I’ve been reading and thinking about Reality (174 blog posts) for most of my adult life. This video sums it up (for me).
Category Archives: Philosophy
There is no “you”
This is one of the better explanations of the illusory nature of the self. The closer I get to understanding this, the more impossible it becomes for me to share it. This video might be as close as I’ll get. Watch on YouTube
Two of my favorite “-isms”
Anyone who knows me knows of my interest in consciousness and reality (see tags below for more). When it comes to understanding reality, I’m gonna go with one of the following. (or some combination.)
Monism is the view that all reality is fundamentally one substance or principle. Everything in the universe is ultimately the same kind of thing. This can be physical (everything is matter) or mental (everything is mind), or something else entirely.
Panpsychism, on the other hand, is the idea that consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of the universe. According to panpsychism, all things have some form of consciousness or experience, even if it’s very basic, down to the smallest particles.
So, while both can be viewed as “unifying” theories, monism is about the nature of reality being one substance, whereas panpsychism is about consciousness being fundamental and present everywhere.
AI and the human mind
I’ve long been interested in how the mind works. What is consciousness? How is that different from awareness? Where do thoughts come from? Is the sense of self an illusion?
From the video below: “At its core, AI, just like the human mind, is all about processing information. It uses complex algorithms, labels, and symbols to make sense of the world and respond to its environment. It takes raw data as input, processes it based on its programming, and generates an output.”
Here’s another excerpt from the video (watch on YouTube) I found really interesting:
“The choice to use an AI voice has sparked a lot of conversations. Some people feel that using it makes the message feel less personal, less human. But others find it refreshing, even profound. Its neutrality and essentially egoless nature allows the message itself to shine through more clearly.”
I started having voice conversations with ChatGPT in late 2023 and prefer that to text since more of my questions turn into conversations. Put me in the “refreshing/profound” column. If you are into (as we said in the 60’s) this kind of stuff, I think you’l really enjoy this video.
Who Is the Mind Talking to?
ineffable – (adjective) inexpressible, indescribable, beyond words, beyond description, beggaring description; undefinable, unutterable, untold, unheard of, unthought of, unimaginable; overwhelming, marvelous, wonderful, breathtaking, staggering, astounding, amazing, astonishing, fantastic, fabulous.
Mind, self, consciousness… I’ve been reading (and posting) on these concepts for a long time. The video above might be the best explanation I’ve come across. For that reason, I might leave this pinned to the top of the blog for a while.
How the brain computes the self
I seem to keep coming across areas where neuroscience and philosophy overlap on the subject of the self. PS: The “I” at the beginning of that sentence? Just an illusion.
You are not your thoughts
Different kinds of minds
Two of my favorite authors (David Eagleman and Kevin Kelly) discussing two of my favorite topics (AI and the mind). Mr. Kelly was thinking/writing about this way back in 2017.
Schrodinger’s Theory of Consciousness: Atman=Brahman
Given how poor I was at math and science, my interest in quantum theory is surprising. A dozen or so blog posts and some reading. This video explores intersection of quantum physics, consciousness and Eastern philosophy (Zen and Buddhism), as put forth by Erwin Schrodinger. If you’re looking for an explanation of how The Whole Shebang works, this is it for me.
ONISM
ONISM — the awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience
“It’s strange how little of the world you actually get to see. No matter where on Earth you happen to be standing, the horizon you see in the distance is only ever about three miles away from you, a bit less than five kilometers. Which means that at any given time, you’re barely more than an hour’s walk from a completely different world. Alas, even if you lace up your boots and take off for the hills, the circle of your horizon will follow you around like a prison searchlight.”
From The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig