A cascade and a contagion. Will be a continuation of the 2008 crisis but much it. Will be a continuation of the 2008 crisis but much much more. Much more. Hello welcome to visionary. Hoping will come to visionary. Hoping fantasizing believing all the same natural things fantasizing believing all the same natural things for humans. But can we choose what we believe and for humans. Can we choose what we believe and why do we believe in it in the 1st place well ask Michael Shermer psychologists why do we believe in the 1st place well ask Michael Shermer psychologist Science Writer and founder of the skeptic magazine. Science writer and founder of the skeptic magazine. Michael shermer welcome to the show its great to have you with us. Michael shermer welcome to the show its great to have you with us lots to talk about many psychologists yourself including. Lots to talk about many psychologists to yourself including say that believing improbable things is innate for humans so say that believing improbable things is innate for humans so our religion is basically and necessary mechanism that sort of our religion basically necessary mechanism that sort of. Mother nature has provided us with to survive. Mother nature has provided us with to survive be happy in reality which is often dire you know i think this road map the reality which is often dire. Yeah i think thats right in a its a strong word but what i mean by beliefs being a strong word but what i mean by beliefs being naturally born inside of this is that our inclination is to try to understand the world can have be born inside of this is that our inclination is to try to understand the world can add a to b. Thats called learning association learning whether its like classical conditioning like a to be thats called learning association learning whether its like classical conditioning like pavlovs dog or or operant conditioning like skinners rats its connected dog or or operant conditioning like skinners rats its connecting one thing to another in the environment to try and understand causality in one thing to another in the environment to try and understand causality all organisms do it so my little thought experiment is imagine youre on a hominid on the plains of after all organisms do it so my little thought experiment is imagine youre on a hominid on the plains of africa 3000000 years ago and you hear a rustle in the grass is it a dangerous predator forget 3000000 years ago and you hear rustle in the grass is it a dangerous predator or is it just the wind now if you assume the wrestle in the grass is a dangerous predator or is it just the wind now if you assume the wrestle in the grass is a dangerous predator and it turns out its just just the when youve made a type one or a false positive you thought there was a real and it turns out its just just the when youve made a type one or a false positive you thought there was a real connection has no connection but no harm you just kind of run away but if you think the rest of connection has no connection but no harm you just kind of run away but if you think the rustle in the grass is a day is that is just the wind it turns out its a dangerous predator in the grass is a day is that is just the wind it turns out its a dangerous predator your lunch youve just been munched and taken out of the gene pool so your lunch youve just been munched and. Digging out of the gene pool so my argument is that we evolved the capacity to assume that all rustles in the grass my argument is that we evolved the capacity to assume that all rustles in the grass are dangerous predators instead of just the wind and therefore we are dangerous predators instead of just the wind and therefore we tend to believe things that are not true just in case because some of them are true we tend to believe things that are not true just in case because some of them are true and therefore believing weird things by the way its called superstition or magical thinking and therefore believing weird things by the way its called superstition or magical thinking believing weird things like that is not a bug in the system its believing weird things like this is not a bug in the system its a feature that comes equipped in the software of our programming to feature comes equipped in the software of our programming to try to connect things in the environment just in case theres a real connection. To try to connect things in the environment just in case theres a real connection all right so. Youre saying believes are almost restraint by comments right so. Youre saying believes are almost restraint by common sense just like youre writing bait helps to harness an emotional horse but sense just like youre writing bait helps to harness an emotional horse but this horse well still go where and where if it once this horse well you know it still go where and where if it once are you saying that our emotional self will always take over that rational one are you saying that our emotional self will always take over that rational one yes well we are both rational and emotional that is reason yes well we are both rational and him. That is reason is a tool that we use to try to understand how the world works is a tool that we use to try to understand how the world works emotions are also kind of a tool its a way of reasoning very quickly emotions are also kind of a tool its a way of reasoning