That made me think ... are humans naturally inclined towards logical thinking? Or is logical thinking something that must be acquired ... a trained habit of the mind?
I'm very much with you on that it's something learned, I have seen this first hand over the last nine years and a half of my daughter growing up. There is no doubt that Santa Claus can fit down a chimney and visit all of the worlds good children in one night. And of course it's also why religions desperately seek to get to us when we are children, when disbelief is suspended and our minds can be molded, we can be told.
But what is logic? Which type are we talking about here? There is formal symbolic and mathematical logic, on which modern mathematics and computers are built and then there is the woolley philosophical logic - which is what I think we are talking about here (please correct me if I am wrong).
Both are based on axioms, but what axioms are the failures you witnessed built upon? By axioms I mean "If A then B, so if A is the case then B is the case". Are you saying that the perpetrators of anti-logic were agreeing and disagreeing with the axioms at the same time? In my opinion, this is almost ok in philosophical logic ... why do I say that? Because the axioms that philosophical logic are built upon are so woolley to begin with that they lend themselves to multiple interpretations, often depending on which way the wind is blowing. But don't be trying such axiomatic bending on formal symbolic logic please !
Thinking about it, I have a lot of disdain for philosophical logic, it's often built upon a movable feast. Spock used this type of logic all the time.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Humans and Logic
I was listening to some news today. The politics in America are screwed up ... and I don't mean just because my preferred party is no longer in power. I mean it's screwed up because logic and common sense seem to have been cast aside. It's as if people are willfully employing inconsistent thinking.
That made me think ... are humans naturally inclined towards logical thinking? Or is logical thinking something that must be acquired ... a trained habit of the mind? I'm really beginning to think it's something that must be learned. I don't mean just the structure and terminology of logical argumentation ... I mean the intuitive recognition of the structure of a logical argument leading to a logical conclusion.
Over and over again I see people trying to employ logic to persuade someone on a point. The people agree on each premise leading up to the conclusion. Then they categorically reject every agreed-to premise when they choose to disagree with the conclusion. And it's not that they don't believe the argument leads to the conclusion ... it's that they admit they don't wish to accept the consequence of the conclusion and so therefore logic is abandoned.
That made me think ... are humans naturally inclined towards logical thinking? Or is logical thinking something that must be acquired ... a trained habit of the mind? I'm really beginning to think it's something that must be learned. I don't mean just the structure and terminology of logical argumentation ... I mean the intuitive recognition of the structure of a logical argument leading to a logical conclusion.
Over and over again I see people trying to employ logic to persuade someone on a point. The people agree on each premise leading up to the conclusion. Then they categorically reject every agreed-to premise when they choose to disagree with the conclusion. And it's not that they don't believe the argument leads to the conclusion ... it's that they admit they don't wish to accept the consequence of the conclusion and so therefore logic is abandoned.
Give and take
Which then suggests that what should do is focus on what our self interests are.
Yes I think that's correct but only up to the point where we find ourselves impacting others in a way which we would not like done back to us. In actuality though, in life we cross the line sometimes, and at the other times we let ourselves be taken advantage of. As long as there is a balance we generally don't feel hard done by. This gets back to "nash equilibria" -- ie. to achieve an optimum solution all parties have to bend a little
she is going to a conference in Salt Lake City on how to host and conduct a proper "tea."
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. On man :) Sorry. Can I come to tea? So the likelyhood of you coming to visit the UK now must have at least doubled! Good on yer missus. Let me know where you get to on The Wing this weekend.
in giving up my need to have my way all the time ... (snip) Yet I resist. Fiercely. Why?
Maybe you don't need to have your own way ALL of the time? Maybe you are just looking for a nash equilibrium but everyone else is taking advantage of you? Or maybe you are just a dictator! (I don't think so)
Yes I think that's correct but only up to the point where we find ourselves impacting others in a way which we would not like done back to us. In actuality though, in life we cross the line sometimes, and at the other times we let ourselves be taken advantage of. As long as there is a balance we generally don't feel hard done by. This gets back to "nash equilibria" -- ie. to achieve an optimum solution all parties have to bend a little
she is going to a conference in Salt Lake City on how to host and conduct a proper "tea."
