Decryption: the intention

by

How do our mental representations become intentions? For a materialist scientist, sensory data transformed into mental patterns is not a hard problem. Neurons modify the tree structure of dendrites and synaptic values to establish a symbolic code of the objects presented to the senses. The sight of an apple activates a specific pattern. The brain … Read more

Psociety (personal psychic society)

by

Versatile but not inconsistent I can be a very different person depending on the circumstances: angry infantile infantile calm frivolous responsible insensitive empathic, etc. Some aspects are marked and serve in my loved ones to define ‘my personality’. Nevertheless, if I am calm or angry, my appearance changes quickly, which makes the unity of my … Read more

Surimposition (definition)

by

Abstract: In complexity, levels of information pile up. Their independence is relative. The term ‘adding’ levels overemphasizes discontinuity, while the term ‘deepening’ information overemphasizes continuity. The neologism “surimposing” information accounts for this dependence of the upper level on the lower, while giving it its own meaning.

Read more

The brain, this fabulator

by

Holes in experience are intolerable The section of the corpus callosum, this thick neural cable that unites the two cerebral hemispheres, has been performed in very severe forms of epilepsy. Side effect: the operated person ends up with two effector consciousnesses. Right and left hemibody are potentially autonomous. But they are still firmly attached, along … Read more

Awakening, consciousness, synchronization

by

Awake without being conscious? It is possible. Situation of the epileptic in grand mal seizure. He is apparently awake but absent, uncontrolled, left to autonomous muscle spasms. Conversely, consciousness is impossible without awakening. These statements attribute to consciousness two additional conditions, in addition to awakening: 1) Mind control over the body and the environment. 2) … Read more

The trap of the mathematical universe

by

The relative intransigence of quantification Let’s dive into the fundamental meaning of quantification. It implies an intransigent separation between individuations. Is the nature of this separation knowable? Yes, if we can reduce individuation to parties, whose relationships create discontinuity. The separation is therefore intransigent but not irreducible. Except by adopting foundationalism, that is, to postulate … Read more

Courage under the microscope

by

What is courage? Is it only a matter of context? Not just. Even if we easily see cowardice everywhere, we know how to recognize the exceptions: those who will show courage in all circumstances. What do these resistance fighters have in common? Courage is a mixture: survival instinct, controlled fear, danger faced, idealized self. Things … Read more

Does reality exist? Consciousness, simulation and decoherence in the Campbell experiment

by

Reality or simulation? Science & Vie echoes this month a quantum experiment “that can change everything”. The starting point is the simulation hypothesis. In 2003 Nick Bostrom, philosopher, notes that our descendants will have an exponential numerical power and draws 3 hypotheses: 1) Humanity will be extinct before being able to exploit it. 2) It … Read more

Sociology: Transclasses

by

Excellent interview with Chantal Jaquet about social classes on Philomag. Here is the augmented summary: Classes and transclasses The notion of ‘social class’, like any categorization, seeks to oppose different situations, economic (poor and rich), cultural (local and immigrant), intellectual (level of education), professional, symbolic (bear the name of Rothschild or Dupont). Deep social reality … Read more