Nicole RustDec 2, 2022

Wrapping up an Intro course with one of my favorite topics: Consciousness (C)!

I really like how @anilkseth parses the conceptual space of C in this essay (a precursor to his recent book, Being You):
https://aeon.co/essays/the-hard-problem-of-consciousness-is-a-distraction-from-the-real-one

There's:
C level (awake vs coma);
C content (awareness);
C self (that little person in our heads who is driving it all; free will).

On the topic of free will & the brain, do you know of references appropriate for early undergrads? (No Penrose please).

The hard problem of consciousness is a distraction from the real one | Aeon Essays

It looks like scientists and philosophers might have made consciousness far more mysterious than it needs to be

Aeon
Show threadTeixiDec 2, 2022

@NicoleCRust @anilkseth

Tons of references and discussions in this one by @felipedebrigard et al.

"Content and Consciousness Revisited
With Replies by Daniel Dennett"

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-17374-0

Content and Consciousness Revisited

SpringerLink
Show threadNicole RustDec 2, 2022
@teixi @anilkseth @felipedebrigard Thanks!
Show threadTeixi

@NicoleCRust @anilkseth @felipedebrigard

My weekend to finish reading @PessoaBrain book that skips the term `conscience` in it —explicitly!?

Then to read their critical review of it —with implicit reasons?!
https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01931
download
https://philpapers.org/rec/BOONET
(via https://twitter.com/felipedebrigard/status/1587465792404144130)
whose title I guess is a pun to: https://ndpr.nd.edu/reviews/every-thing-must-go-metaphysics-naturalized/

#NeuroBooks #NeuroTheory

Not Every Thing Must Go

Abstract. In The Entangled Brain, Pessoa criticizes standard approaches in cognitive neuroscience in which the brain is seen as a functionally decomposable, modular system with causal operations built up hierarchically. Instead, he advocates for an emergentist perspective whereby dynamic brain networks are associated, not with traditional psychological categories, but with behavioral functions characterized in evolutionary terms. Here, we raise a number of concerns with such a radical approach. We ultimately believe that although much revision to cognitive neuroscience is welcome and needed, Pessoa's more radical proposals may be counterproductive.

MIT Press
Dec 2, 2022 at 2:50pmWeb
Show threadLuiz PessoaDec 2, 2022

@teixi @NicoleCRust @anilkseth @felipedebrigard

I don't take *consciousness* lightly, that's for the experts!

My goal was to introduce the brain as "entangled" to a broad audience. I view it as a "basic" book with "advanced themes" that make us think about the science we're trying to do.

I also wanted a short book as I still try to do research!

Thanks for giving it a try Teixi.

#neuroscience

Show threadTeixiDec 2, 2022

@PessoaBrain @NicoleCRust @anilkseth @felipedebrigard

amazed with your 3+ decades of research focus, written with transparent honesty for overall audiences, in gems like this one:

» The cerebellum (in the hindbrain), which is still rather poorly understood, is also densely interconnected with the cortex, as well as with the basal ganglia itself.
Again, giant webs of connectivity can form.«

my mathcore band name: *rather poorly understood*
or
*giant webs of connectivity can form*

HT Luiz ;)

Show threadLuiz PessoaDec 2, 2022

@teixi @NicoleCRust @anilkseth @felipedebrigard

good names for bands, or my lab! 🙂

Show threadTeixiDec 2, 2022

@PessoaBrain @NicoleCRust @anilkseth @felipedebrigard

recalled:

» and then we have, more temporary concepts that we used to, in science for example, that get thrown out when we understand the science better, you know:

phlogiston and ether,
and all of those are examples, but maybe you know, some people have proposed that you know, the things that we describe our mental states with:

like consciousness,
might actually be one of those concepts «

@melaniemitchell ~ 43:20
https://youtu.be/cYSRgDpTKyA?t=2600

Abstraction and Analogy are the Keys to Robust AI - Melanie Mitchell

YouTube
Show thread@dickretiredDec 2, 2022
@PessoaBrain @teixi @NicoleCRust @anilkseth @felipedebrigard@mastodon .social Luiz, I have downloaded the book on my Kindle so you get less royalties! Haven't read it yet but will do so.
Show threadLuiz PessoaDec 2, 2022

@dickretired @teixi @NicoleCRust @anilkseth

Oh wow, that's an honor.
As you know we don't write books for royalties!

Show threadTeixiDec 3, 2022

@PessoaBrain @dickretired @NicoleCRust @anilkseth

Ups, rereading this thread to embarrassingly realize that I still mixup those terms:

Conscience = Morality

Consciousness = Awareness

Unconsciousness = Unawareness

Conscientiousness = Carefulness

Also: why still this?
conscient = conscious
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conscient

Definition of CONSCIENT

Definition of 'conscient' by Merriam-Webster