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. On man :) Sorry. Can I come to tea? So the likelyhood of you coming to visit the UK now must have at least doubled! Good on yer missus. Let me know where you get to on The Wing this weekend.
in giving up my need to have my way all the time ... (snip) Yet I resist. Fiercely. Why?
Maybe you don't need to have your own way ALL of the time? Maybe you are just looking for a nash equilibrium but everyone else is taking advantage of you? Or maybe you are just a dictator! (I don't think so)
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Selfish Selflessness
This goes back to the secret behind altruism, does an altruistic person really satisfy some kind of urge within themselves by giving up their self interest?
I had to read that several times to let it sink in. It's almost as if the question being asked here is: "Can it be considered an indulgence in self-interest to be selfless?" That's seems like an oxymoron, but I don't think it is ... I think there's an element of truth in it. Let's say for instance someone feels very strongly that they should serve the poor, and do so utterly anonymously. Can it be said that by indulging their strong feeling they are in fact serving a self-interest? I think so.
Is that wrong? I think not.
Which gets back to what I think is your basic point -- there really isn't anything that is truly altruistic. Everyone, all the time, is serving some element of self-interest.
Which then suggests that what should do is focus on what our self interests are. If my self interest is, cruelly, to treat others as I myself would prefer not to be treated ... then I am doing bad. But if my self interest -- in the form of not hating myself for being a bad person -- is served by treating others as I would like to be treated ... then I am being a good person.
My argument is circling on itself.
I really don't have a clear head on all this. My original point about the publicity thing was really a veiled slam on people who seem to require acknowledgment. To me, the worst example of this is the name plaque on the back of a church pew. But I'm being judgmental, so I should just be quiet. :-)
* * *
My lovely bride is departing me this weekend -- she is going to a conference in Salt Lake City on how to host and conduct a proper "tea." That's right -- in the English tradition. She has become quite taken by the whole process ... the tea, the finger sandwiches, the sweets.
Her departure permits me some guilt-free motorcycle riding.
* * *
What do you see when you look at your cross?
I don't see it as something to do, per se. It's really a state of mind. I can sense where my true intent lies. The frustrating things is I know darn well that a life of curbing my tongue, of being genuinely interested in other people's bests interests, in giving up my need to have my way all the time ... I know that will be a better, less stressful life. Yet I resist. Fiercely. Why?
I had to read that several times to let it sink in. It's almost as if the question being asked here is: "Can it be considered an indulgence in self-interest to be selfless?" That's seems like an oxymoron, but I don't think it is ... I think there's an element of truth in it. Let's say for instance someone feels very strongly that they should serve the poor, and do so utterly anonymously. Can it be said that by indulging their strong feeling they are in fact serving a self-interest? I think so.
Is that wrong? I think not.
Which gets back to what I think is your basic point -- there really isn't anything that is truly altruistic. Everyone, all the time, is serving some element of self-interest.
Which then suggests that what should do is focus on what our self interests are. If my self interest is, cruelly, to treat others as I myself would prefer not to be treated ... then I am doing bad. But if my self interest -- in the form of not hating myself for being a bad person -- is served by treating others as I would like to be treated ... then I am being a good person.
My argument is circling on itself.
I really don't have a clear head on all this. My original point about the publicity thing was really a veiled slam on people who seem to require acknowledgment. To me, the worst example of this is the name plaque on the back of a church pew. But I'm being judgmental, so I should just be quiet. :-)
* * *
My lovely bride is departing me this weekend -- she is going to a conference in Salt Lake City on how to host and conduct a proper "tea." That's right -- in the English tradition. She has become quite taken by the whole process ... the tea, the finger sandwiches, the sweets.
Her departure permits me some guilt-free motorcycle riding.
* * *
What do you see when you look at your cross?
I don't see it as something to do, per se. It's really a state of mind. I can sense where my true intent lies. The frustrating things is I know darn well that a life of curbing my tongue, of being genuinely interested in other people's bests interests, in giving up my need to have my way all the time ... I know that will be a better, less stressful life. Yet I resist. Fiercely. Why?
Doing the "right" thing
Now, here's the question ... what percentage of people do so with the full intent of being relatively anonymous doing it?
What is the underlying difference in the following scenarios:
Do something good and
a) never mention it publicly, just leave it at that. Feel quietly happy that you have done something meaningful.