very quickly so evolution designed our emotions to drive us to do think so evolution designed our emotions to drive us to do things so you dont have to calculate how many calories your body needs it in a given day so you dont have to calculate how many calories your body needs it in a given day you just feel hungry so that emotion of hunger drives you to eat something you just feel hungry so that emotion of hunger drives you to eat something and then when youre satisfied youve had enough you no longer have that feeling or desire to be a trend then when youre satisfied youve had enough you no longer have that feeling or desire to be attracted to somebody else this is an evolved trait that helps the species perpetrated you crack to disarm by the else this is an evolved trait that helps the species perpetrated you have sex and children and so on but no one calculates exactly why you have sex and children and so on but no one calculates exactly why theyre attracted to somebody else you know the waist to hip ratio or the cement summitry ok theyre attracted to somebody else you know the waist to hip ratio or the cement summitry of their faces or the complection of their skin no one does those calculations you just feel attracted to somebody or faces of the complection of their skin no one does those calculations you just feel attracted to somebody so in that sense things emotions like anger and jealousy and so in that sense things emotions like anger and jealousy and you know those sorts of things theyre a way of reasoning about the world very quickly and you know those sorts of things theyre a way. Of reasoning about the world very quickly this call rapid cognition you just have a good to know sense about something and were pretty good call rapid cognition you just have a good to know sense about something and were pretty good about this with people for example if you have a sense like this person i dont have a good good about this with people for example if you have a sense like this person i dont have a good feeling about him i dont trust him i dont know what it is i just dont feel right about feeling about him i dont trust him i dont know what it is i just dont feel right about or the situation youre in those are usually pretty accurate feelings that we have or the situation youre in those are usually pretty accurate feelings that we have but its not its not psychic power its its a way of reasoning very rapid but its not its not psychic power its its a way of reasoning very rapidly about the environment youre picking things up from the from the environment you dont know what they are i dont know what theyre really about the environment youre picking things up from the from the environment you dont know what they are i dont know what there is but its just a feeling you get and thats actually a good trait that we have well ok but its just a feeling you get and thats actually a good trait that we have well ok let me take this a little step further lets let me take this a little step further lets talk about whats real or not at the end of the day what we do decide about whats real or not at the end of the day what we do decipher is real right because many we now and physicists. For is real right because many we now and physicists have talked to for instance he says she is suggesting that everything that we think is for instance he says she is suggesting that everything that we think is real and might just be. When you think its real and might just be. What do you think. Yeah i i dont think thats correct at the level that which which well yeah i i dont think thats correct at the level that which which we live that is the macro physical world but michio is talking about their lives that is the macro physical world but michio is talking about there or brian cox or any of the physicists that study quantum physics for example theyre talking about this or brian cox or any of the physicists that study quantum physics for example theyre talking about the subatomic particle and this is a very different world it is the size of adams subatomic particle and this is a very different world it is the size of adams if you had like a tennis ball here is the nucleus of the atom and the electrons if you had like a tennis ball here as the nucleus of the atom and the electrons going around it sort of the Energy Shield or field of the electrons going around going around it sort of the Energy Shield or a field of the electrons going around it these would be like blocks away from the little tennis ball here its motion it these would be like blocks away from the little tennis ball here its mostly empty space the atom is mostly empty space so thats why people some sleep empty space the atom is mostly empty space so thats why people new age group talk about you know this chair is completely empty or or this is a new age group to talk about you know this chair is completely empty or or this is really empty space yeah but not at the macro level at the macro level the atoms are so tightly really empty space yeah but not at the macro level at the macro level the atoms are so tightly bound that essentially this chair that im sitting in is not empty space its a sum bound that essentially this chair that im sitting in is not empty space its a solid thing thats why i dont fall through it and and have a little accident here so thats why i dont fall through it