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1. 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account (thorthenorseman@octodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 29-Aug-2018 19:24:27 EDT 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account

   I'm reading The Mind is Flat by Nick Chater. The premise of the book is that the subconscious doesn't exist; humans just like to invent stories about themselves. While I mostly agree with this, I'm not convinced by his claim that emotions are merely interpretations of physical sensations. If, as Chater claims, only level of arousal and like/dislike are real, seeing your partner flirt with someone else wouldn't make you upset in the first place. There is a jealousy program in there somewhere.

   1. 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account (thorthenorseman@octodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 29-Aug-2018 19:29:58 EDT 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account

      in reply to

      What The Mind is Flat by Nick Chater is right about is that, when we do have a physical reaction, we are prone to interpreting it in light of the situation. If you are in the dark and your adrenaline peaks, you're likely to interpret it as a fear of the dark, and if, like me, you're a diabetic and hypoglycaemia sneaks up on you and raises your adrenaline while you're thinking about serious matters, the adrenaline is likely to feel upset about what you're thinking about. (True story!)

   2. 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account (thorthenorseman@octodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 29-Aug-2018 19:30:58 EDT 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account

      in reply to

      What The Mind is Flat by Nick Chater is right about is that, when we do have a physical reaction, we are prone to interpreting it in light of the situation. If you are in the dark and your adrenaline peaks, you're likely to interpret it as a fear of the dark, and if, like me, you're a diabetic and hypoglycaemia sneaks up on you and raises your adrenaline while you're thinking about serious matters, the adrenaline is likely to make you feel upset about what you're thinking about.

      1. 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account (thorthenorseman@octodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 29-Aug-2018 19:46:58 EDT 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account

         in reply to

         This book (The Mind is Flat by Nick Chater) sheds light on a personal mystery: What is the difference between a want and an urge? In my mind, there is no clear distinction, so I've had to make one up: A want is a decision that you make in order to deal with a recurrent urge. You often feel the urge to move quickly and effortlessly, so you want to buy a car. You often feel the urge for intimacy, so you want to find a partner.

         1. 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account (thorthenorseman@octodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 29-Aug-2018 19:53:48 EDT 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account

            in reply to

            And further, there is no deeper want. There is just a series of urges. Any attempt at figuring out "what I truly want" is just you making up a story about yourself based on past events and current feelings.

            I feel this is most obvious when people point out the inconsistencies in your introspection. It's also obvious when you ask children why they do things, and they flatly tell you that they don't know. We only start telling stories once we begin to be held accountable for our actions.

            1. 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account (thorthenorseman@octodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 29-Aug-2018 20:03:36 EDT 🇳🇴 Thor — backup account

               in reply to

               If you pay attention to what your mind is doing when you're asked to account for something, and you're honest with yourself, you'll discover that you're often just surmising things. "I must've done it because..." in your head is effortlessly translated into "I did it because..." coming out of your mouth. Introspection is just recollections about yourself paired with reasoning.

               Now, isn't that a load off your shoulders?