(This is a transcript of a podcast, available here.) In early March of 2006, I had a very unpleasant experience, and I believe it may turn out to be a life-altering experience. It certainly has had a profound affect on my … [Read more...]
Multiple Selves: Continuity and Change
There are many continuities in our lives: Our height doesn’t change noticeably from day to day; weight is more variable, but we don’t gain or lose 30 pounds overnight; we usually have a stable occupation and place to live, … [Read more...]
The Movie, “Her;” Artificial and Human Intelligence
When I left the theater after seeing “Her,” the world outside looked edgy and slightly surreal, as if I’d taken a light hit of acid. Part of that was due to the exotic visual beauty of the film, but in addition, my thinking … [Read more...]
Reaction To “You Don’t Have To Be Sad”
I received some thoughtful feedback on my last post from a couple of people who believe that when Louis C.K. was talking about the empty place inside that everyone supposedly has, he was referring to “existential aloneness.” … [Read more...]
You Don’t Have To Be Sad; Response to Louis C.K. on Conan O’Brien
Louis C.K. doesn’t want his kids to have cell phones because texting eliminates the immediate visual feedback you get in face-to-face interaction. That kind of feedback facilitates the development of empathy—excellent point. … [Read more...]
The Brain and the Self: How the Brain Creates Its Own Admirer
I got stuck early on with the idea that if you know the truth, the truth will set you free, and it has given me the courage to confront the most unpalatable truths about myself—and life—head on, believing I would be better … [Read more...]
Exercising, Making Your Bed, and Happiness
Most of the stuff I write involves how thinking about things from the perspective of naturalism—of not believing in free will—can increase your happiness, but there’s more to happiness than just changing your perspective, and … [Read more...]
Free Will and the Brain
Our brains have done pretty well at understanding the world outside themselves, but progress on the world inside has been limited—it’s easier to look outward than inward. Understanding the world has given us the power to … [Read more...]
Review of Ray Jackendoff’s, A User’s Guide to Thought and Meaning
We are so immersed in language from infancy onward that most of us take it for granted, never looking closely at what we do when we think and talk. We assume that the connection between the world and the words we use is … [Read more...]
Review of Alex Rosenberg’s “The Atheist’s Guide to Reality”
Full disclosure: I am an atheist; I don’t believe in the supernatural; science is my guide to reality; and I believe morals are a biological/cultural phenomenon with no ultimate justification. Given all that, you’d think … [Read more...]
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