Intellect PlusPhilosophy of mind
12 cards. Each one is a 40-second story with a five-minute read behind it.
Gravity is a label, not an object: the power of constructsYou cannot see 'intelligence' or 'anxiety,' yet they govern how we study the human mind. In psychology, these are called constructs—mental tools that turn a messy cluster of behav…
Your beliefs and desires might not actually exist.We treat our inner lives as certainties, but some philosophers argue that 'beliefs' and 'desires' are just useful fictions. They suggest that as neuroscience matures, these common…
Your brain is a theater where the spotlight creates your realityImagine your mind as a vast stage. While thousands of unconscious processes run in the wings, only a tiny fraction is illuminated by a spotlight. This is the core of Global Worksp…
Is your 'self' just a wall built by habit?Philosophers and mystics alike suggest that our everyday identity is merely a shell. By peeling back the layers of ego and instinct, they argue we can access a 'higher consciousne…- Is your smartphone a literal extension of your brain?If you rely on a notebook to remember directions or a computer to solve equations, are those objects merely tools, or are they actually part of your mind? The extended mind thesis…
Abstract concepts are not just ideas; they are social tools.Why is it easier to describe a 'bottle' than 'justice'? While we often view abstract concepts as mere mental shortcuts, research suggests they function differently in our brains a…- Your mind is not just a brain in a jarFor decades, cognitive science treated the mind as a lonely computer housed inside the skull. 4E cognition argues this view is fundamentally incomplete. It suggests that your thou…
Does the way we measure animal intelligence reveal more about humans?For millennia, scientists have struggled to define what it means for an animal to think. This video explores the controversial methods used to measure non-human intelligence and w…
Is your conscious experience merely a trick of the brain?Professor Nicholas Humphrey explores the provocative theory that our sensations are a facade. This session investigates how consciousness emerges during human development and addr…
Will the fear of job loss stall the rise of augmented intelligence?As artificial intelligence reshapes the professional landscape, experts discuss whether human anxiety over automation will inhibit progress and what we can learn from the process …
Does consciousness define us, or is it something more complex?Following his lecture on human identity, science writer Dr Adam Rutherford addresses audience inquiries regarding the origins of religion and the fundamental role of consciousness…
To understand the human mind, we must stop using it as the universal standard.We often treat the human brain as the ultimate benchmark for intelligence, but this narrow perspective limits our understanding. Science writer Philip Ball argues that we should i…