanghai about a year ago. A lot has changed since then but my thoughts are more or less the same. While not exactly in the holiday spirit, many people struggle at this time of year for different reasons so I hope this message finds someone who needs to hear it. | |||
| 30 Dec 2020 | Holiday Replay - Ego | 00:14:43 | |
This is one of my favourite episodes and I refer to its themes regularly. I still can't stand the sound of eating, but I try to deal with it. In a year where we've seen the full range of human behaviour from the self-centred to the selfless, perhaps end the year by taking a step back and reflecting on how you come across in the world and what version of you you'd like to present in the future. | |||
| 20 Jan 2021 | Language I - The Questions | 00:22:14 | |
Is there a quality more uniquely human than language? The domain of language is vast and complex and involves many disciplines. In this series we will explore many of the big questions about language and cover a range of topics from evolution, biology, linguistics, anthropology, psychology and philosophy. On our search for answers we’ll gain a deeper understanding of what language is, how it emerged in humans, and how it functions in individuals and society. | |||
| 10 Feb 2021 | The Psychology of Language with Professor Trevor Harley | 01:28:14 | |
Dr. Trevor Harley is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Dundee University, Scotland specialising in cognitive psychology. He has authored eight books including the best selling textbook, The Psychology of Language, currently in its fourth edition, as well as his gentler introduction to the topic, Talking the Talk. His other works include The Psychology of Weather, Science and Psychology and a soon to be released textbook on the psychology of consciousness. Despite his many academic achievements, Dr. Harley has battled with mental illness throughout his life. | |||
| 27 Jan 2021 | Language II - Origins | 00:22:13 | |
The origins of language are unknown. Now that's out of the way we can get on with investigating several of the possibilities in this second episode of our series on language. This episode considers Daniel Everett's gradualism thesis that the hominid Homo erectus was an early adopter of language as evidenced by their extensive travels and creation of icons and symbols. We explore this thesis, Pierces' semiotics model, and evidence from the fossil record. Remember, this is a gentle introduction to the topic which fills volumes. You can find much more detail in the reading list below. | |||
| 03 Feb 2021 | Language III - Animals | 00:17:06 | |
Animals are capable of many amazing feats. Some even have remarkable learning and communication abilities, but do they have language? In part three of our series on language we take a look at the linguistic abilities of several animals and highlight a few of the distinctions between animal communication and human language. | |||
| 17 Feb 2021 | Language IV - Mind and Body | 00:41:26 | |
We get more technical in this fourth episode of our series on language. We continue with the gradualist theory of the origins of language by looking at three key areas: the brain, speech production and gestures. We consider whether there are regions of the brain associated with language, whether there is a language gene and how the speech apparatus works. We also consider sign language and gestures and discuss whether these could have been the origins of language in humans and hominids like Homo erectus. | |||
| 24 Feb 2021 | Language V - The Great Leap | 00:30:56 | |
In this final episode of part I of our series on language, we examine the non-gradualist theory of the emergence of language, also referred to as The Great Leap theory which argues that complex human language appeared suddenly around 50,000 years ago. | |||
| 03 Mar 2021 | Language and Culture with Professor Quentin Atkinson | 00:50:11 | |
Professor Quentin Atkinson of the University of Auckland joins me to discuss his work on the origins of language and the evolution of culture. Professor Atkinson gained widespread recognition for his 2011 paper in the journal Science in which he used modeling techniques from evolutionary biology to show how human language can be traced to its origins on the west coast of Africa. I discussed this briefly in the last episode Language V - The Great Leap. The Here and Now Podcast on Facebook | |||
| 10 Mar 2021 | Language VI - What does it all mean? | 00:23:32 | |
Part two of our series on language considers the question: How do we use language? In this episode we look at the field of linguistics known as semantics which considers how words represent tangible and abstract meanings. We also see how much of what we say is metaphor and how culture informs how we create mental maps of meaning which we use to communicate and share ideas. | |||
| 17 Mar 2021 | Language VII - Language and Us | 00:26:39 | |
To conclude part two of the series we consider pragmatics, the linguistic field that deals with context and how language is used. We take a look at 'why' we have language and the subtle and not so subtle ways we communicate. We consider different types of dialects, turn taking and the power of language to shape the way we think. We then conclude the episode with a look at one of the superpowers of language, swearing. | |||
| 07 Apr 2021 | Turning back and Living Well with Bruce Grierson | 01:00:53 | |
