It's the holiday season, where many of us engage in religious holidays and festivals. But can we celebrate Diwali, Christmas or Hanukkah if we don't believe in supernatural forces (or Santa Claus)? Why is belief in a god or gods so common throughout history and across cultures? What role does god and religion play in providing meaning in our lives?
From hoop earrings to yoga to rock and roll, people from one culture often "appropriate" elements from other cultures. But is this a case of exploitation? Should people ask permission before drawing from another culture? Are there times when another culture is off limits?
In many ways, race is an outdated concept that refers to biological differences among human populations that don't really exist in the way many people think they do. But race is also a social phenomenon that is deeply significant to many people's sense of meaning. So how should we think about, and use the term, "race"?
Why is love such a potent experience? Is it just down to a biological imperative to mate, or is there something transcendental about it? In this episode, we discuss love from the perspectives of philosophy, anthropology and science.
Business is the new Rolex watch. It seems to signal our importance. But are we "spending" our time effectively? Or wasting it keeping busy and not doing the things that mean the most?
Birds can sing, dogs can bark, but only we compose symphonies or dance until the wee hours. Why? Where does music come from? How did it evolve? And what function does it serve today?
The election of Donald Trump to be President of the United States came a shock to many. Why? And what can be done about the polarisation of views that makes it so hard for those who support and oppose Trump to even talk to each other constructively?
There's how we are and how we think we are. But what happens when they get out of synch?
Join us for a special live recorded episode held at Sydney Contemporary art expo hosted by The School of Life at the Glenfiddich whisky bar. We talk about the evolution of art, the role it plays in in our lives and how we use it to create and explore meaning.
The Meaning of Life explores where we find meaning in our lives, whether through work, family, love, religion, death etc. But we appear to live in a vast uncaring universe. So can there even be any meaning to be found?
What's this podcast all about, and who are these guys behind it? Find out here.