本期节目邀请了不列颠哥伦比亚大学哲学教授Edward Slingerland，探讨了“无为而治”的悖论，中国哲学的历史，酒精的益处等等。Slingerland教授认为，无为不是无所事事，而是指一种自然而然、不刻意追求的状态，需要通过练习和修炼才能达到。他认为，科技的发展使得我们更加难以找到这种状态，而中国古代哲学的成功，正是因为它们强调了这种自然和谐的理念。

🤔 **无为之道：一种自然而然的境界** “无为”并非指无所事事，而是指一种自然而然、不刻意追求的状态。它强调顺应自然规律，不强求，不妄为，从而达到一种和谐的境界。无为并非消极，而是积极的，它需要通过练习和修炼才能达到。例如，在学习一项技能时，过度刻意反而会影响发挥，而放松心态、顺其自然，反而更容易取得进步。 Slingerland教授指出，无为与“心流”状态类似，都是指专注于当下，忘记自我，达到一种自然而然的境界。

🍻 **酒精与人类进化：一种社交工具** Slingerland教授认为，人类对酒精的喜爱，并非偶然，而是与人类的进化息息相关。酒精可以促进社交，帮助人类建立更紧密的联系，从而有利于生存和繁衍。 酒精在人类社会中扮演着重要的角色，它可以帮助人们放松身心，缓解压力，促进社交，并激发创造力。然而，过量饮酒则会带来负面影响，因此需要适度饮酒，并注意控制酒精摄入量。

🧠 **理性与感性：找到平衡之道** Slingerland教授认为，过度理性会导致思维僵化，而过度感性则会失去理智。找到理性与感性的平衡，才能更好地应对生活中的各种挑战。 无为之道强调顺应自然规律，不强求，不妄为，这与现代社会强调效率和竞争的理念有所不同。Slingerland教授认为，现代社会过度强调理性，而忽略了感性，导致人们在追求效率的同时，也失去了生活的乐趣和意义。

Edward Slingerland is a University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia. He has authored a number of books, including ‘Trying Not to Try’ and ‘Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization’. He joins the show to discuss the paradox of effortless action, the history of Chinese philosophy, the benefits of alcohol, and a whole lot more. Important Links:

Edward’s Twitter Edward’s Website Drunk Trying Not to Try

Show Notes:

The paradox of trying not to try Western equivalents to wu-wei The difference between wu-wei and flow How to cultivate wu-wei How technology makes it harder to find wu-wei Why were Confucianism and Daoism so successful? Utilitarianism, China and the panopticon The right amount of rationality, choking Shutting down the prefrontal cortext The evolutionary origins of our love of alcohol The power of psychedelics Ecological niches, cooperation, creativity and honesty An alternative model of honesty Stop pushing so hard, go walk in the woods

Books Mentioned:

Trying Not to Try: The Ancient Art of Effortlessness and the Surprising Power of Spontaneity; by Edward Slingerland Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization; by Edward Slingerland The Dao De Jing; by Laozi The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better; by Will Storr The Master and His Emissary; by Iain McGilchrist Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To; by Sian Beilock The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name; by Brian C. Muraresku