Re: Study shows brain can learn without really trying

From: Dace (edace@earthlink.net)
Date: Fri Nov 30 2001 - 21:28:02 GMT

  • Next message: Dace: "Re: Study shows brain can learn without really trying"

    Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id VAA24808 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 30 Nov 2001 21:31:57 GMT
    Message-ID: <008b01c179e5$e58bca60$44c1b3d1@teddace>
    From: "Dace" <edace@earthlink.net>
    To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    References: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3102A6D160@inchna.stir.ac.uk>
    Subject: Re: Study shows brain can learn without really trying
    Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 13:28:02 -0800
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
    Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
    X-Priority: 3
    X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
    X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400
    X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400
    Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk
    Precedence: bulk
    Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
    

    Howdy, Vince.

    > Hi Ted,
    >
    > <I'll admit my take is Jungian, but the reality of the unconscious,
    > > collective or individual, is part and parcel of 20th century
    > > enlightenment,
    > > every bit as fundamental as E=mc[]'d.>
    > >
    > I can't understand why you would make such an obviously false claim.
    > The concept of the collective unconscious isn't even a fundamental concept
    > in psychoanalysis, let alone wider thought.

    Let me rephrase it for you. The reality of the unconscious-- be it
    collective or merely individual-- is part and parcel of 20th century
    enlightenment...

    > >> Breathing is unconscious behaviour- our brain is regulating it
    > >> making sure we do it, but we are not conscious of that process.
    > But it is
    > >> an individual thing. I do not breath because my species tells me
    > to
    >
    > <Yes, you do. Breathing is universal to the species. It's a part
    > of us that
    > > follows from our species-identity as opposed to our individuality.
    > > Whether
    > > the binding agent is morphic or genetic, we are defined collectively.>
    > >
    > Breathing, in one form or another, is universal to all organisms,
    > and thus a product of evolution (and necessity), but any individual
    organism
    > when it breathes does so individually- unless 6 billion people are
    literally
    > or psychically pressing my chest in and out without me noticing it.

    Yet something is compelling you to breathe the same way as the rest of the
    human race. That thing is either morphic or genetic. You're arguing
    against your own position here as much as mine. No one denies that we are
    individuations of something collective.

    > <The funny thing is that the subject heading of this thread stems
    > from an
    > > article discussing the importance of the unconscious in learning.>
    > >
    > The thread has been going a long time so recalling the original
    > article that set it up took a bit of thought. That piece said nothing of
    > the collective unconscious, said nothing about species memories or
    whatever
    > else it is you believe unreservedly.

    As I said, the article discussed the role of the unconscious in learning. I
    did not claim that the article dealt with the collective unconscious. You
    unconsciously projected that onto my statement and then dismissed it on that
    basis. Seems like a pattern with you.

    The *really* funny thing regarding the subject heading is that the brain
    doesn't learn anything except how to build neurotransmitters and keep the
    neurons at the right temperature... that sort of thing. We're the ones who
    learn, not our brains.

    > The unconscious simply refers to those
    > functions of the brain that we are not (normally) conscious of like
    > breathing, seeing etc.

    Ever take a class in psychology?

    Ted

    ===============================================================
    This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
    Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
    For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
    see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Nov 30 2001 - 21:38:09 GMT