Love & Philosophy

Send a love message  Love, Science, and the Dynamics of Change: From the Archive This is a replay of an earlier conversation with Richard Watson (which was already an unpublished conversation we'd had earlier, so there's lots of nesting here). Initially focusing on Universal Darwinism and its limitations, the discussion evolves into a broader examination of alternative mechanisms like learning and mutual transformative change. Andrea and Richard delve into nuanced definitions of individuality and agency, challenging the reductionist view in favor of a more integrative approach. They explore the intersection of science and subjectivity, positing that love, characterized as 'deeply vulnerable mutual knowing,' plays a critical role in understanding relationships and evolutionary processes. This thought-provoking dialogue highlights the dynamic interplay of biological systems and the potential for a more compassionate and creative understanding of life's complexity. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:27 Andrea's Reflections and Richard Watson's Work 00:56 Defining Individual and Body 01:14 Evolutionary Units and Mutual Transformative Change 01:41 Academic Ideas on Evolution and Cognition 03:27 Richard Watson's Background and Research 05:22 Natural Selection and Adaptation 12:02 Learning Processes vs. Natural Selection 21:08 Cooperation and Competition in Biology 28:53 Individuality and Agency in Living Systems 39:20 Bioelectricity and Gene Expression 40:51 The Bidirectional Relationship of Cells and Genes 41:34 The Limits of Natural Selection 42:55 Love as a Scientific Concept 47:06 Evolutionary Algorithms and Their Shortcomings 50:00 The Evolution of Cooperation and Individuality 54:09 The Role of Love in Evolution 59:25 The Dance of Relationships and Resonance 01:07:33 The Creative Process of Evolution 01:18:01 The Balance of Love and Fear Richard Watson What's Love Got To Do with It Support the show Please rate and review with love. YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Substack.