Compared to:
b) never mention it publicly, AND THEN feel hard done by it, say "Oh why did I have to go and do that good thing and give up my self interest?" But would do it again nontheless.
?
Person (a) is going to be a lot happier with the publicity I think. This goes back to the secret behind altruism, does an altruistic person really satisfy some kind of urge within themselves by giving up their self interest? I think so, because this would match up with them having needs borne of natural selection that they want to meet, which is a kind of selfishness, but a good one :)
I'm looking seriously at my cross ... but I've not taken it up.
What do you see when you look at your cross?
What is the underlying difference in the following scenarios:
Do something good and
a) never mention it publicly, just leave it at that. Feel quietly happy that you have done something meaningful.
Compared to:
b) never mention it publicly, AND THEN feel hard done by it, say "Oh why did I have to go and do that good thing and give up my self interest?" But would do it again nontheless.
?
Person (a) is going to be a lot happier with the publicity I think. This goes back to the secret behind altruism, does an altruistic person really satisfy some kind of urge within themselves by giving up their self interest? I think so, because this would match up with them having needs borne of natural selection that they want to meet, which is a kind of selfishness, but a good one :)
I'm looking seriously at my cross ... but I've not taken it up.
What do you see when you look at your cross?
Taking up My Cross
So perhaps "meaningfulness" is related to doing something "good" by societal standards?
Or perhaps a personal sense of meaningfulness is derived by doing something "good" by our own standard. Most people's sense of "good" will likely align with society's ... but for some it may not exactly. For example, there are some who feel it is a right and good thing to stand on a city street corner and profess the Gospel with veins popping and spittle flying. Most of society views that as a nuisance, as do I, but there's obviously some who feel compelled to do it.
But your point is a good one ... most people seek at some point to do something "good." Now, here's the question ... what percentage of people do so with the full intent of being relatively anonymous doing it? And what percentage set out to do so like the Pharisee praying at the temple? :-)
* * *
There are some charitable things people do that I admire, but I know full well I don't have the strength or courage to do myself:
Which makes me thing ... what would I do that is "good?" I honestly don't know.
* * *
To live this way is very hard though, just think of all the things you have to give up.
Which I think is the point. There's a strong theme running through the New Testament that in order to find your "true" self you have to let go of your existing self. "Taking up the cross" is a metaphor for killing the self-centered life that is natural to us and taking up the life that is not about us. I'm looking seriously at my cross ... but I've not taken it up.
Or perhaps a personal sense of meaningfulness is derived by doing something "good" by our own standard. Most people's sense of "good" will likely align with society's ... but for some it may not exactly. For example, there are some who feel it is a right and good thing to stand on a city street corner and profess the Gospel with veins popping and spittle flying. Most of society views that as a nuisance, as do I, but there's obviously some who feel compelled to do it.
But your point is a good one ... most people seek at some point to do something "good." Now, here's the question ... what percentage of people do so with the full intent of being relatively anonymous doing it? And what percentage set out to do so like the Pharisee praying at the temple? :-)
* * *
There are some charitable things people do that I admire, but I know full well I don't have the strength or courage to do myself:
- Adopt a mentally retarded child
- Care for enfeebled elderly people who are not their kin
- Work in a hospice and help people with the act of dying
Which makes me thing ... what would I do that is "good?" I honestly don't know.
* * *
To live this way is very hard though, just think of all the things you have to give up.
Which I think is the point. There's a strong theme running through the New Testament that in order to find your "true" self you have to let go of your existing self. "Taking up the cross" is a metaphor for killing the self-centered life that is natural to us and taking up the life that is not about us. I'm looking seriously at my cross ... but I've not taken it up.
Importance
I was lacking any sense of meaningfulness or significance.
I know what you mean. I once had a manager who used to say "the guy driving the school bus does a more important job than me, I'm just higher paid for doing something of almost zero importance " -- also she has since left the company :) However I think she was probably correct.
So perhaps "meaningfulness" is related to doing something "good" by societal standards? Like taking kids to school, and certainly not doing something "evil". If you recall my treatise on evil, I came to the conclusion that the only evil a person can do is when they treat others in a way that they know they would not like to be treated themselves. Every other definition of evil can be relative, but this definition is absolute to the individual doing the evil. Note: in this definition revenge is most certainly evil in most cases.
