I think it is important to note that people by and large live in a curated landscape of facts.
They choose to accept a truth and then seek out information that supports their belief. It doesn't matter what topic is being covered. Health, politics, and religion are firmly based on the supposition of truth.
As to the underlying mechanism within us which is the basis of our consciousness, I think that we are a long way from understanding that. I honestly expect that there will be a significant portion that will be found in our internal biome of microorganisms. If you consider the effect of infections on mental health, the similarities of different mental dysfunction, and look at things like the hijacking by different infections that will affect the behavior of different animals, most notably the parasitic infections that take over behaviors of the host. Also the similarities of the visions induced by hallucinogenic organic substances.
Thank you for hosting me on your wonderful podcast.
At around minute 13 you asked a very thoughtful and important question, "How do you know when something is false". The question came in response to my statement that it is very easy to know what isn't, but next to impossible to know what is.
If I may, I would like to offer an explanation of what I meant by that, using the example of squares and circles...
Let us say that I showed you a picture of a circle and said to you, "Zahra, this is a square."
You would immediately and easily identify the statement as false. In other words, you would be 100% certain it ISN'T a square with just a quick glance.
However, if I said to you, "Zahra, this is a circle", would you know it to be true? It may look like a circle, but is it?
What is a circle? In geometry, a circle is defined as the locus of points that are equidistant from a point in a two dimensional plane (the locus of points equidistant from a point in three dimensions is a sphere).
A circle is made up of an infinite number of points. How can you or anyone be certain that every point is the same distance from the center of the circle?
Even if you took a compass and drew a circle with it, it would be impossible to know whether or not the compass was slightly distorted one way or another as your were drawing the circle. The thickness of the lead on the drawing end would have changed slightly as your drew the circle. The "pointy" end, that which defines the center has dimensions and is therefore not a dimensionless point as geometry dictates.
The only way to know if the circle is a circle is to measure every point on the circle to the center which is an impossible task.
For all intents and purposes, the circle is a circle, but there is an inherent uncertainty around it. You cannot know that it IS a circle.
Thank you so much for taking the time to follow up with this, Madhava. And now you've given us even MORE to think about. It's a good reminder of the need for humility in the face of the unknown. And also the need to examine everything closely in case what looks like a circle might, in fact, be a series of tiny squares arranged in the shape of a circle.
I think it is important to note that people by and large live in a curated landscape of facts.
They choose to accept a truth and then seek out information that supports their belief. It doesn't matter what topic is being covered. Health, politics, and religion are firmly based on the supposition of truth.
As to the underlying mechanism within us which is the basis of our consciousness, I think that we are a long way from understanding that. I honestly expect that there will be a significant portion that will be found in our internal biome of microorganisms. If you consider the effect of infections on mental health, the similarities of different mental dysfunction, and look at things like the hijacking by different infections that will affect the behavior of different animals, most notably the parasitic infections that take over behaviors of the host. Also the similarities of the visions induced by hallucinogenic organic substances.
Lemming physicians.
Incredible. This is such an important interview. I hope this reaches those it needs to reach.
Dear Zahra and Stephen,
Thank you for hosting me on your wonderful podcast.
At around minute 13 you asked a very thoughtful and important question, "How do you know when something is false". The question came in response to my statement that it is very easy to know what isn't, but next to impossible to know what is.
If I may, I would like to offer an explanation of what I meant by that, using the example of squares and circles...
Let us say that I showed you a picture of a circle and said to you, "Zahra, this is a square."
You would immediately and easily identify the statement as false. In other words, you would be 100% certain it ISN'T a square with just a quick glance.
However, if I said to you, "Zahra, this is a circle", would you know it to be true? It may look like a circle, but is it?
What is a circle? In geometry, a circle is defined as the locus of points that are equidistant from a point in a two dimensional plane (the locus of points equidistant from a point in three dimensions is a sphere).
A circle is made up of an infinite number of points. How can you or anyone be certain that every point is the same distance from the center of the circle?
Even if you took a compass and drew a circle with it, it would be impossible to know whether or not the compass was slightly distorted one way or another as your were drawing the circle. The thickness of the lead on the drawing end would have changed slightly as your drew the circle. The "pointy" end, that which defines the center has dimensions and is therefore not a dimensionless point as geometry dictates.
The only way to know if the circle is a circle is to measure every point on the circle to the center which is an impossible task.
For all intents and purposes, the circle is a circle, but there is an inherent uncertainty around it. You cannot know that it IS a circle.
Thank you so much for taking the time to follow up with this, Madhava. And now you've given us even MORE to think about. It's a good reminder of the need for humility in the face of the unknown. And also the need to examine everything closely in case what looks like a circle might, in fact, be a series of tiny squares arranged in the shape of a circle.
I enjoyed this far ranging conversation, especially about compliance.