and and have a little accident here. At the macro level its not an illusion what we see and feel it at the macro level its not an illusion what we see and feel is it is a fairly active. Natural. There are some people that are there are some people that argue that are you this or this. What is it like to be this a problem of what its like to be i can get at like i cant know what its like to be a bag because i dont have sonar this echolocation system and the big old know what its like to be a bag because i dont have sonar this echolocation system and the big ears to pick up the sound bouncing up objects in the brain apparatus the ears to pick up the sound bouncing up objects in the brain apparatus to process the sound information and so on i can know what its like to be a bad abbess to process the sound information and so on i can know what its like to be a bad back cant know what its like to be me and so whatever lets say that cant know what its like to be me and so whatever lets say a thing in the environment looks like to a bat it probably doesnt look like that to me we probably have very different thing in the environment looks like to a bat it probably doesnt look like that to me we probably have very different images of what the world looks like but theyre still really as say a wall here and images of what the world looks like but theyre still really is say a wall here and if the bat is flying toward it its going to move around the wall and i see the wall and if the bat is flying toward it its going to move around the wall and i see the wall right all the while the bad he fears the wall that all the all the sensory apparatus at his deer different than the wall the sensory apparatus is different than process well see in the center at 3 am for sure our mission is different probably to weve also seen the sensor meaning from the batter mation is different between but me i mean the bat avatar was really our walls oh. Really there really are things there are things that we have to now we havent got the data around having on in the world around in the world so that so that part is not part is not an illusion thats reality so i argue that we evolve senses that an illusion thats reality so i argue that we evolve senses that give us a fairly accurate portrait of what the world is really like give us a fairly accurate portrait of what the world is really like and in the best tool we have for understanding that world is science because subject and the best tool we have for understanding that world is science because subjectively you and i may be wrong or or or distorted or you know our or you and i may be wrong or or or distorted or in our or suffering from illusions but collectively we can get an accurate picture of the world ok so well what about creativity how dass creativity of fact our ability to believe in things does that mean that the richer mention a shallow what about creativity how dast creativity of fact arab and we have the more likely we are to believe we are at stuff or not necessarily ability to believe in things does that mean that the rich are mention ation we have the more likely we are to believe we are at stuff or not necessarily i think theres a relationship between this and the believing brain i. Toyed with the idea that i think theres a relationship between this and the believing brain i. Toyed with the idea that this relationship between say madness and creativity or that that people are that this relationship between say madness and creativity or that that people are who are very open to new ideas they can they make connections that across disciplines or new fields that you and i maybe wouldnt make a but that theyre so open to new ideas they also believe a lot of wacky ideas who are very. Open to new ideas they can they make connections across disciplines or new fields that you and i maybe wouldnt make but that theyre so open to new ideas they also believe a lot of wacky ideas so for example i know a lot of really smart people nobel Prize Winners and so on they believe the weird so for example i know a lot of really smart people nobel Prize Winners and so what they believe the weirdest things like what and in part i sometimes wonder if its been so things like what and part i sometimes wonder if its been so like 911 was a conspiracy or that astrology works or that e. S. P. Is that like 911 was a conspiracy or that astrology works or that e. S. P. Is real these kinds of things that most scientists and skeptics are skeptical they think theyre much real these kinds of things that most scientists and skeptics are skeptical they think there might be something to this talk and in the believe in brain about kary mullis who won the nobel prize be something to this i talked in the believe in brain about kary mullis who won the nobel prize for his work in genetics the p. C. R. Technique of taking allays for his work in genetics the p. C. R. Technique of taking a little snippet of d. N. A. And then reproducing that its a very common technique carrying little snippet of d. N. A. And then reproducing that its a very common technique that carry most super interesting super smart creative guy he drum he dreamt up this super interesting super smart creative guy he drum he dreamt up this this solution to this problem for which he won the nobel prize while he was surfing and this solution to this problem for which he won