Physicist and neuroscientist Dr. Alex Gómez-MarÃn delivered a strikingly activist speech at the Science of Consciousness Conference (TSC) in Barcelona, 2025. He argued that we are now in a war on consciousness, with materialism and trans-humanism forming a dangerous cocktail. Dr. Gómez-MarÃn is associate professor of the Spanish Research Council in Alicante, Spain, and director of the Pari Center in Tuscany, Italy. Hans Busstra sat down with MarÃn directly after his speech to analyze what this war is really about.
www.essentiafoundation.org/neuroscientist-speaks-o…
watch video on watch page
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We started with intense debate: who most deserves the title 'Daimon Expert?' Both Bernardo and Patrick insisted it was each other.
This set the playful and inquisitive tone, marked by mutual respect and a shared passion for the subject: the creative forces of nature that shape our lives.
What most struck me in yesterday's dialogue was the invitation to see poetry as a way to better see the world.
For Patrick, Bernardo Kastrup's cockpit metaphor, (our world merely a dashboard appearance), is restrictive. Poetry can cause the soul of things to shine through them. A prosaic cluster of flowers may all at once be seen "as a crowd, a host of dancing Daffodils... ten thousand dancing in the breeze."
Shockingly, this imaginal relationship with reality can conjure up new physics, bridging cosmic math and myth.
We enquired into Free Will, (we had no choice), how Daimons mediate between the human and beyond, and how to discern
daimon from addiction - perhaps the very purpose of good therapy.
If this is of interest, perhaps join us to see the recordings and attend future meetings :)
We also discussed:
- Daimons: angels or ambivalent natural forces?
- Why Japanese see fairies in Ireland
- Staying true to yourself
- The daimonic force of Hitler & Trump
- Finding your daimon and your god.
www.withrealityinmind.com/recording-patrick-harpur…
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Zoom call with Bernardo Kastrup and Patrick Harpur in 2 hours time :)
www.withrealityinmind.com/special-guest-patrick-ha…
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Europe versus Russia, in numbers.
Sources:
Population. EU: 450.4 m (Jan 1, 2025, Eurostat); UK: 68.3 m (mid-2023, ONS); Switzerland: 9.049 m (end-2024, FSO); Norway: ~5.52 m (2023, Macrotrends/UN); Iceland: ~0.389 m (Q4 2024, Statistics Iceland); Russia: 143,533,851 (2024, World Bank).
GDP (nominal, current US$). EU: $19.42 tn (2024, World Bank); UK: $3.64 tn (2024, World Bank); Switzerland: ~$0.937 tn (2024, World Bank); Norway: ~$0.484 tn (2024, World Bank); Iceland: ~$0.033 tn (2024, World Bank); Russia: $2.17 tn (2024, World Bank).
Active military. EU total: ~1.33 m (ECFR citing SIPRI); UK: ~136,117 regulars (Jan 2025, UK MOD/WP); Switzerland: ~101,584 (GlobalFirepower); Norway: ~23,250 (GlobalFirepower); Iceland: no standing army (WSJ). Russia: ~1,134,000 (IISS Military Balance 2025).
Quality of life. UN Human Development Index (HDI, 2023). EU average across member states ≈ 0.915 (unweighted); UK 0.946, Switzerland 0.970, Norway 0.970, Iceland 0.972; combined block’s indicative (population-weighted, approximated) ≈ 0.92. Russia 0.832.
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Moreira argues that Camus, insightful as he was, made a crucial mistake: in revolting against an absurd world, he wasted his emotions on a rock. What sustains us is not proud intellectual faith against absurdity, but the humility and vulnerability of doubt and uncertainty. For love does not begin with scorn or even condescension, but with allowing the other to be insufficient just as we ourselves are.
www.essentiafoundation.org/the-myth-of-hector-and-…
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What if myths and legends could awaken a deeper relationship with the creative forces of reality?
Our last conversation with Patrick Harpur transformed how I engage with fairy-tales I have known my whole life, and revived a deeper respect for Western traditions. You can see this previous dialogue here:
https://youtu.be/r4hEOJQpbiw
Bernardo Kastrup considers Patrick amongst the top 3 authors worthy of far more exposure, so I'm excited to have them in dialogue this coming Tues. They will discuss Bernardo's new book and the importance of moving past a literal understanding of imagination.
Zoom link for all our September meetings here:
www.withrealityinmind.com/special-guest-patrick-ha…
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That the USA is now going to hell so fast and dramatically is a warning to us all about how fragile the sanity, democracy, and freedom that we take for granted in our societies actually are. They must be actively defended.
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What can life teach us, if we pay careful attention to it?
I was thrilled to have Bernardo Kastrup offer his own deeply personal answer yesterday, drawing on literal ups and downs in a childhood in Brazil, the early loss of his father, his success in business, academia and science followed by the unravelling of his health, marriage and previous identity.
Inspired by this week's launch of his book, "The Daimon and the Soul of the West" Bernardo talked about his childhood fascination with computers evolving into a live-saving exploration of consciousness.
It was inspiring to hear how idealism can open the door to a life rich with meaning, surrender and purpose, despite the inevitable struggles, suffering and loss.
We discussed:
- How to align with natural forces in our lives
- What it means to be a Westerner
- Egoic addiction vs Daimonic obsession
- How time makes everything sacred
- Falling in love
A really common question about this stuff is how to transform a lofty philosophy like idealism into a lived reality.
So I'm grateful for Bernardo's courage, vulnerability and honesty to use his own life to provide a vivid example.
If this is the kind of conversation you want to be part of, maybe join our weekly chats!
www.withrealityinmind.com/life-the-ultimate-guru/
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Are you in Europe? Then remember to...
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This is the YouTube space of philosopher, computer scientist/engineer, and author Bernardo Kastrup, where many of his original videos and interviews are made available. For more information, see his blog, facebook page and amazon author page below.