Impossible Conversations During Lockdown - Part One

Dr. Peter Boghossian is a full time faculty member in the Department of Philosophy at Portland State University, an Affiliated Assistant Professor at Oregon Health Science University in the Department of General Internal Medicine, and a visiting fellow at Reason Foundation think tank. He’s an international speaker for the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Science and Reason and the Center for Inquiry, and has an extensive publication record across multiple domains of thought. His popular pieces have been featured in The New York Times, Scientific American, The Wall Street Journal, TIME Magazine, The Spectator, City Journal, The American Mind, The Philosophers’ Magazine, the LA Times, National Review, USA Today, New Statesman, etc. He’s the creator of the Atheos app and his most recent book, with translations in Mandarin, Polish, German, Romanian, is How to Have Impossible Conversations.

This is part one of a two-part series. We discussed some concerns many have about being in an enclosed space with people for an extended period of time. Also, Peter gives us his take on how to handle impossible conversations during lockdown. 

This episode was very honest and personal. We discussed our current life situations and we both shared some of the experiences we've had during this weird experience. Peter gave me genuine advice on what can I do to make the best out of this experience, both for me and for my family.

I am really thankful with him for joining me to discuss what we consider an overlooked consequence of this crisis. If all things go as planned, we'll publish the second part of this conversation as early as Monday. Stay safe, everyone.

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Website: http://peterboghossian.com

Book: How to Have Impossible Conversations.

Twitter: @peterboghossian

Great conversation with Chris at Peak Prospetity

Atheos App: It's the perfect app for atheists, agnostics, humanists, skeptics, freethinkers, and even believers who want to find out how best to engage in religious discussions.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Intro

(4:00) What happens to conversations during times like these?

(4:30) How do you have conversations with people you are lockdown with?

(5:25) The power of Modeling. 

(6:25) Using rapport to build trust, having alone time and together time.

(8:17) Heineken commercial.

(9:25) Alone time and communal time during lockdown - WOW.

(11:50) How to prevent heated discussions.

(12:15) How to have impossible conversations.

(12:07) Is it feasible to build rapport during lockdown?

(13:00) Tracking your progress is key. 

(15:30) Silence during conversations.

(18:07) Talking with people who hold strong convictions during lockdown - WOW.

(20:30) Unread Library Effect.

(21:55) Problems with authority.

(23:19) Why people confront one another?

(25:02) Ideologues during lockdown.

(26:15) Living with ideologues.

(29:09) Disconfirmation technique - WOW.

(30:10) Talking with an ideologue about something not so easy to prove.

(34:00) Problems one can face with people who have different points of view about this crisis.

(37:00) What to do if our authorities seem to be not tacking this crisis seriously?

(38:00) What should one do to prevent sounding like “Chicken Little” during this crisis?

(39:05) What should young people do to during this crisis?

(41:10) Using social media during this crisis.

(44:30) How should I embrace my neighbors during this crisis?

(46:40) How to talk with co-workers, employers and employees during this crisis? 

(49:00) The loss of confidence in our leaders.

(55:18) Handling inner conversations during this crisis. 

Outro

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Thanks for tuning in for this edition of Through Conversations Podcast!

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