the nobel prize while he was surfing and smoking pot and just kind of having a creative moment out in nature you know and smoking pot and just kind of having a creative moment out in nature you know. Like you and i are not going to have that kind of experience all right or einstein has this dream like us. I are not going to have that kind of experience all right or einstein has this dream of flying on a beam of light yeah whoa ok i dont have dreams like emo fly on a beam of light yeah whoa ok i dont have dreams like that but but that kind of openness and creativity might that but but that kind of openness and creativity might lead you to think well all these other things are real not all of them are real it leads you to think well all these other things are real not all of them are real sometimes theyre Creative Ideas you come up with are just bonzo theyre just great crazy theyre theyre sometimes theyre Creative Ideas you come up with are just bonzo theyre just great crazy theyre theyre crackerjack theyre not really 3 and i read so the real god here and the. Mind is to have a mind. To accept random medical now if you create a bit of ideas that no one else is up to radical new Creative Ideas that no one else has thought of that turn out to be right but not so open minded that you burn out every to be one iraqi i did it because i was but not so open minded that you believe every wacky idea that comes down the pike and so you know when people say well you know they laughed at that they laughed at gallaudet on the pike and so you know when people say well you know they laughed at they laughed at galileo they laughed at the Wright Brothers you know its like well they laughed at the Marx Brothers being laughed at does it mean you know they laughed at the Wright Brothers you know its like well they laughed at the Marx Brothers being laughed at does that mean youre right so for every galileo. Theres 10000 others right so for every galileo. Theres 10000 other scientists who had creative new i have no idea as they were wrong they were wrong and i think and these people all the these people all the time they send me they send me their letters every week of new theories that they have most of which are couple time they send me they send me their letters every week. New theories that they have most of which are completely and comprehensible so its not that being creative and having a new idea means youre clean comprehensible so its not that being creative and having a new idea means youre right and you should win the nobel prize most new ideas even in science even better right and you should win the nobel prize most new ideas even in science even by professional scientists are not right. So professional scientists are not right. So just one final point. Just because you brought up science is just one final point. Just because you brought up science is just really interesting i want to ask you because im hurt the idea that pseudo scientific really interesting i want to ask you because im hurt the idea that pseudo Scientific Research usually precede scientific revolution and people try to fill some gaps in the existing picture of the world and then the city and research usually precede scientific revolution and they will try to fill some gaps in the existing picture of the world and then the city set aside Scientific Research research this leads to the cult parish shift. Good thing does that mean that were actually in a very accurate origens of an average amount of their science and other scientific revolution if equalization if we look at that we look at that way that way. Well it depends on the field i mean most fields in the science well as are but apparently with wealthy all filled i mean most fields in the sciences are fairly well set set at this i mean theyre right it doesnt mean theyre right but here so heres how it works so you works you mention the word you mention the word paradigm so paradigm so i thought paradigm is this is sort of collective body body of knowledge knowledge that means that most of the peace of the people were people working in that scene in that field of the real degree this is pretty true these are pretty solid well supported ideas then around this is pretty true these are pretty solid well supported ideas then around the paradigm you have these anomalies that dont quite fit and what do you do with the anomaly the paradigm you have these anomalies that dont quite fit and what do you do with the anomalies well you assign graduate students to figure out what what the problem is. Some blind graduate students to figure out what the problem is. Or you know somebody has to try to work on that problem now if its if its true that you know somebody has to try to work on that problem now if its if its true that theres enough of these anomalies that build up and you have a new theory that says i can explain theres enough of these anomalies that build up and you have a new theory that says i can explain not only the anomalies but all the the core ideas to then you might not only the anomalies but all the the core ideas to then you might have a paradigm shift you might have a brand new scientific theory that overthrows the path have a paradigm shift you might have a brand new scientific theory that overthrows the past idea but the problem is that most people who think they have a paradigm asked idea but the problem is