Bruce Grierson is a social science writer whose work has featured in many well known print and online publications including New York Magazine, Popular Science, Time Magazine, Psychology Today and Scientific American. He is a five times Canadian National Magazine Award winning feature writer and has written the books U-Turn: What if you woke up one morning and realised you were living the wrong life? and What makes Olga run?: The mystery of the 90-something track star and what she can teach us about living longer, happier lives. We discuss both of Bruce's books, topics from psychology and social science, creativity and writing and one of my favourite subjects, space exploration. The Here and Now Podcast on Facebook | |||
| 24 Mar 2021 | Language VIII - The Fabric of Thought | 00:27:09 | |
In the third and final part of our series on language we consider the philosophical question: Do we need language to think? This question is often articulated as the Sapir Whorf hypothesis. We examine the question from its historical perspective, Boas, Sapir and Whorf's anthropological investigations, Lenneberg's formulation of a strong and weak version of the hypothesis, the relationship between language and cognition, what we've learned from Piaget's study of childhood development, how bilingualism and translatability inform thought and how this leads us to our old friend, culture. Spoiler alert: the conclusion is unsatisfying (at least to me), but we still uncover some interesting aspects of human cognition and language along the way. | |||
| 31 Mar 2021 | Language IX - Absolute Language | 00:21:00 | |
We conclude the language series by considering the final question: Do words actually mean anything? This may sound like a strange question to ask, considering the many aspects of language we've covered over the last eight episodes, but when we look closely at language and words, the answer is not obvious. We unpack the question from the perspective of Jacques Derrida, the 20th century French philosopher whose work established the controversial field of deconstruction. The Here and Now Podcast on Facebook | |||
| 14 Apr 2021 | Meaning and Purpose at Work | 00:22:31 | |
We often struggle to find a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives. In this episode we consider the psychology of how we find meaning and consider a few strategies to help to you find meaning and purpose in both your professional and private life. | |||
| 05 May 2021 | Pointlessness | 00:29:10 | |
What is the meaning of life? That age old, philosophical cliché has had no shortage of answers but what if there isn’t one? What if life is pointless? Philosopher Rivka Weinberg presents a compelling argument for the pointlessness of life which I explore in this episode. But don't be alarmed, there is a bright side! (Spoiler alert: there may not be a bright side). | |||
| 12 May 2021 | Integrity | 00:24:10 | |
Integrity is one of the most hallowed virtues but is it one we can ever truly attain? Is acting with integrity always the best path to follow? We explore integrity and its opposite in this episode and find that integrity may be more complicated than it seems and often when we think we act with integrity, we may actually be lying to ourselves. The Here and Now Podcast on Facebook | |||
| 11 Jun 2021 | The Social Contract | 00:25:22 | |
What is the role of government? Should it exist to provide safety and security for its citizens or to maintain order because humans are fundamentally selfish? Is an equitable society possible? What would such a society look like? Episode 73 is the first of a mini-series on social justice in which we consider the social contract that exists between a state and its people according to the divergent views of four political philosophers. | |||
| 23 Jun 2021 | Social Justice | 00:40:03 | |
In this episode we explore social justice, namely: what is it, why is it so contested, and why are you probably sick of hearing about. It has taken a while to write this episode, largely because it is a challenging topic which introduces politics and confronts our worldviews. It is not meant to be divisive or inflammatory, its purpose is to open minds and approach social justice issues with compassion and rationality. This episode also draws together a few threads to set the stage for the next episodes which will cover social justice issues more fully. | |||
| 30 Jun 2021 | Distributive Justice | 00:31:23 | |
In this episode we consider the limits of wealth distribution in society, inherent inequalities to life and the role of luck. We also explore the economic ideas of the commons and public goods and the role these play in free market and state capitalist societies. We also take a look at the social protection floor and why it is often conceptualised by society as something to be ashamed of. This leads us to consider the tight coupling of labour and income and the subsequent vulnerability of those without a job or in casual work, a class known as the precariat. All of this leads us to question social justice in wealth distribution and ask the question; could be another way to smooth the edges of income precarity? | |||
| 14 Jul 2021 | Universal Basic Income | 00:36:04 | |
The concept of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) has been growing in popularity so I decided to explore it for a recent research project. I began as a sceptic but after considering a variety of social justice arguments I now believe a UBI should be an policy goal for societies who wish to reduce inequality and achiever greater social justice. But UBI is not just about helping those worst off, it can benefit everyone in a range of ways which we explore in this episode. | |||
| 07 Jul 2021 | Tackling Social Issues with Professor Darrin Hodgetts | 01:08:12 | |