So perhaps the most meaningful life we can lead is a life where we treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated - thus denying our genetic naturally-selected heritage? This way of life would be in tune with Jesus' message to a large degree I think. If we can live this way then perhaps we pass the test? Regardless of what job we do? To live this way is very hard though, just think of all the things you have to give up.
+++
Thanks for allmusic website, it has everyone, I have spent the last two hours looking - if I have to see that Chris Rock movie commercial one more time though I'm gonna hurl !
I know what you mean. I once had a manager who used to say "the guy driving the school bus does a more important job than me, I'm just higher paid for doing something of almost zero importance " -- also she has since left the company :) However I think she was probably correct.
So perhaps "meaningfulness" is related to doing something "good" by societal standards? Like taking kids to school, and certainly not doing something "evil". If you recall my treatise on evil, I came to the conclusion that the only evil a person can do is when they treat others in a way that they know they would not like to be treated themselves. Every other definition of evil can be relative, but this definition is absolute to the individual doing the evil. Note: in this definition revenge is most certainly evil in most cases.
So perhaps the most meaningful life we can lead is a life where we treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated - thus denying our genetic naturally-selected heritage? This way of life would be in tune with Jesus' message to a large degree I think. If we can live this way then perhaps we pass the test? Regardless of what job we do? To live this way is very hard though, just think of all the things you have to give up.
+++
Thanks for allmusic website, it has everyone, I have spent the last two hours looking - if I have to see that Chris Rock movie commercial one more time though I'm gonna hurl !
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Meaning
I don't really know how to define "meaningfulness". It's certainly more than money or fame ... Hollywood people have both yet they yearn for something more -- witness all their posturing for various causes.
Legacy? Immortality? Perhaps more likely. We humans tend to go to great lengths to allow our name to live on.
A nod towards altruism? More of a stretch ... I'm convinced we're more selfish than altruistic.
Pride? I'm cynical enough to believe that's a pretty big part of it.
* * *
Significance? I'm at a loss here ... would that be a result of meaningfulness, or the other way around?
* * *
I was reminded of this today as I taught a class to a group of largely disinterested people. I honestly wondered why I should bother. And I honestly wondered if I really knew much, or if I was just posing as one who did. I was lacking any sense of meaningfulness or significance.
Legacy? Immortality? Perhaps more likely. We humans tend to go to great lengths to allow our name to live on.
A nod towards altruism? More of a stretch ... I'm convinced we're more selfish than altruistic.
Pride? I'm cynical enough to believe that's a pretty big part of it.
* * *
Significance? I'm at a loss here ... would that be a result of meaningfulness, or the other way around?
* * *
I was reminded of this today as I taught a class to a group of largely disinterested people. I honestly wondered why I should bother. And I honestly wondered if I really knew much, or if I was just posing as one who did. I was lacking any sense of meaningfulness or significance.
Better People
You need to do your part. Take your daughter to Ireland and teach her the art of appreciating the flavor of Guinness.
Funnily enough I did take K to Dublin for our summer hols 2004. She'd just turned 7. I didn't make her drink Guinness though - we stayed in a haunted castle !
I think the old Irish pub full of Guinness drinkers will be with us for at least another 100 years. St Patrick's Day this weekend they'll be busy.
+++
do you think we (humans) have some deep need to feel as if what we do is significant and meaningful?
Interesting, what do you mean by "meaningful"? Do you mean "meaningful to the individual" or something more general, ie. "meaningful to society"? Both probably? Or something else?
Either way, I guess the answer is "yes", especially when we are "young", well before we get jaded and cynical that is.
Why would we have this need? Is it something that is phenotypical (drummed into us by our parents/society) or genotypical (innate behaviour) or a combination of the two? I suspect a combination. Parents tell their children to "be good" and natural selection results in our wanting to do better than our fellow human, and if I am doing something meaningful and my fellows aren't, then I am better than them.
What's your view?
"Transition from success to significance" - our society seems to equate "success" with "financial success", something that I think is very wrong, but an inevitable result of a society created by creatures borne out of natural selection wouldn't you agree?
Who are the significant people in the world?
Funnily enough I did take K to Dublin for our summer hols 2004. She'd just turned 7. I didn't make her drink Guinness though - we stayed in a haunted castle !