that most people who think they. I have a paradigm shifting new idea they dont they theyve gone off the rails they just think im shifting new idea they dont they theyve gone off the rails they just think they do but they dont and you never hear about these because they get they do but they dont and so you never hear about these because they get thrown out fairly early on they run experiments they dont pass the test or they dont even try to throw it out fairly early on they run experiments they dont pass the tests or they dont even try to test their ideas they just bounce them off colleagues or friends and and they test their ideas they just bounce them off colleagues or friends and and they go nowhere and theres a lot more of those that there are the famous paradigm shifting idea go nowhere and theres a lot more of those that there are the famous paradigm shifting ideas like so einstein comes up with you know his is theory of relativity that is like so einstein comes up with you know his is theory of relativity that explains some of the things that newton couldnt explain but its not that newton was wrong explain some of the things that newton couldnt explain but its not that newton was wrong if you want to get a spacecraft to the moon just newtonian mechanics is pretty much if you want to get a spacecraft to the moon just newtonian mechanics is pretty much all you need or even a mars down to some fine tuning with some general relativity and all you need are even a mars down to some fine tuning with some general relativity adjustments made but not much just not done smooth. And stand out is right about is that so its not that noone was wrong and einstein was right is that einstein added to the newtonian paradox and thats usually how it works in science if you study it added to the newtonian paradigm and thats usually how it works in science its not that this this state idea weve held on for centuries is completely wrong and when its not that this this state idea weve held on for centuries is completely wrong. And we need a whole new idea you hear this a lot. Who think they have a new idea it a whole new idea you hear this a lot. Who think they have a new idea but usually they dont so theres a reason science is so conservative. But usually they dont so theres a reason science is so conservative. We know that most new ideas people have are incorrect all right we know that most new ideas people have are incorrect all right michael that hold your thought were going to take a break right now. That hold your thought were going to take a break right now. In this. Rational. Rational. Desire for love need a thief. Is. More than a natural. More than a natural. You know we all take a language that we speak for granted its like the air that we breathe. You know we all take a language that we speak for granted its like the air that we breathe we dont notice it and in fact most of us believe that we simply perceive reality the way that it is we dont notice it and in fact most of us believe that we simply perceive reality the way that it is in fact we know it through many years of psychological experiments so thats very far from interest in fact we know after many years of psychological experiments that thats very far from the truth we dont see things just the way that they are instead the world that we things we dont see things just the way that they are instead the world that we the internal world we live in is highly constructed by the structures of our brains but our internal world we live in is highly constructed by the structures of our brains but also by the structures around languages and cultures that tell us how to put things also by the structures and our languages and cultures that tell us how to put things together. Together. And were back with Michael Shermer. And were back with Michael Shermer a psychologist Science Writer on the founder of the skeptic magazine talking about our ability to psychologist Science Writer on the founder of the skeptic magazine talking about our ability to believe and where we can get us so talking about whats real whats not to believe and where we can get us so talking about whats real whats not what about hope which is in essence i believe expecting what about hope which is in essence i believe expectation that things will play out well right so is hope worthless illusion ation that things will play out well so is hope worthless illusion as well. Hope you dont think worthless. As well. Hope i dont think is a worthless illusion at all in a way hope is a projection into the future will you no way hope is a projection into the future of a past that can go in one direction of a past that can go in one direction that is more likely to lead to our survival and flourishing rather than another direction that is more likely to lead to our survival and flourishing rather than another direction that doesnt so people often describe me as an optimist i wrote this book called the moral arc of and that doesnt so people often describe me as an optimist i wrote this book called the moral arc about moral progress over the centuries and i think we can document this in great detail you know more they will probably stress over the centuries to slip and i think 3 of you can deductibility mission at this towards ensuring greater cetane of all right all you know the abolitionists witness lehmanns or ivory the abolitionists