Samuel Lebens: The Hard Problem of Prayer [Prayer & Humanity 1/5]
18Forty Podcast23 Mai 2023

Samuel Lebens: The Hard Problem of Prayer [Prayer & Humanity 1/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Samuel Lebens—a philosophy professor, rabbi, and Jewish educator—about the nature of consciousness.

At a time when artificial intelligence can make us question what it even is that makes humans unique, we look deeply into our ability to have personal experiences and turn them into new ideas. In this episode, we discuss with Sam:

  • Why do we each have a subjective consciousness?
  • What is the relationship between prayer and our lives?
  • What is the “Turing test,” and how does it relate to prayer?
Tune in to hear a conversation about how consciousness gives us the ability to transform words into prayer, to “sing a new song.”

Interview begins at 31:28.

Rabbi Dr. Samuel Lebens is an associate professor in the philosophy department at the University of Haifa, as well as a rabbi and Jewish educator. Samuel holds a PhD in philosophy from Birkbeck College (University of London), and his academic interests cover the philosophy of religion, metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of language. Samuel teaches at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education and the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies. Samuel’s most recent book, of several, is A Guide for the Jewish Undecided, groundbreaking work has an engaging style that makes it accessible to all readers, while not losing the clarity and rigor characteristic of analytic philosophy. Samuel’s first book was a study of Bertrand Russell’s dynamic theories about the nature of meaning. Samuel previously joined us to talk about rationality and mysticism.

References:

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter

Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness by Philip Goff

Perpetual Prophecy: An Intellectual Tribute to Reb Zadok Ha-Kohen of Lublin on His 110th Yahrzeit” by David Bashevkin

Being John Malkovich

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Anomalisa

Netivot Olam by the Maharal of Prague

Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris

Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Orthodoxy by Haym Soloveitchik

God and his imaginary friends: a Hassidic metaphysics” by Samuel Lebens

2001: A Space Odyssey

A Conversation With Bing’s Chatbot Left Me Deeply Unsettled” by Kevin Roose

The Most Human Human: What Talking with Computers Teaches Us About What It Means to Be Alive by Brian Christian

Shemot Rabbah

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Episoder(273)

Noa Lewis: How Can We Help Israel? Finding Our Purpose

Noa Lewis: How Can We Help Israel? Finding Our Purpose

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Noa Lewis, CEO of Echad and a volunteer with the IDF’s women’s casualty-treatment unit, about the sense of purpose it takes to unify the Jewish Peopl...

5 Des 202352min

The Opportunity and Difficulty of Unity: On the Israel March

The Opportunity and Difficulty of Unity: On the Israel March

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eric Fingerhut—president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America—and Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff, a scholar and professor at Yeshiva Uni...

28 Nov 20231h 35min

Doron Perez: Our Heart: One Child Married, One Child Missing

Doron Perez: Our Heart: One Child Married, One Child Missing

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Doron Perez, executive chairman of the Mizrachi World Movement, about the sacrifices the Jewish People must make to preserve the precious gift ...

21 Nov 202359min

Yosef Zvi Rimon: What Happens To Jewish Law During War?

Yosef Zvi Rimon: What Happens To Jewish Law During War?

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon, the esteemed Israeli posek, about the role of halacha during a war. Additionally, we are joined by Rabbi Shmuel Ismach, a rebb...

14 Nov 20231h 4min

What Is Happening With Jewish Students and Antisemitism?

What Is Happening With Jewish Students and Antisemitism?

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to journalist Matti Friedman, author of Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai, about how the Israel-Hamas war is (mis)understood globally. Additionall...

7 Nov 20231h 50min

Daniel Statman: Can War Be Moral? On Moral Philosophy and War

Daniel Statman: Can War Be Moral? On Moral Philosophy and War

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Daniel Statman, a professor of philosophy at the University of Haifa, about what it means to wage a moral war.Professor Statman helped revise Ruach T...

31 Okt 20231h 2min

The Trauma of War: Mental Health Professionals in Israel

The Trauma of War: Mental Health Professionals in Israel

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk about mental health amid the current war with Dr. Danny Brom of Metiv, Mike Meyerheim and Susan Cohen of KeepOlim, Rabbi Reuven Taragin of Acheinu, Dr. ...

24 Okt 20231h 29min

Voices from Israel

Voices from Israel

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to the voices of several of our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael, including Naama, Tania Hammer, Gedalia Zemel, Rabbi Dov Fendel, Rav Elyada Gold...

17 Okt 20231h 17min

Populært innen Religion og åndelighet

rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-lilli-isabelle
sektledere
sektpodden-2
rss-det-uforklarlige-med-victoria-skau
rss-paradigmepodden
andelig-pafyll-hver-tirsdag
dokka
rss-uhoytidelig-spirituell-healer-susanne-og-erik-ertsland-askvik
rss-andelige-tanker-med-camillo
rss-espen-er-kristen
rss-normalt-paranormalt
rss-losrevet
ole-martin-og-einar-leser-bibelen
rss-hoyt-lavt-med-ida-tonseth
gry-hammer-podcast
and-vitenskap
rss-pust-for-livet
rss-kulturkrigen