This is where I keep notes of my research into consciousness, test out and explore different ideas about consciousness and its origins. Here you’ll find different perspectives about consciousness, awareness, subjectivity, and intelligence.
- The Unconscious Architecture of the Cosmos
This episode explores the interplay between Carl Jung’s psychological theories and the field of cosmology, arguing that human cognition, shaped by inherited psychological patterns called archetypes, subtly influences how we perceive and theorise about the universe. - The Human Blueprint – Part three: The Cosmic Perspective, and the Search for Others
IV. The Cosmic Perspective: Rarity, Ubiquity, and the Search for Others The discussion of human optimality and hypothetical alien forms is incomplete without considering the broader cosmic context. The probability of intelligent life existing elsewhere in the universe directly shapes our understanding of human uniqueness. The Rare Earth Hypothesis vs. the Principle of Mediocrity The scientific community grapples with two contrasting viewpoints regarding the prevalence of complex life in the cosmos: The Rare Earth Hypothesis:… - The Human Blueprint – Part Two: Beyond Human: Exploring Hypothetical Intelligent Life FormsIII. Beyond Human: Exploring Hypothetical Intelligent Life Forms The question of whether the human form is the optimal blueprint for intelligent life capable of advanced technological civilisation naturally leads to a consideration of alternative biological and even non-biological architectures. Scientific inquiry and speculative thought have explored a vast array of possibilities, each with its own set of advantages and challenges. Alternative Biochemistries The “Carbon Chauvinism” Debate: On Earth, all known life forms are carbon-based, utilising…
- The Human Blueprint- Part One: An Optimal Form, or One Among Many?The Human Blueprint: An Optimal Form, or One Among Many?
- Gloria: The Relationship Between Perfect Symmetry, Beauty, and its Bearing on Sexual Attraction
I’m currently researching for a novel where our protagonist comes across someone with unsettling symmetrical beauty, and I wondered what the reaction would be. I asked google Gemini to explore this for me, and got this response.The relationship between perfect symmetry and beauty, and its bearing on sexual attraction, is complex and a subject of ongoing research in evolutionary psychology and aesthetics.Here’s a breakdown of the current understanding: - Are we talking Cyborgs here?
What’s been happening in the wild world of connecting brains to computers since that 2005 Google patent? Well there’s still work going on in developing tech helping people do things just by thinking about it. The big buzzword is Brain-Computer Interfaces, or BCIs. So, while Google’s 2005 “artificial telepathy” idea was for a hidden mobile phone system, the focus today is much broader and, in some cases, already changing lives, primarily in the medical field.… - What AI Can Never Do
Can AI ever really understand what it means to have consciousness, a real relationship? There’s a lot of talk about AI “Friends” or “Companions”. Y’know, bots that suck us deeper into a narcissistic echo chamber and cripple our ability to engage in meaningful social interaction on any level, stunt our ability to debate, see other people’s point of view, intuit another person’s disposition, all that stuff which connects us to others, gives us a sense… - Brain-training games. What sorts of activities do benefit cognitive functioning?Brain-training games remain unproven, but research shows what sorts of activities do benefit cognitive functioning Brain-training games sell themselves as a way to maintain cognitive function, but the evidence isn’t there yet. Eva-Katalin/E+ via Getty Images Ian McDonough, Binghamton University, State University of New York and Michael Dulas, Binghamton University, State University of New York Some 2.3 million of U.S. adults over 65 – more than 4% – have a diagnosis of dementia. But even…
- Researching Yoga for my short story ‘Apocalypse Inc’
In my short story,’Apocalypse Inc’, Eustace is a practitioner of Yoga. So naturally I had to look into the different types to find the most congruent fit for him. Here’s what I came across. There’s a lot of yoga out there. I had to have some reason for Vayu to turn up in person to speak with Adam about Eustace so I had Eustace be an advanced practitioner of a form of yoga – which… - Evolution of Mathematical Awareness
Our brains inherent ability to find and utilize mathematical patterns provides a strong evolutionary advantage. On a more general level, understanding geometric relationships helps organisms navigate their environment, predict movements, and solve problems related to survival and reproduction. Natural selection would follow the same principles and favour brains that could grasp these underlying structures. It is transparently obvious that the same rules that shape the enviroment on a biological and physical level also guided and… - Consciousness, Entropy and Negentropy
The tendency for order to arise in all aspects of biological and material existence (Terran and cosmological) that lead to possible life and intelligence might be a potential indication of a fundamental property. Just as there is a fundamental law of Entropy, that, at the other end, there is a complimentary and opposite law of Negentropy that has emotions and/or consciousness as one of its emergent consequences? In nature, there may be a cyclical balance… - The Mechanics of Being
First, there is a mountain,Then there is no mountain.Then there is. Julanans have bodies that quickly evolve and adapt to survive in the different environments and conditions where life has evolved. Their bodies adapt to utilise changes in air composition, solar radiation, and edible organic plants.As a result of experiencing life through a broader spectrum of senses, their understanding of what makes them who they are is not restricted to one bodily form. This, in… - The Field of Consciousness
The “Field of Consciousness.” extends beyond the boundaries of conventional physical fields, such as electromagnetic or gravitational fields, and is the source of subjectivity and conscious experience in living beings. Nature of the Field:The Field of Consciousness is an all-pervading, subtle, and fundamental medium that permeates the fabric of reality. It is a non-material, intangible entity that interacts with and influences other fields, both physical and metaphysical, giving rise to the rich tapestry of subjective…
