Through Conversations Podcast welcomes 2020 with an epic dialogue with Professor John Vervaeke. Professor Vervaeke is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. He currently teaches courses in the Psychology department on thinking and reasoning. He also teaches courses in the Cognitive Science program. Professor Vervaeke has published articles on relevance realization, general intelligence, mindfulness, flow, metaphor, and wisdom. He is first author of the book Zombies in Western Culture: A 21st Century crisis which integrates Psychology and Cognitive Science to address the meaning crisis in Western society. He is the author and presenter of the YouTube series, Awakening from the Meaning Crisis.In this episode we talked about many pressing issues we face as human beings, and how all of these challenges derive from one source: a meaning crisis. Professor Vervaeke will enlighten you with his wisdom, and his perspective on what’s happening in today’s world from many angles, such as the creation of Artificial Intelligence, rationality, decision making, the mindfulness revolution, biology, a possible reboot of institutions, the benefits of dialogue, and how all of these ideas relate with cultivating meaning in one’s life.This was one of the most engaging conversations I have been a part of. Professor Vervaeke is a remarkable person, and he is inspiring many—including myself—to begin a path of self-discovery. If you are interested in more of Professor Vervaeke’s ideas, we will add all the links to his work, in the highlights of the episode, including his YouTube Series, Awakening from the Meaning Crisis.Now, with you, Professor John Vervaeke.---John's HomepageTwitterYouTube Channel---HIGHLIGHTS(2:10) How would you introduce yourself to people who don’t know you?(4:55) What are some things that cognitive scientists know but most people don’t?(5:23) Professor Vervaeke’s TEDx Talk.(8:30) Cognitive Science as a bridge between disciplines that study the mind.(10:25) The distinction between the brain and the mind.(11:35) Artificial Intelligence and the Mind.(12:25) We can think of the mind as the software, and the brain as the hardware.(15:35) Are human beings superior than Artificial Intelligence?(17:15) In what areas are humans superior than Artificial Intelligence?(17:45) Artificial General Intelligence(17:55) Humans have capacity for insight.(20:00) Intelligence vs. Rationality.(21:15) Why the Creation of A.I. Requires the Cultivation of Wisdom(23:06) The Paperclip problem.(24:01) Life and mind: From autopoiesis to neurophenomenology. By Evan Thompson(27:39) Meta-narratives and AI.(29:00) Constant process of self-making.(31:00) Do narratives matter to non auto-poetic beings?(31:25) Fransisco Varela’s influence on Third Generation Cognitive Science(32:00) Evan Thompson(33:00) How do we zero-in on information?(33:10) Our actions are unlimited, but we are not.(33:20) We have an ability to zero-in on relevant information.(33:30) What is insight?(35:05) What mechanisms help us to make decisions?(35:45) Why are younger generations lacking meaning in their lives?(36:05) Episode #9 Insight - Awakening From The Meaning Crisis(36:40) Currently working with Juensung Kim, Thalia Vrantsidis, and Philip Rajewicz.(37:15) Currently working with Christopher Mastropeitro, Leo Ferraro and Anderson Todd.(37:25) John Logan - On The Nature Of Interest.(38:20) Words have Meaning.(40:17) Things are meaningful to you insofar as they relate to your awareness - - Contact with reality.(41:00) Relevance Realization Machinery = Thing matter to you; you matter to things; you matter to others.(43:00) Why do we get signals that our life may not be meaningful?(44:00) Is the Selfish Gene still a valid theory in modern biology?(46:00) Supernatural Selection: How Religion Evolved by Matt Rossano(46:10) Upper Paleolithic transition and emergence of religious behavior.(47:30) Music plays with our Relevance Realization Machinery.(48:30) Book Zombies in the Western