Explore Agamben's theory of Homo Sacer and its relevance to biopolitics and the state of exception in modern democracies. This video examines how power manipulates the lines between biological and political life, creating excluded figures vulnerable to being killed with impunity. It considers the risks of totalitarian drift within democratic systems, where individual rights can be compromised.
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Dive into the fascinating world of the Mere Exposure Effect, a psychological phenomenon that reveals how familiarity shapes our preferences. Discover how repeated exposure can lead to increased liking, influencing everything from our consumer choices to our social interactions. This video explores the groundbreaking research of Robert Zajonc and provides insights into how we can become more aware of this powerful cognitive bias. Learn to make more informed decisions and understand the subtle ways in which familiarity impacts our daily lives.
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This video explores the progressive abandonment of teleology in biology since Darwin. It examines the philosophical connections and divergences between Darwin, Spinoza, Bergson and Deleuze, delving into determinism, the nature of consciousness, and the role of signs in knowledge.
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Dive into René Girard's groundbreaking theory of mimetic desire, revealing how our desires are often reflections of others', leading to rivalry and conflict. Explore the concept of the scapegoat mechanism, an ancient social tool used to restore order by blaming an individual or group. This video also examines Girard's views on violence, the sacred, and how Christianity offers a unique perspective on these human dynamics. Delve into a profound analysis that compares Girard to other major thinkers and offers new insights into our understanding of society and human psychology.
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Ever feel like life's throwing you curveballs? Join us as we explore the wisdom of Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher who taught that we can't control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. Discover how his teachings on free will, destiny, and the power of acceptance can help you find peace and resilience in a chaotic world.
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Edward Bernays, a pioneer in public relations, ingeniously applied his uncle Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theories, particularly the concept of "phallic desire" to influence women's behavior. The "Torches of Freedom" campaign is a prime example of this psychological manipulation, associating cigarettes with female emancipation. By tapping into women's unconscious desires, Bernays forged a symbolic link between smoking and sexual freedom and power. This raises ethical questions about the instrumentalization of psychoanalysis for commercial purposes, highlighting the dangers of exploiting psychological vulnerabilities to promote harmful behaviors. This campaign serves as a foundational example of the influence of the unconscious on human behavior, while also critiquing consumer societies and their ability to exploit desires.
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Rejecting reductionism, Henri Laborit championed an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human behavior. His work delved into the influence of the unconscious and the nervous system on our actions, challenging traditional social sciences. Laborit explored existential anxiety as a driver of scientific curiosity, the role of narcissistic love, and the survival mechanisms of flight and creativity. He also examined the implications of tranquilizer use and the age-old debate of determinism versus free will.
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What does it mean to say you can't step into the same river twice? Explore the fascinating philosophy of Heraclitus, a pre-Socratic thinker who believed that everything is in constant flux. This podcast examines his key ideas and their lasting influence.
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This video explores Norbert Wiener's concept of cybernetics, the study of feedback systems. We examine how feedback loops shape everything from thermostats to social media algorithms, drawing examples from biology, ecology, and economics. Discover how Wiener's ideas are still relevant today, influencing fields like artificial intelligence and robotics.
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Your taste is a reflection of your social class? Bourdieu dares you to rethink everything you thought you knew about why you like what you like.
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Are you being manipulated without even realizing it? Jacques Ellul, a visionary thinker, warned us about the pervasive nature of propaganda in the technological age. This video unveils Ellul's insights into the subtle ways propaganda shapes our perceptions and offers powerful tools to reclaim our minds. Discover how to navigate the information landscape with greater awareness and resist the forces seeking to control your thoughts.
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In 'The Road to Serfdom' Friedrich Hayek argues that centralized economic planning, even when motivated by noble goals, inevitably leads to the loss of individual liberty and the rise of tyranny. He draws a direct link between socialism and authoritarian regimes, claiming that economic centralization necessitates political centralization, which ultimately crushes democracy and freedom. This video explores Hayek's central thesis and supporting arguments, tracing the structure of his influential book.
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Renowned philosopher Bernard Stiegler explores the critical concepts of entropy and negentropy to analyze the challenges of the Anthropocene. He warns of increasing entropy driven by capitalism and technology, threatening society's fabric. Stiegler advocates for a "negentropocene" era prioritizing negentropy—organization and complexity—through reinvented knowledge systems and a new scientific policy integrating diverse perspectives. Join us to discuss Stiegler's visionary ideas for a sustainable future.
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Unlock the power of critical thinking with Karl Popper. Expose the hidden tactics of conspiracy theorists and reclaim your intellectual freedom.
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Who said we need a master to learn? Jacques Rancière invites us to rethink our relationship to knowledge, and to explore our own learning potential. Are you ready to become your own master?
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This excerpt explores humanity's potential evolution beyond language, examining how language, while essential, can limit our understanding. Conceptual Artist Laurent Chambert draws upon philosophical concepts from Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Spinoza, alongside exploring AI as a tool to transcend these limitations. He envisions a world where compassion and joy prevail, hinting that this evolutionary leap may already be occurring through moments of intuition and instant knowledge.
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This video delves into Spinoza's ethical philosophy, emphasizing that it's not about personal development or moralizing. Instead, Spinoza offers a rational understanding of the natural laws governing our existence. Good and evil are relative to our power to act: what increases it is good, and what diminishes it is bad. Spinoza's ethics aims to increase our power through knowledge and reason, not subjective happiness. Joy, in Spinoza's view, is an increase in our being resulting from understanding the necessity of things, not a fleeting emotion.
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This video explores Spinoza's three levels of knowledge: sensory perception, reason, and intuition. We examine how Spinoza contrasts illusory sensory experience with the rational understanding of universal laws. The focus is on intuition, Spinoza's highest form of knowledge—a rational, non-dualistic understanding of essences. This video clarifies Spinoza's concept of intuition, distinguishing it from mystical experiences and emphasizing its role in achieving liberation and beatitude.
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This video explores Spinoza's unique metaphysical system, often mistaken for pantheism. Spinoza argues for a single, infinite substance—God or Nature—of which all finite things are merely expressions. We'll examine his concepts ofNatura Naturans (God as active cause) andNatura Naturata (the world as we perceive it) to understand his deterministic, rational vision of reality.
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Discover how Spinoza's revolutionary philosophy connects everything in the universe, including YOU!
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