In the previous lecture, I made a start by explaining my view on the human condition and immediately was confronted with complaints, that I was leaving you hanging because I hadn't completed my discourse.
A justified complaint, but I should not overload my audience and I need time because it is an ongoing process of formulating my next arguments.
There is one huge problem. We are self-aware. We are aware of our existence in time. But, now, try to imagine that moment in the history of mankind, when an organism opened its eyes and looked around......
and thought...."Holy Cow, where am I" ? From science and evolutionary theory, we know that it did not happen in that way. It wasn't a sudden awaking, but a process that took thousands of years.
But basically, this doesn't make a difference. We are aware of a material world around us and we haven't the slightest idea where that material world came from. It is just there, just like we are.
Where does our self-awareness come from? No idea. The only information we have is that this thing in our head, which we call "the brain", is a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of consciousness.
What we also know is some patterns in the behavior of organisms, including ourselves. In the previous lecture, I referred to the basic drive of the organism and called it FEAR.
Not a simple fear as we have for snakes and spiders, If you translate the intended meaning, you could define it as the will to live, the primal drive of survival, closely related to the limbic system.
The limbic system is the part of the brain involved in our behavioral and emotional responses, especially when it comes to behaviors we need for survival: feeding, reproduction, caring for our young, and fight or flight responses.
Let me add some fun to our serious considerations. At the moment we have an amusing conspiracy theory.......even a Dutch member of parliament is a supporter of it....
that wants us to believe that we in reality are controlled by lizards, reptilians disguised as homo sapiens.
By the way, I really have no idea why reptilians are interested in having control over homo sapiens, but guess what, maybe I found the link.
In the beginning, I laughed about it. Then I recalled some SF series in which reptilians from outer space invaded earth and used humans as food supply. Was this the background of this weird theory....???
However, let me add another perspective. Maybe this conspiracy theory finds its origins elsewhere, that is, in our brain itself. Of course, it does, but I mean, in another way.
I mentioned the limbic system, in fact, the base of the brain. We as mammals have more than a limbic system. We have parts we call the cortex.
We all studied it in a previous project and we still have the pictures here on the wall.
But let me tell you this.........Lizards and humans share similar brain parts, which they inherited from fish.
These parts handle basic body functions like breathing, balance, and coordination, and simple survival urges like feeding, mating, and defense.
Together, these parts--the brain stem, cerebellum, and basal ganglia--are casually referred to as your "lizard brain."
My basic thought for today is, that you should look at yourself as an organism that all of a sudden discovered: "I am here".
In the context of nature as we know, it is an exceptional and unique experience for an organism, but here we are
now we are super busy figuring out what we are doing here. Remember? We look for patterns and reasons...so let's continue
Thank you for your attention
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
The Discussion
[13:18] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:18] herman Bergson: de nada Beertje :-))
[13:18] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:19] herman Bergson: So, here we are...that is all I can say :-)
[13:19] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thinking your lecture over
[13:20] herman Bergson: take your time :-)
[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): do you really think that this man ( i don't mention his name) know a lot about brains?
[13:20] herman Bergson: that is not my point.....
[13:21] herman Bergson: my point is understanding the origin of this weird conspiracy theory....
[13:21] herman Bergson: was it this TV series from the 80s
[13:21] herman Bergson: Or is it really based on insights regarding the limbic system, aka the lizard brain
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): interesting idea
[13:22] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Evolution, people find each other and want to multiply. it is the same as in animals. without us the earth would be empty
[13:22] herman Bergson: I have no idea what the origin of this conspiracy theory is
[13:22] herman Bergson: not epty Bergie....
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): too much sci fi films?
[13:23] herman Bergson: that supposes that we fill the earth.....we don't...we are just here
[13:23] herman Bergson: the earth would still be the earth if we weren't here
[13:23] herman Bergson: and we are working hard on it to get that far :-)
[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): the earth doesn't care if we are here or not
[13:24] herman Bergson: indeed Beertje
[13:24] herman Bergson: It has no mind or consciousness
[13:24] herman Bergson: it thence even can't care
[13:24] herman Bergson: it just is....
[13:25] herman Bergson: you know...there is still one fundamental thing I can't understand...
[13:26] herman Bergson: we as human beings can ask the question "Where is the Universe?"
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well its around us
[13:26] herman Bergson: Sure..around us...but what is around the universe?
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): all around us
[13:26] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): maybe there are several universes
[13:27] herman Bergson: that doesn't solve the problem
[13:27] herman Bergson: all these universes have to be somewhere
[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes
[13:27] herman Bergson: But my problem is that we only can think in terms of space and time....
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:28] herman Bergson: that is how our brain works within this terrestrial context.....
[13:28] bergfrau Apfelbaum: we will know that when rockets can fly farther:-)
[13:28] herman Bergson: but asking "Where is the universe located" is so absurd and yet understandable
[13:28] bergfrau Apfelbaum: .....what is beyond the universe... probably children with their play globe
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or a locker, in a room full with other lockers (MIB)
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:30] herman Bergson: all that doesn't solve the puzzle
[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we think that the universe is very big, but what is big?
