Current Events — HabitableZone

Current Events » in reply to Re: Our brains are not designed to figure out how the world works.

We have 4 tools to help us understand the world.
ER — (archived)

First, our senses gather information.
Second, our memory stores that information.
Third, we analyze those memories and try to come up with a meaningful plan of action based on our understanding. Whatever THAT means.

I think almost all animals have the ability to do this to some extent, although more evolved nervous systems are better at it than more primitive ones.

What we have as humans is the ability to create symbolic models of that external reality to help us understand it. We primarily use language, and lately, mathematics, to build these models. This allows us to apply formal operations to them, or we can share them with others to share information processing power with them.

Other model-making tools are religion, philosophy, culture and art. There may even be others we are not aware of. I am often amazed how much of my mental processing is done subconsciously, without even me being aware of it.

I've also come to realize that it really don't mean shit. Regardless of what I think or believe, one day a malfunctioning bit of chromosome, or a minute blood clot, or a tiny bacillus will kill me off. Forever.

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