Steven Pinker 1of3: The computational theory of mind

Steven Pinker on the computational theory of mind and evolutionary psychology. Our mental faculties assume a world like that of our ancestors. Pinker describes some of the tricks our minds do, which helped us in the natural world, but can lead to maladaptive behaviour in the modern world.

From a conference in 1998 called Der Digitale Planet (The Digital Planet, I guess), which also included Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Jared Diamond and Douglas Adams. Links follow:

Douglas Adams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msAF_MDYWNE

Richard Dawkins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdBOb9tQjNU

Daniel Dennett: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psBwnE0ByUw

Jared Diamond: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV_P1VGqMBo


Found here (at the bottom):
http://www.reitstoen.com/dennett.php

Direct link to video (real media):
http://www.web-for-vision.com:8080/ramgen/SPIEGEL/Wfv_Isdn.smil

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• mind
• thought
• evolution
• evolutionary
• psychology
• learning
• memory

[CronosXIIII]

@magicbibledotcom But you do need to know what you are talking about for your ideas to have any sort of credibility. Intellectual or not, he is unqualified to make any sort of credible hypothesis. Don't even try to dispute this. A person of any intelligence needs to have the required information and context with which to create a credible argument on the particular topic. Without such, you are just a philosopher.

[ZachRose88]

I met this guy he was so down to Earth and comfortable to talk to it was awesome.

[magicbibledotcom]

@LogicalFlawDetector Hitchens IS an intellectual. What a person does with the intellect is a different matter entirely. Writes nonsense? ay aye aye. Clearly you have no idea about the man or a very poor idea of what nonsense is.

You don't need to be a scientist or be qualified in ANYTHING to be an intellectual. You prove yourself organically. Qualifications are arbitrary and many of history's greatest thinkers had none. Darwin for example was a self-taught self-enthused discoverer.

[magicbibledotcom]

@LogicalFlawDetector "An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence (thought and reason) and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity." - For a profession, Hitchens analyzes and reasons. That's what he does.

And he does it incredibly well. He's a renowned writer and essayist - and even Dawkins himself said he's not heard a man as articulate....

[magicbibledotcom]

@LogicalFlawDetector An intellectual deosn't need to create new ideas to be an intellectual. There are plenty of intellectuals that do nothing with their intelligence. That doesn't mean they cease to be intellectuals.

If Dawkins had the same intelligence and ideas but happened to do nothing with it, and just so happened to waste his life in accounting or something, would he not be the same intellectual underneath?...

[LogicalFlawDetector]

@magicbibledotcom

Hitchens is not an intellectual. Intellectual = a person who produces ideas -- brilliant ideas! Hitch has produced none. He has a BS in English and he writes nonsense. Dawkins and Pinker, on the other hand, are qualified scientists.

[LennonSucks]

Pinker as an intellectual is a giant lol. The mind will be unraveled by physicists, not by stamp-collectors. I'd take Penrose on his worse day over stuff like this.

[GohModley]

@magicbibledotcom Gosh. Anything else? You sure know how to hurt a guy. You don't think I have feelings? You don't think I have a right to live? Maybe I should kill myself so much better people like you can live happily. Goodbye.