The Daniel Dennett Keynote Discusses How Thoughts are Alive

[Paco Dennis]

I followed my thought train to likening thoughts I have to actual organisms that are living creatures. When uttered through words they inner another person. So I was wondering about that idea and googled it....

 

[feywon]

i'm going to watch this later on the TV, and get back to you. i've found that if i start watching a YT that someone posted online it will show up in my history when i've got the TV on later. And tho i have ear buds for desktop i'm just more comfortable watching anything over 2-4 minutes on the bigger screen.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

I admit I didn't listen to the whole 17 minutes. I think we've come a long way when an open discussion may depict religion as a "brain infection", and there aren't fanatical demonstrations in opposition. I hope it's the realization that believers believe. And others, who do not, are not evil, satanic worshippers, but just people, who do not believe.

 

[Gaer]

Well, I'm neither a creationist or a Darwinist. but a believer that thoughts are things! Thoughts are higher, finer and infinitely more powerful than words or actions. I could get deeply wrapped in this subject,
Thanks for posting this!

 

[feywon]

I admit I didn't listen to the whole 17 minutes. I think we've come a long way when an open discussion may depict religion as a "brain infection", and there aren't fanatical demonstrations in opposition. I hope it's the realization that believers believe. And others, who do not, are not evil, satanic worshippers, but just people, who do not believe.

You have to consider the reality that many of those who mIght participate in fanatical opposition to that concept are not likely to watch many TED Talks.

Also maybe its just me, but i was more interested in the concept of thoughts as living things, not just the examples of Shaker movement or Dawkins' Atheism. Thoughts are the autonomic behavior of consciousness, (analogous to breathing and circulation in the physical body) we have to decide to impact their flow, both the course/direction and the intensity of them.

 

[Della]

Well, I'm neither a creationist or a Darwinist. but a believer that thoughts are things! Thoughts are higher, finer and infinitely more powerful than words or actions. I could get deeply wrapped in this subject,
Thanks for posting this!

I agree. Negative or positive thoughts about ourselves can impact our entire life and thoughts about others evolve into how we treat them.

 

[feywon]

I'm going to have to watch some more of Dennet's talks as well as learn about his education and background.

Couple of points worth pondering.

Both Viruses and Bacteria have "good/bad" forms with their placment in either category dependent on whether they are beneficial or harmful to other life forms, particularly humans. I knew there are beneficial bacteria, they aid our digestive processes for one thing, but had to look up to confirm there are beneficial viruses. Knowing that adds a dimension to the analogy of ideas to 'germs'. To some people concepts like equity and democracy are dangerous notions, infectious ideas

The analogy certainly functions in cyberspace. We talk of videos and internet memes "going viral". All too often people spread ideas as thoughtlessly as most spread germs. People repost what they think are meaningful insights without fully considering the meanings of the words/images, the subtext, the underlying 'messages'. People pass on emotionally loaded memes with false staements attached attached without questioning, much less checking if the statements are true.

Near the end he mentions the need to be more aware of what concepts we spread. People have said of the creation of nuclear weapons and other scientific innovations "Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.". Well just because think something doesn't mean have to utter it.

I'm not just talking about unkind or hostile remarks i'm talking about spreading ideas that could go horribly wrong if implemented with out additionally thought to making sure they are equably applied or distributed. And there are ideas i consider inherently dangerous.

My kids and i have always had wide ranging conversations, and being SciFi as well as Science fans we discuss a lot of what if scenarios. DD and i once thought of germ warfare attack that we pledged to never talk to anyone but her brothers about, that she would not incorporate it in any of the fan fiction she wrote, and i would not ever describe online. Why? Because even the remote possibility that someone with nefarious intent might stumble on it and implement it is too risky and irresponsible.

 

[Gaer]

I agree. Negative or positive thoughts about ourselves can impact our entire life and thoughts about others evolve into how we treat them.

Yes, EVERYTHING is alive! The mind sends creations from the relative which manifests as layers of energy in the atmosphere, which are creations.
And,
as Della said,
All these creations affect the entire world. These FEELINGS penetrate everything!
So, It's INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT we all lift the quality of the thoughts we send out!
After we have done that, It's INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT we strengthen our force of thought to help the entire world!
IMO

 

[Victor]

I don't trust any man who wears a pink shirt nowadays. Totally out of style.

thoughts are not truly alive, unless he means the neurons and connections in the brain. Of course they are living and this is established fact. If thoughts are alive, then the same is true for all conscious and unconscious experiences in humans and some animals. Dennet is a philosopher, not a scientist.