Day: August 3, 2021

Brain, Philosophy, PsychologyLeave a comment

Epiphenomenalism: one of the most disturbing ideas in philosophy

Fernando Kaskais

Do our thoughts have any meaning whatsoever? by JONNY THOMSON Epiphenomenalism is the idea that our conscious minds serve no role in affecting the physical world. On the contrary, our thoughts are a causally irrelevant byproduct of physical processes that are occurring inside of our brains. According to epiphenomenalism, we are like children pretending to drive a car — it can be great fun, but we are really not in charge. What if you don’t matter? What if all of your thoughts, precious feelings, great dreams, and terrible fears are completely, utterly, spectacularly irrelevant? Might it be that all of … Continue reading Epiphenomenalism: one of the most disturbing ideas in philosophy

Animals, Curiositys, Psychology, ScienceLeave a comment

Play Is Serious Business for Elephants

Fernando Kaskais

Young dogs, apes and other animals develop skills needed to survive and reproduce AUTHOR O’Connell is a behavioral ecologist at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on elephant behavior and communication. O’Connell’s latest book is Wild Rituals: 10 Lessons Animals Can Teach Us about Connection, Community, and Ourselves (Chronicle Prism, 2021). Credit: Nick Higgins It was late afternoon in the winter scrub desert within Namibia’s Etosha National Park when I spotted a family of elephants on the southern edge of the clearing. I was scanning the horizon from the observation tower where my colleagues and I conduct our research at Mushara water hole. Wind had … Continue reading Play Is Serious Business for Elephants