This one had three warrior philosophers on the call: a Marine, a naval aviator and a Navy SEAL. Mark “Moose” McGrath is the Marine, I’m the aviator, and Sam Alaimo is the SEAL. Sam found that getting out of the military was harder than getting in. Philosophy helped him through it.
The ancients
Sam talks about how Socrates, Aristotle, Seneca and Epictetus guided his move to civilian life. Their teachings give him clarity on hard questions. Veterans gain a lot from them, and so can anyone.
Isolation and engagement
Technology and isolation are at a high point. We look at how social media and comfort can cut people off. Musashi and Boyd’s work on strategic interaction point the other way, toward staying engaged with reality and with community.
Identity and the present
We get into identity inside the SEAL teams and how childhood trauma can shape performance and behavior. The free energy principle and active inference come up. So do dogs, and what they teach about living in the present. Tolkien and Lewis make an appearance too.
Sam’s passion project, What Then, brings these ideas into everyday life.
Which philosopher would you hand a friend leaving the service?
Listen and watch:
YouTube:
Apple Podcasts:
Spotify:
No Way Out on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@nowayoutpodcast