I might be wrong, but… This discussion reminded me of Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink", which argues for paying more attention to what this piece refers to as "System 1". That rapid-response part of our brain may have more value to us than our rational minds want to give credit.
Also, it put me in mind of an excellent episode of Radiolab (http://www.radiolab.org/2008/nov/17/) that dealt with the seeming independence of emotional "thought" from rational. Dave On May 29, 2012, at 11:20 AM, David Brin wrote: > > The one area where Sigmund Freud offered breakthrough insights of profound > and permanent value was by demonstrating conclusively that the unconscious > mind exists, that it has agendas that often differ from our surface > rationalizations, values and proclaimed beliefs, and that it can affect our > decisions and biases before we even begin consciously weighing them. Alas, > like so many other brilliant men, Freud went on to make unjustified leaps of > elaboration that - ironically - erupted out of his own tortured unconscious. > Still, science is continuing the verify the origical insight. This > rumination discusses how difficult it is to be sure we are being truly > rational. Take it as a caution. And repeat the sacred statement of science. > “I might be wrong.” > > From: KZK <evil.ke...@gmail.com> > To: brin-l@mccmedia.com > Sent: Tue, May 29, 2012 8:56:58 AM > Subject: Brin: Debunking the Myth of Intuition > > http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/interview-with-daniel-kahneman-on-the-pitfalls-of-intuition-and-memory-a-834407-druck.html > > ... > Kahneman: Yes. Psychologists distinguish between a "System 1" and a "System > 2," which control our actions. System 1 represents what we may call > intuition. It tirelessly provides us with quick impressions, intentions and > feelings. System 2, on the other hand, represents reason, self-control and > intelligence. > > SPIEGEL: In other words, our conscious self? > > Kahneman: Yes. System 2 is the one who believes that it's making the > decisions. But in reality, most of the time, System 1 is acting on its own, > without your being aware of it. It's System 1 that decides whether you like a > person, which thoughts or associations come to mind, and what you feel about > something. All of this happens automatically. You can't help it, and yet you > often base your decisions on it. > > SPIEGEL: And this System 1 never sleeps? > > Kahneman: That's right. System 1 can never be switched off. You can't stop it > from doing its thing. System 2, on the other hand, is lazy and only becomes > active when necessary. Slow, deliberate thinking is hard work. It consumes > chemical resources in the brain, and people usually don't like that. > ... > > ----- > "It’s cheap to maintain Lies and expensive to maintain Trvth." > --KZK's Maxim > > _______________________________________________ > http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com > > _______________________________________________ > http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com >
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