The first lesson pointed out that contrary to the opinions of philosophers in some previous centuries, humans are not rational by nature. We are capable of reasoning, but it requires training and practice.
The part of our mind that is responsible for thinking is often not engaged until after more primitive parts of our mind have begun moving our bodies toward an objective. The thinking part of the brain is left with the task of rationalizing why we did what we just did, even though that part of the mind might not have any clue.
A simple example of the primitive part of the brain moving the body before the thinking part is engaged, is a situation in which one's hand touches something extremely hot. The second the brain registers the temperature the person's hand jerks away from the heat. If the mind had to wait for the thinking part of the brain to decide what to do, the hand could be severely injured. When the brain has to rationalize why the body did what it did, this situation isn't a hard one to guess. However, not all situations will necessarily be this obvious.
According to the information at the following link, other examples of involuntary movements include crying, blinking, closing the eyes when sneezing, and a few other actions.
https://www.lorecentral.org/2017/10/examples-involuntary-involuntary-movements.html
Our brain is also programmed for us to engage in cognitive illusions, which are ways of thinking that convince us we're right when we are actually wrong.
Studies have shown that some people will give an answer that is obviously wrong in order to be in agreement with a group consensus. Some of those giving the wrong answer will be aware they are giving the wrong answer, but others will convince themselves that the incorrect answer is correct.
This behavior is called Groupthink, and it consists of sacrificing critical thought to adopt a consensus belief.
Sometimes it is only necessary for one person to challenge the consensus for some people change their viewpoints.
Cognitive biases are ways in which our brains are wired to acquire false beliefs.
There are many types of cognitive biases, but one of the most common is confirmation bias, in which the mind seeks out data that supports a currently held belief, and ignores information that contradicts it, even if that contradictory information is overwhelming.
According to the professor, "Logic is a tool that allows you to evaluate the likelihood of the truth of claims that are based on reasons given in support of them."
Overcoming my own biases to the degree that I can is a prerequisite for trying to show other people the error of their ways. I want to be prepared to examine each of my own opinions before I begin any experiments for systematically persuading others.
Dr. Drew interviewed Scott Adams recently, and Scott Adams mentioned the absurdity that Republicans went to overthrow the government on Jan 6, but they neglected to bring their guns. On the first or second anniversary of the event, that alleged oversight made the narrative appear absurd to me, so I made a "video" that was supposed to be audio from January 6, captured on a video camera from which the lens cap had not been removed. I'm posting it again just because.
While I was waiting on hold to talk with a human at the IRS, I decided to put some food out for the dogs. I set the full bag of dog food on a chair, and walked away to get the bowls. When I turned around I saw the bag slowly tipping over, spilling much of its contents onto the floor. Fortunately I had help cleaning it up.
The main task for today is to begin revising McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader. It may take a couple of weeks, possibly more. I still have to work at Publix, and next week I start a new job in the memory care unit of a rehab/nursing home facility, and I'll also be working at Publix at least one night.
After that I'll take a look at the double-slit experiment, and see if there is an interpretation that is consistent with my theory of wave physics.
Also, I came across the attached meme, which I had created two or three years (or so) ago. I thought I'd include it because I still like it.
I recently proposed a theory of matter and energy called Wave Physics. In this theory, the only things in the universe are energy and the universal membrane, which is the medium through which all energy is transfered and stored.
Tonight I realized that according to this theory, everyone and everything in the universe are connected to each other at all times. Things that would be impossible according to the standard model of particle physics, are very possible in the universe of wave physics. Psychic transmissions and the power of prayer are physically possible and make sense if the universe works in any way like the theory I proposed.
If you've ever heard the phone ring and felt sure who it was before answering it, and were proven correct, this makes sense in wave physics, but not with particle physics. If you've ever looked intently at someone, and had that person quickly turn and look directly at you (I have), that phenomenon makes sense if all of us are parts of the same vast, ...
I was only scheduled to work three days this week, so I decided to work on a theory I'd been playing around with for fun over the last few years. I'd never been a big fan of the standard model of particle physics, so a few years ago, just for fun, I thought about exploring some alternate ideas, with zero training and zero experiments.
This week I wrapped up a few loose ends, and posted it to a community I created called Wave Physics. Originally I had called it Alternative Physics, but I changed my mind, so the link still has alternativephysics in it, but the community name is Wave Physics. I'd love for people to pay $5.00 a month to tell me how wrong I am.
https://alternativephysics.locals.com/
I also posted it on my personal website:
