In this THINGS HIDDEN episode, David Gornoski sits down with psychologist Scott Garrels, author of Mimesis and Science, for a conversation on mimetic theory from a psychological perspective; mirror neurons; magnetoreception; unanimity against a scapegoat; how psychology, physics, and mimetic theory compliments each other; and more.
David Gornoski is joined by psychiatrist Dr. Richard Gallagher, author of Demonic Foes, for a fascinating conversation on demonic possession. Are supernatural subjects like possession beyond the critical scope of science? Why do spiritual entities attempt to possess individuals? What are some ways demons have reportedly attacked human beings? Is there a way to discern […]
David Gornoski sits down with Richard Koenigsberg, psychologist & historian from the Library of Social Science, for a discussion on sacrifice, violence, and war. Mr. Koenigsberg starts the discussion by describing his interactions with Rene Girard. The conversation then moves to the psychology of Hitler, the purpose of political violence, male aggressiveness, the Ukraine war, […]
In this latest THINGS HIDDEN conversation, David Gornoski and Shannon Braswell sit down with returning guest, Jean-Michel Oughourlian, the co-author of Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World. Mr. Oughourlian talks about his two upcoming books Alterity and The Work that Heals. How do we reconcile individuality and collective identity, especially in the light […]
Medical science was never a one-size-fits-all field, David Gornoski emphasizes as he comments on the government agenda to decree medicine. Does the Democratic party care about victims of sexual assault? Should medical science be subject to the logic of the crowd? How does government coercion via groupthink work from a psychological perspective? How do we […]
“Scientists have ‘conversation’ with people during lucid dreams,” a new study published on Science Direct claims. Why do we dream? What is a dream? What happens in our brain when we sleep? Join Dr. Weiping Yu as he comments on this story. Why do people drastically change their lives after having near-death experiences? Is information […]
In this classic Science and U interview that aired on November 7, 2019, David Gornoski and Dr. Weiping Yu are joined by Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip and author of Loserthink. In Loserthink Scott Adams argues that untrained brains are ruining America. How is this phenomenon occurring? “It takes some humility to […]
In this THINGS HIDDEN conversation, David Gornoski and Shannon Braswell are joined by Jean-Michel Oughourlian, psychologist and author of The Mimetic Brain. Oughourlian starts the discussion with an insider’s perspective as Girard’s collaborator and how he found breakthroughs in the field of psychotherapy upon studying mimetic theory. “The mirror neuron is something fantastic,” Oughourlian remarks, […]
Dr. Paul Axton, theologian and host of the Forging Ploughshares podcast, sits down with David Gornoski to talk about his experience of living in Japan, the idea of shame in death, Lacanian psychoanalysis, and seeing Japanese culture through Christian eyes. While pointing out that Romans 7 is absolutely essential for understanding what it is to imitate […]
Technologist and public intellectual Jordan Hall joins David Gornoski, host of A Neighbor’s Choice, for a journey through sense-making in 2020. The conversation starts off with Peter Thiel’s comments on humanity reaching a technological stagnation after the moon-landing mission. Could this be due to lack of innovation in the world of atoms? asks David Gornoski. […]