I think the old Irish pub full of Guinness drinkers will be with us for at least another 100 years. St Patrick's Day this weekend they'll be busy.
+++
do you think we (humans) have some deep need to feel as if what we do is significant and meaningful?
Interesting, what do you mean by "meaningful"? Do you mean "meaningful to the individual" or something more general, ie. "meaningful to society"? Both probably? Or something else?
Either way, I guess the answer is "yes", especially when we are "young", well before we get jaded and cynical that is.
Why would we have this need? Is it something that is phenotypical (drummed into us by our parents/society) or genotypical (innate behaviour) or a combination of the two? I suspect a combination. Parents tell their children to "be good" and natural selection results in our wanting to do better than our fellow human, and if I am doing something meaningful and my fellows aren't, then I am better than them.
What's your view?
"Transition from success to significance" - our society seems to equate "success" with "financial success", something that I think is very wrong, but an inevitable result of a society created by creatures borne out of natural selection wouldn't you agree?
Who are the significant people in the world?
Acquiring Acquired Tastes
News from the Emerald Isle. Apparently the national drink of Ireland isn't doing so well in the land of green. It's the younger generation's fault. They're opting for other things. Shame on them.
You need to do your part. Take your daughter to Ireland and teach her the art of appreciating the flavor of Guinness.
* * *
Yes ... it's all a game. I wonder ... do you think we (humans) have some deep need to feel as if what we do is significant and meaningful? I wonder if the factory line workers suffer from this but one day come to accept their lot, become rather detached from their chore, and find their meaning elsewhere?
Also, I heard the phrase "Transition from success to significance" to describe people who have made their fortune in business, but who are now moving into more philanthropic endeavors. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet being two notable examples of this.
You need to do your part. Take your daughter to Ireland and teach her the art of appreciating the flavor of Guinness.
* * *
Yes ... it's all a game. I wonder ... do you think we (humans) have some deep need to feel as if what we do is significant and meaningful? I wonder if the factory line workers suffer from this but one day come to accept their lot, become rather detached from their chore, and find their meaning elsewhere?
Also, I heard the phrase "Transition from success to significance" to describe people who have made their fortune in business, but who are now moving into more philanthropic endeavors. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet being two notable examples of this.
Money-go-round
What a great ad! $1 in 1961 dollars would be what in today's dollars ... $5 maybe? $10 at the outset?
Great guess. According to this site we have the following:
What cost $1 in 1961 would cost $6.58 in 2006. Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2006 and 1961, they would cost you $1 and $0.15 respectively.
+++
One admitted his purpose for being here: "It's three days away from work."
Yep. It's all a game. I am still going through my period of "I'm only interested in doing customer related work" -- avoiding internal projects -- but then, like you, I see our customers are just playing games also. I mean, who really cares if product x,y,z is implemented on budget and on schedule at the customer? We do what we do to pay the bills.
Great guess. According to this site we have the following:
What cost $1 in 1961 would cost $6.58 in 2006. Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2006 and 1961, they would cost you $1 and $0.15 respectively.
+++
One admitted his purpose for being here: "It's three days away from work."
Yep. It's all a game. I am still going through my period of "I'm only interested in doing customer related work" -- avoiding internal projects -- but then, like you, I see our customers are just playing games also. I mean, who really cares if product x,y,z is implemented on budget and on schedule at the customer? We do what we do to pay the bills.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Classy Sharp!
What a great ad! $1 in 1961 dollars would be what in today's dollars ... $5 maybe? $10 at the outset? How cheap that must have been ... probably little more than two posts and a sheet of plastic.
* * *
My 382 miles took me 8.5 hours of wall clock time. I probably spent 1.5 hours (or more) at various breaks and such. My butt got sore towards the end ... I got fidgety. :-)
* * *
I'm teaching a class this week in California. The attendees are 1/2 people new to the product and 1/2 people who've been to every class we've taught on this subject, several times over. It's discouraging to see the same people time after time. One admitted his purpose for being here: "It's three days away from work." Wonderful.
Lord, keep me gracious. :-)
* * *
My 382 miles took me 8.5 hours of wall clock time. I probably spent 1.5 hours (or more) at various breaks and such. My butt got sore towards the end ... I got fidgety. :-)
* * *
I'm teaching a class this week in California. The attendees are 1/2 people new to the product and 1/2 people who've been to every class we've taught on this subject, several times over. It's discouraging to see the same people time after time. One admitted his purpose for being here: "It's three days away from work." Wonderful.