[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): maybe it's just a tiny thing
[13:30] herman Bergson: that too doesn't bring us any further
[13:31] herman Bergson: the problem is our limited brain that only can see reality in terms of space, time and matter
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we can only understand what we have seen
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we have to develop a better brain then
[13:31] herman Bergson: Within the context of this planet, that is no problem...it works
[13:32] herman Bergson: Maybe we need brain farms :-))
[13:33] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lot's of people need a better brain :))
[13:33] herman Bergson: ^_^
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): do you have the answer to this problem Herman?
[13:34] herman Bergson: which problem Beertje?
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): [13:27] herman Bergson: that doesn't solve the problem
[13:35] herman Bergson: the multiple universes hypothesis....
[[13:36] herman Bergson: hmm....
[13:36] herman Bergson: So far, I have no answer.....
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): seen that also in films and even CERN and NASA throruse bout them but
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so far just theories
[13:36] herman Bergson: Multiple universes doesnt change the problem
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true
[13:37] herman Bergson: Where is the universe located?
[13:37] herman Bergson: Everything , as we see it, has a location......
[13:37] herman Bergson: and that works....
[13:38] herman Bergson: we can give in coordinates and fly to that location...be it the moon or Uranus...
[13:38] herman Bergson: But the universe as a whole....does it have a location?
[13:39] herman Bergson: And if not.......???????? How should we understand this?
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): good question
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): does the universe has walls?
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): is it infinite?
[13:40] herman Bergson: that is the point Beertje...but then we ask...What is behind these walls???
[13:41] herman Bergson: yes...that is what they say...it is infinite....but to me that is the same as saying.....we don't understand it ourselves
[13:41] bergfrau Apfelbaum: do not be so curious!
[13:41] bergfrau Apfelbaum: lol
[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): maybe we don't want to know what is behind those walls
[13:41] herman Bergson: lol...Maybe the best antidote Bergie....
[13:42] bergfrau Apfelbaum: One day the aliens will tell us. What's behind the round walls
[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): are the round?
[13:42] herman Bergson: Doesn't change the problem
[13:43] herman Bergson: Also these aliens come from a certain location in space
[13:43] bergfrau Apfelbaum: round fits better to the world... assuming it IS round.
[13:44] herman Bergson: the simple question "Where is the earth located in space" could blow your brain
[13:44] bergfrau Apfelbaum: One day they will contact us:-)
[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:45] herman Bergson: We can define a relative position in relation to other planets etc.....but where in space are we?
[13:46] herman Bergson: are we at the bottom.in the middle...or just in some dark corner? :-))
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): interesting thought
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well we are somewhere
[13:46] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): is time and space the same ?
[13:47] herman Bergson: yes Bejiita....we have relative positions....relative to other matter...a comfort :-)
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): all is relative
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:47] herman Bergson: Holy Cow..Beertje...where did you get that question from ? :-)))
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): just thinking
[13:47] herman Bergson: wow
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well you often talk about spacetime so
[13:48] herman Bergson: moving from A to B means time
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): time is also regarded as the 4th dimension sometimes
[13:48] bergfrau Apfelbaum: maybe there is no up below, in infinity
[13:48] herman Bergson: OK...our homework for this weekend....
[13:49] herman Bergson: Answer Beertje's question "Are space and time the same?"
[13:49] herman Bergson: Hmmmm sorry....make me think...
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Ill ask my friends at LHC
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:49] herman Bergson: Beertje...the same....????
[13:49] herman Bergson: The same what?
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa just went into stable beams,
[13:50] herman Bergson: Products of our brain and sensory system?
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): if they are same thing, we often talk about spacetime but are those 2 things really one and the same
[13:50] herman Bergson: Leans to Kant
[13:50] bergfrau Apfelbaum: time was invented, space is there, everywhere
[13:51] herman Bergson: I question that Bergie.....was time invented????
[13:51] herman Bergson: Clocks were...yes...
[13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): no time was there too, but the clock was invented
[13:51] herman Bergson: but duration is a natural phenomenon....
[13:52] herman Bergson: cool Beertje....same thought
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): same with math, i say its the language of the universe but we created a way to access and view it with numbers symbols and formulas
[13:53] herman Bergson: yes...
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well the formulas, are they created by nature, at least the relations in the formulas are
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but things like fractals we can see in leaves and seashells
[13:54] herman Bergson: and as we already have mentioned in this class....THAT is such a weird thing......the relation between mathematics and material reality
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so its not our creation really,
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): fascinating
[13:54] herman Bergson: yes....!
[13:54] herman Bergson: Let's cool down now :-
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe
[13:54] herman Bergson: I guess we have been digging in our brains enough for today :-)
[13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): time to go to sleep
[13:55] herman Bergson: You were quite awake here nevertheless Beertje :-))
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki beertje
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): night on u
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hugs
[13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): hope i do more fresh thinking tomorrow
[13:55] herman Bergson: so have a good rest.....get healthy again
[13:56] bergfrau Apfelbaum: alles gute Beertje!!
[13:56] bergfrau Apfelbaum: schlaf gut
[13:56] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yay
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): danke Bergie:
[13:56] herman Bergson: Class dismissed....
[13:56] herman Bergson: Thank you all again...
[13:56] bergfrau Apfelbaum: thank you again!
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Goodnight, I hope to see you all soon
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