Episode 267: The Thickness of Reality
Very Bad Wizards22 Elo 2023

Episode 267: The Thickness of Reality

David and Tamler return to the work of old favorite William James and argue about the 6th lecture (inspired by the French philosopher Henri Bergson) of his 1909 book "A Pluralistic Universe." James attacks the philosophical habit of elevating unchanging concepts over the continuous ever-changing flux that characterizes raw experience. Concepts, James argues, carves joints where there are none. But why does James trust pure perception (unmediated by concepts) as a true window into reality? Does he want us to return to the blooming buzzing confusion of our infancy? Is his mystical side superseding his pragmatism?

Plus, a new study on generosity after receiving a $10,000 windfall leads to a discussion of what we can interpret from null results, and lots more.

Dwyer, R. J., Brady, W. J., Anderson, C., & Dunn, E. W. (2023). Are People Generous When the Financial Stakes Are High?. Psychological Science, 09567976231184887.

A Pluralistic Universe by William James (Lecture VI)

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Episode 299: Oh the Humility!

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Episode 298: Pass the Peace Pipe

Episode 298: Pass the Peace Pipe

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Episode 297: No Pleasure in Meanness (Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find")

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Episode 296: The Other CRT

Episode 296: The Other CRT

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Episode 295: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Episode 295: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

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Episode 294: The Scandal of Philosophy (Hume's Problem of Induction)

Episode 294: The Scandal of Philosophy (Hume's Problem of Induction)

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Episode 293: Who Is the Dreamer? (Borges' "The Circular Ruins")

Episode 293: Who Is the Dreamer? (Borges' "The Circular Ruins")

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Episode 292: Boundary Issues

Episode 292: Boundary Issues

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