Lord, keep me gracious. :-)
Monday, March 12, 2007
Adds Class AND Looks Sharp
I was reading a scan of an old 1961 Tales of Suspense (issue #19 "The Green Thing") and found this advertisement - maybe such a device could help with your wind resistance on the Wing?
:)
I love the adverts in these old comics !
:)
I love the adverts in these old comics !
Long Ride
Very nice amigo. How long did it take you and how often do you stop? I used to stop every hour or so when I was riding.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Reacting With Prudence
So for me anxiety would translate into being more careful
Makes perfect sense ... and in fact that's probably a more common reaction to anxiety or stress than is an aggressive response. Acting aggressively has its own set of unknowns, whereas a cautious approach is an attempt to operate within the parameters of knowns.
* * *
No, I don't want to be like my cat. His name, by the way, is "The Fuzz." Pretty original, huh?
* * *
My ride today:
A sum total of 382 miles. Some really pretty country, too. No pictures, sorry to say.
I had a moment of anxiety, speaking off ... coming down highway 87 from the upper-most peak of red lines on that map, the road was four lanes divided through the mountains. I went into a curve with more speed than I'm comfortable with (I was probably doing close to 90 mph). I managed to navigate the curve by throttling down and countersteering. I suspect the bike had a lot more to give in terms of leaning and countersteering ... but it still created a brief moment of panic that served as a learning experience for me.
The wide open spaces in Arizona (and the whole of the western U.S. for that matter) give people the sense of needing to go very fast. 90+ mph is not uncommon. Unfortunately, I tend to think I need to keep up. So I push the bike hard. It'll do 100+ without trouble, but my skills aren't up to that, so I must be more cautious. I must operate within the parameters of my set of known skills.
Makes perfect sense ... and in fact that's probably a more common reaction to anxiety or stress than is an aggressive response. Acting aggressively has its own set of unknowns, whereas a cautious approach is an attempt to operate within the parameters of knowns.
* * *
No, I don't want to be like my cat. His name, by the way, is "The Fuzz." Pretty original, huh?
* * *
My ride today:
A sum total of 382 miles. Some really pretty country, too. No pictures, sorry to say.
I had a moment of anxiety, speaking off ... coming down highway 87 from the upper-most peak of red lines on that map, the road was four lanes divided through the mountains. I went into a curve with more speed than I'm comfortable with (I was probably doing close to 90 mph). I managed to navigate the curve by throttling down and countersteering. I suspect the bike had a lot more to give in terms of leaning and countersteering ... but it still created a brief moment of panic that served as a learning experience for me.
The wide open spaces in Arizona (and the whole of the western U.S. for that matter) give people the sense of needing to go very fast. 90+ mph is not uncommon. Unfortunately, I tend to think I need to keep up. So I push the bike hard. It'll do 100+ without trouble, but my skills aren't up to that, so I must be more cautious. I must operate within the parameters of my set of known skills.
Motivation
During a chess match when things aren't going well for you, do you experience something akin to anxiety? Does that cause you to be more creative? Perhaps be more daring in your analysis of potential options?
Yes, in fact I will play more cautiously so as to try to get a draw, I'll try to steer the game into a known drawing position where although I may be material down, it's a draw (like K vs. K+N or K vs K+Rook's pawn). So for me anxiety would translate into being more careful, but I take your point about anxiety causing us to focus on solving a problem. I suspect it's got something to do with the neurotransmitter chemical in out brains called dopamine. From the wikipedia:
+++
Nice furball asleep in the sink ! (Kath laughed) So you'd like to be your cat? :)
Yes, in fact I will play more cautiously so as to try to get a draw, I'll try to steer the game into a known drawing position where although I may be material down, it's a draw (like K vs. K+N or K vs K+Rook's pawn). So for me anxiety would translate into being more careful, but I take your point about anxiety causing us to focus on solving a problem. I suspect it's got something to do with the neurotransmitter chemical in out brains called dopamine. From the wikipedia:
Research suggests a crucial role of dopamine in reward systems and anticipation of pleasure. Dopamine may also have a role in the salience ('noticeableness') of perceived objects and events, with potentially important stimuli such as: 1) rewarding things or 2) dangerous or threatening things seeming more noticeable or important. This hypothesis argues that dopamine assists decision-making by influencing the priority, or level of desire, of such stimuli to the person concerned.
