I've written before about split-brain patients, those who, due to severe epilepsy, had the connections between the two hemispheres of their brain severed, yet were subsequently able to lead normal lives without themselves even noticing any cognitive change, which has profound implications for how consciousness works. It turns out that there are people who are … Continue reading Split brains and functioning consciousness
Category: Zeitgeist
When did the Neanderthals go extinct?
New theory could be an alternative to the multiverse
It seems like there have been a number articles recently talking about the soul searching currently going on in the Physics community over the failure of the LHC to find evidence for super-symmetry (at least so far), a theory that had a lot of theoretical work resting on it. This article discuses that and a new … Continue reading New theory could be an alternative to the multiverse
Doctor Who: ‘Deep Breath’ – I like the new Doctor
The new Doctor Who season started Saturday and I just got around to watching the season opener. I think Peter Capaldi is going to make an excellent Doctor. I'm pretty pleased to see the show return to an older Doctor. Since it was restarted in 2005, the Doctors have been getting younger and younger, but anyone … Continue reading Doctor Who: ‘Deep Breath’ – I like the new Doctor
Science is not a frog
Defending scientism: mathematics is a part of science
I have to admit to pretty much agreeing with Coel's main points in this post, which anyone who read my recent post on logic probably won't find too surprising. The idea of math and logic resting on empirical foundations seems to be ferociously resisted, I think because those foundations don't feel empirical, mainly because we … Continue reading Defending scientism: mathematics is a part of science
xkcd: California drought
I'm reminded of Jared Diamond's point in his book 'Collapse' about Montana, that if it were an independent civilization with the same environmental problems, not integrated with the rest of the United State, that it might have already collapsed. Seeing this about California's drought, it's tempting to wonder the same thing about them, or the … Continue reading xkcd: California drought
A Dialog on Happiness – Existential Comics
What is happiness? I think anyone who has ever given the question serious thought realizes that there is no one simple answer. Click though for the full version. via A Dialog on Happiness - Existential Comics. I would say that Amencia's first example is defective though. If the man hooked up to the machine is watching … Continue reading A Dialog on Happiness – Existential Comics
IBM’s Watson: Cognitive or Sentient?
I've heard of Watson of course, the supercomputer system that won at Jeopardy, but I think I stilled picked up some interesting bits from this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmPlBJgmU1o Iwata is clear that Watson isn't sentient or conscious, but listening to him, I'm sure many people will be creeped out by its learning abilities.
SMBC on “science” channels
I find that the actual Science Channel is still pretty good, with shows like 'Through the Wormhole' or 'How the Universe Works', which makes the terminology Wiener uses here unfortunate. But the point he makes fits for just about every other cable "educational" channel. These channels once had decent material but have devolved into mostly crap of … Continue reading SMBC on “science” channels
SelfAwarePatterns 