Great video. Yes, I think there is validity in drawing strenth from the impossibility of a matter. There are uncountable examples of people achieving the unthinkable, and often that would never have been possible if these people listened to the majority.
Bah, no evidence proves that there isn't a tiny invisible unicorn under my hat that is the only key to salvation for humankind, either.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, fallacious ad populum arguments aside. If you disagree I await your tithe as vicar on Earth to Frank the Wonder Unicorn.
Fascinating. I find it curious how Sapolsky construes this ability for holding contradictions as a moral imperative. It seems more plausible that this is only one kind of elaboration on a more primitive element - I'm not sure whether he implied that or not. Perhaps it says more about the dialectical nature of human reason: our ability to project, resolve, and subsume contradictory propositions into a coherent picture of the world.
The believe in unlikely i think is explained by the dopamine part of same presentation ( don't know if Sapolsky is aware of that). The more unlikely the more dopamine excitement. The favorite (how ever unlikely) theory is the only one to bring pleasure in any case, and the more surprising it turning out to be true would be , the more pleasure is at the pot.
The atheists I know hold their beliefs in their minds, the evidence for which is the bedrock they stand on. The Christians I know hold their beliefs socially in their community, this is why beliefs are held more strongly in US communities that have remained socially insulated from non-believers. Contrary religious views are perceived as an attack on the community, and are vigorously defended, which is perfectly understandable, and rational from the perspective of someone inside the community.
ideas are just a human idea, and so is irrationality. So its no big deal we are the ONLY ONES who can do magic tricks with our made up abstractions......sheesh
Great video. Yes, I think there is validity in drawing strenth from the impossibility of a matter. There are uncountable examples of people achieving the unthinkable, and often that would never have been possible if these people listened to the majority.
stevegolab 1 year ago
Are you talking about a priori knowledge? If you are I'd like to know how you think one can separate such a thing from imaginings, delusions, etc.
bowlsallbroken 2 years ago
Bah, no evidence proves that there isn't a tiny invisible unicorn under my hat that is the only key to salvation for humankind, either.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, fallacious ad populum arguments aside. If you disagree I await your tithe as vicar on Earth to Frank the Wonder Unicorn.
bowlsallbroken 2 years ago
always interesting to hear your stuff, thanks
kinoeyecinema 2 years ago
"To understand all is to forgive all."
~came to mind while listening to you. (I googled it & it appears to be attributed to various sources, inc. Spinoza.)
It makes a kind of perfect sense to me, especially when the 'hard determinism' perspective is taken.
TWITfromURANUS 2 years ago
Fascinating. I find it curious how Sapolsky construes this ability for holding contradictions as a moral imperative. It seems more plausible that this is only one kind of elaboration on a more primitive element - I'm not sure whether he implied that or not. Perhaps it says more about the dialectical nature of human reason: our ability to project, resolve, and subsume contradictory propositions into a coherent picture of the world.
TRAGlCHERO 2 years ago
I think the nun example and the defending unlikely believes are separate phenomenas.
The nun hold the forgiveness as the highest goodness.
forgiveness ->goodness->pleasure. So the bigger and harder the forgiving is the more satisfaction it brings. Pretty straight forward.
esaman 2 years ago
The believe in unlikely i think is explained by the dopamine part of same presentation ( don't know if Sapolsky is aware of that). The more unlikely the more dopamine excitement. The favorite (how ever unlikely) theory is the only one to bring pleasure in any case, and the more surprising it turning out to be true would be , the more pleasure is at the pot.
esaman 2 years ago
This is excellent Fred. Thanks so much.
Professoranton 2 years ago
The atheists I know hold their beliefs in their minds, the evidence for which is the bedrock they stand on. The Christians I know hold their beliefs socially in their community, this is why beliefs are held more strongly in US communities that have remained socially insulated from non-believers. Contrary religious views are perceived as an attack on the community, and are vigorously defended, which is perfectly understandable, and rational from the perspective of someone inside the community.
rediband 2 years ago
ideas are just a human idea, and so is irrationality. So its no big deal we are the ONLY ONES who can do magic tricks with our made up abstractions......sheesh
Cashify 2 years ago
If I recall correctly I think a pet psychic told me that vampire bats are manipulative and passive aggressive and are just playing one another.
Cashify 2 years ago