+++
Nice furball asleep in the sink ! (Kath laughed) So you'd like to be your cat? :)
Awwwww ....
My kitty ... asleep in the bathroom sink:
And asleep on the bed:
The common thread here is that the cat sleeps. Pretty much all the time. :-)
And asleep on the bed:
The common thread here is that the cat sleeps. Pretty much all the time. :-)
Friday, March 09, 2007
Worrying a Solution
Question: why do we humans get anxious about the unknown? Why do we get anxious at all?
I honestly don't know. The old adage is, "Don't worry about it until it happens," but this is small comfort for most people. One working theory of mine is that anxiety is the work of our minds to fill in blanks. And given how creative we are, we are capable of filling in those blanks with remarkable things ... often remarkably bad things. That's my problem -- I "catastrophize" myself into a frenzy.
But going back ... what "natural selection" advantage would that offer? For me, anxiety creates an enormous amount of mental problem analysis. I toss and turn and fret and think about the problem at hand a lot. But what comes from it -- after a spell -- is usually a solution. And that solution is almost always the result of anxiety and the mental out come of that anxiety.
I'll toss the ball back to you. During a chess match when things aren't going well for you, do you experience something akin to anxiety? Does that cause you to be more creative? Perhaps be more daring in your analysis of potential options?
I honestly don't know. The old adage is, "Don't worry about it until it happens," but this is small comfort for most people. One working theory of mine is that anxiety is the work of our minds to fill in blanks. And given how creative we are, we are capable of filling in those blanks with remarkable things ... often remarkably bad things. That's my problem -- I "catastrophize" myself into a frenzy.
But going back ... what "natural selection" advantage would that offer? For me, anxiety creates an enormous amount of mental problem analysis. I toss and turn and fret and think about the problem at hand a lot. But what comes from it -- after a spell -- is usually a solution. And that solution is almost always the result of anxiety and the mental out come of that anxiety.
I'll toss the ball back to you. During a chess match when things aren't going well for you, do you experience something akin to anxiety? Does that cause you to be more creative? Perhaps be more daring in your analysis of potential options?
Anxious
did you experience some relief (if that's the right word) when you came to know for certain what type of cancer you had, it's extent, and your chances?
Yes that's true. All malignant cancer is bad of course, and the first diagnosis given for mine was incorrect, "desmoplastic small round cell tumour" of which there is little hope of recovery, the docs basically said "just go home and wait to die". I was unhappy with this but resigned myself to my fate, fortunately my sister wouldn't accept this at face value and wanted a second opinion from The Royal Marsden Hospital in London. And very fortunate for me she did, as my cancer turned out to be seminoma tesicular - highly treatable. Thanks sis :) But it's true, "knowing" was better than "not knowing" - even with the initial poor diagnosis. I wonder why?
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Question: why do we humans get anxious about the unknown? Why do we get anxious at all? Is it because this nervous feeling leads to us to a preference to avoid the unknown - and thus have a statiscally greater chance of surviving to breed? Eg. that unkown pond over there might have a crocodile in it, let's not go swimming there. And here we are, the result of millenia of such breeding?
Yes that's true. All malignant cancer is bad of course, and the first diagnosis given for mine was incorrect, "desmoplastic small round cell tumour" of which there is little hope of recovery, the docs basically said "just go home and wait to die". I was unhappy with this but resigned myself to my fate, fortunately my sister wouldn't accept this at face value and wanted a second opinion from The Royal Marsden Hospital in London. And very fortunate for me she did, as my cancer turned out to be seminoma tesicular - highly treatable. Thanks sis :) But it's true, "knowing" was better than "not knowing" - even with the initial poor diagnosis. I wonder why?
+++
Question: why do we humans get anxious about the unknown? Why do we get anxious at all? Is it because this nervous feeling leads to us to a preference to avoid the unknown - and thus have a statiscally greater chance of surviving to breed? Eg. that unkown pond over there might have a crocodile in it, let's not go swimming there. And here we are, the result of millenia of such breeding?
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