Societal and community psychologist Professor Darrin Hodgetts joins me to discuss his work with marginalised communities most affected by social injustice and structural violence. Prof Hodgetts is a highly respected figure in New Zealand community psychology circles having advanced ethnographic and action oriented research to engage directly with those most affected by urban poverty, homelessness, and other social issues. We discuss structural violence, equality of opportunity and outcome, why resolving inequalities benefits all members of society, and how applied psychologists tackle social justice issues and help to shape policy that improves well-being across society. | |||
| 18 Aug 2021 | Utilitarianism - The Greatest Good | 00:25:16 | |
Utilitarianism is a principle of ethical philosophy which considers that the most morally correct action is one that produces the most good. This idea was first tackled seriously by 18th century philosopher Jeremy Bentham, however it is not without complications. In this episode we explore utilitarianism and consider how it can be applied to making both everyday decisions and ones of crucial social importance ones as well. | |||
| 05 Sep 2021 | The Dialogical Self | 00:28:07 | |
It might feel like you are a distinct and continuous identity, but the theory of the dialogical self asserts that you inhabit many different I-positions that represent different aspects of You. In this episode, we briefly explore the origins of dialogical self theory and how the person you are is manifest both internally and externally through many voices engaged in continual dialogue. | |||
| 17 Sep 2021 | Diversity in Science with David Latchman | 00:48:54 | |
David Latchman is a science communicator and host of the Science Bloggers Podcast. He trained as a physicist before becoming a full time science journalist and freelance science writer. He is passionate about sharing ideas from science with a general audience and making the STEM fields a more diverse and inclusive space for minorities and people of colour. We talk a little about his background and work as a science communicator, some of the issues surrounding a lack of diversity in science and how these can be addressed. | |||
| 25 Sep 2021 | Nuance | 00:19:50 | |
In this reflective episode I discuss something that bugs me - the always or never fallacy. We often exaggerated and use hyperbole to emphasis our stories, but society is often a reflection of our complacency at recognising the things that make us unique and the grey areas of life most of us inhabit. We consider Kenneth Feinberg's unenviable role in the aftermath of 9/11 and how recognising the nuance that makes us unique is in conflict with the need to generalise. | |||
| 10 Nov 2021 | Libertarianism | 00:34:23 | |
Libertarianism is a political philosophy based on John Locke's philosophy of natural law, that each is entitled to freedom for oneself and ones property and society should require minimal intervention by government. It is closely associated with individualism but its origins can be traced to ancient China. We explore contemporary principles of libertarianism and offer a brief critical reflection on what is seems to be missing. | |||
| 25 Nov 2021 | Sycophancy | 00:19:05 | |
Brownnosing, bootlicking, apple polishing and sucking up are among many the synonyms for the term sycophancy. Psychologists also know it as ingratiation. In this episode we explore several types of ingratiation and learn that while true sycophancy requires talent, it may be intrinsic to our social behavior. | |||
| 26 Dec 2021 | Existentialism | 00:22:46 | |
Existentialism is a philosophy which inquires into the nature of human existence and what it means to live an authentic life. While its concepts can be traced as far back as ancient Greece, it came to prominence during the immediate post second world War period through the work of the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and his partner Simone de Beauvoir. In this episode we explore the key concepts of existentialism and the nature of essence and existence. Existentialism is a humanism - J P Sartre | |||
| 28 Dec 2021 | Absurdism | 00:10:11 | |
An area of existentialist philosophy is absurdism which considers the conflict between the human tendency to seek inherent value and meaning in life and the inability to find these with any certainty. The work of French nobel prize winning writer and philosopher Albert Camus' forms the source material for this episode, specifically his most well known essay The Myth of Sisyphus. | |||
| 31 Dec 2021 | Nihilism | 00:19:21 | |
We conclude our brief exploration of existentialism with this final chapter on its darkest philosophical interpretation, nihilism. Nihilism means literally, an ideology of nothing, which has led philosophers to a range of conclusions from the destruction of everything to the, whatever. We briefly consider the implications of nihilism, whether it is really that bad, and finally conclude with a few thoughts on what to fill the emptiness of an meaningless existence with. Happy new year! | |||
| 13 Jan 2022 | The meaningless life with Professor James Tartaglia | 00:55:54 | |
To kick off the new year I recently spoke with philosopher James Tartaglia, a professor at Keele University, about nihilism and the meaning of life. It turns out, there isn’t one. But all hope is not lost as we also discuss what a modern day philosopher does, what nihilism means for everyday life, how to situate ethics in a meaningless universe, the paradox of absurdism, how to respect the views of others, the difference between evaluative and descriptive statements, the sense of self, and why seeing life as nihilistic is not as bad as it seems. | |||
