Laruelle’s work navigates an interesting paradox. On the one hand it can be incredibly straightforward, perhaps more so for those who have not been indoctrinated into philosophical thought. On the other, it presents a wide range of challenges to established philosophy and systematic modes of thought, including those found in Buddhism.

We talk about non-philosophy as a heuristic in this regard, therefore as a kind of practice that people can engage in, and experience certain kinds of liberation through. A practice, I would argue, that compliments Buddhist ideals and fits perfectly well into the practicing life for those intrigued by post-traditional explorations of Buddhist materials, notions and practice techniques.

In part, this episode acts as a preparation for grappling with non-Philosophy and so we unpack three of its most important concepts.

Topics include:

• What makes Laruelle’s non-Philosophy so radical and so intriguing for the world we live in today?
• The Democracy of Thought.
• What are we to make of the democratization in an age of alternative facts, and the difficulty of distinguishing narrative and reality in polarized times?
• Decision, sufficiency, and The Real.
• The most important contribution John’s book makes to Laurellian thought.
• Where non-philosophy is heading.
• Henri Bergson & Mysticism.