In this section of the site we will post our regular podcasts, and also recorded talks and videos about Middle Way Philosophy, objectivity training, and other related issues. Where possible these will be available both in audio form and as ‘augmented podcasts’ in video with pictures. Our video and audio can also be accessed on YouTube and iTunes respectively: click the icons on the right.

Middle Way Philosophy: Short Introductory videos

These videos by Robert M Ellis present Middle Way Philosophy in terms of 5 key principles that are specific to the approach (scepticism, provisionality, incrementality, agnosticism and integration). If you’re new to Middle Way Philosophy, you’re recommended to start with the introduction and main videos (1,2,3 etc) before going on to the  tributary videos (1a,1b etc).

1. Introduction

1. Confirmation bias
2. Appeal to authority
3. Appeals to groups
4. Realism and idealism
5. Belief in the fixed self
6. Falsifying the past

Podcasts: Link to sequential index of all podcasts

Classified by theme:

1. Conflict resolution
2. Economics and business
3. Education
4. Health
5. History
6. Integrative practices
7. Member profiles
8. Objectivity Training and critical thinking
9. Philosophy
10. Politics
11. Psychology
12. Religion
13. Round Table Discussions
14. Science
15. The Arts

August Retreat 2013 talks and discussions:

These talks took place on the initial retreat at which the society was founded in 2013. The talks are by Robert M Ellis and have been edited into relatively short thematic sections. There are also related discussions involving other people present on the retreat.

Day 1/1: Buddhism and the Middle Way This includes the Middle Way in Buddhism, conflicts between the Middle Way and Buddhist tradition, and more general principles of the universal Middle Way

Day 1/2: What is the Middle Way? This explains the basic features of the Middle Way beyond the Buddhist tradition, including its links with the ideas of objectivity, adequacy to conditions, and scepticism. It can provide a basis of ethics and is universally applicable.

Day 2: Desire and integration We are egoistic creatures with conflicting desires, but we cannot destroy our egos. Instead we can gradually integrate the conflicting desires.

Day 3: Meaning The importance of embodied meaning, which brings together cognitive and emotive types of meaning and challenges the basis of metaphysical beliefs

Day 4: Belief, metaphysics and science Discussion of what metaphysics is, how we can have beliefs without it and how science can work without it.

Day 5: Ethics Why we need a new approach to ethics based on the Middle Way rather than the metaphysical assumptions that create absolutism and relativism

August 2014 talks and discussions

The talks by Robert M Ellis on the 2014 summer retreat approached Middle Way Philosophy in relation to cognitive biases and practice. These also include discussion with others present on the retreat.

Day 1, part 1: Four Key Concepts in Middle Way Philosophy

Day 1, part 2: Attention

Day 2, part 1: Embodied Meaning (2014) – this is much more detailed than the 2013 talk on embodied meaning

Day 2, part 2: Archetypes (2014) – again, more detailed than the 2013 talk on archetypes

Day 3, part 1: Self and ego

Day 3, part 2: Objects, Theories and ‘Nature’

Day 4, part 1: Responsibility

Day 4, part 2: Value Judgements

Day 5, part 1: Authority

Day 5, part 2: Groups

Day 6, part 1: Time

Day 6, part 2: Middle Way Practice