gave torture civil rights womens rights gay rights Animal Rights and so on its its been remarkable how much moral progress or ive made Animal Rights and so on its its been remarkable how much moral progress weve made but im not an optimist in the sense that that but im not im not happy with him and that to have been a substantial im upset that that was inevitable im a realist i think the most surreal white house types think. We could all be had us dont work forget that i mean we have to work at that and so thats kind of on a collective level if you mean by hope also personally and thats kind of on a collective level if you mean by hope also personally. I think it does make a difference in terms of how you interact with the world i think it does make a difference in terms of how you interact with the world about whether youre hopeful or not in a way its a selffulfilling prophecy if youre a peddled about whether youre hopeful or not. In a way its a selffulfilling prophecy if youre a pessimist youre more likely to see the world in a negative way and then maybe that becomes a missed youre more likely to see the world in a negative way and then maybe that becomes a selffulfilling prophecy theres a famous study done on luck you know its selffulfilling prophecy theres a famous study done on the luck you know some people think theyre lucky some people think theyre on lucky as it turns out the 1st of all theres no such thing as luck that is lottery numbers are and some people think theyre lucky some people think theyre on lucky as it turns out the 1st of all theres no such thing as luck that is lottery numbers are not more or less likely to come up because youre lucky or unlucky that doesnt exist but not more or less likely to come up because youre lucky or unlucky that doesnt exist but if you self identify in a file as well as a lucky lucky person it in a way that i take your questions and youre hopeful that will that youre going to youre going to win the win the lottery or thought or your thing good thing good and something will happen teams will happen to you here turns out that peters out that people that self identified as being lucky are also score higher and openness to experience people that self identify as being lucky are also score higher and openness to experience. And an extrovert version and so and so in other words theyre more words theyre more likely to talk to people people will try new things go to new go to new places interact with new and via trying new things go to new go go to new places interact with new environments and then in that way because theyre open to experiences and theyre extrovert armands and then in that way because theyre open to experiences and theyre extroverted like to talk to other people more good things are likely to come down their path then like to talk to other people more good. Things are likely to come down their path and more our opportunities for that and to take for them to take advantage of the edge of it and then and then in hindsight they look back and go boy was i ever lucky i went to that party i met this person and we got married right they look back and go boy was i ever lucky i went to that party i met this person and we got married or i met this person and got this Job Interview and this changed my life i had this career i had a great fan i met this person and got this Job Interview and this changed my life i had this career i had a great family whatever. Unlikely people tend to be. Interviewed and whatever. Unlikely people tend to be. Introverted and they score low in openness to experience they dont like travel they dont like new in buy are dead and they score low in openness to experience they dont like travel they dont like new environments they dont like to go to parties they dont like to talk to people so theyre less likely to have opportunity but they dont like to go to parties they dont like to talk to people so theyre less likely to have opportunities that come their way and then in hindsight think oh boy i was sure unlucky that i didnt have it easy come their way and then in hindsight think oh boy i was sure unlucky that i didnt have all these Good Holdings and have good and think of things they havent and to me that at but you do you have to get out but the thats not a lot thats not a lot. Its in its in a way its a selffulfilling prophecy ok why not its in a way its a selffulfilling prophecy ok why not bring our dreams in that sense and enough to flatten the engine ation our dreams or that sense and then ask this platinum engine ation or scope for a reality when they can drink dreams tree or a scope for reality when they can drink dreams dreams are still dreams are super interesting ok so just Bigger Picture we all have to sleep evans theres dreams are super interesting ok so just Bigger Picture we all have to sleep every night 8 hours youve got a good 8 hours super important a good pre night 8 hours youve got a good 8 hours super important a good portion of that 8 hours is going to be spent in rem sleep r. E. M. Rapid Eye Movement Sleep or short of that 8 hours is going to be spent in rem sleep r. E. M. Rapid Eye Movement Sleep this is sometimes called paradoxical sleep because your body is super relaxed and this is sometimes called paradoxical sleep because your body is super relaxed and deeply asleep but your brain all of a sudden becomes kind of active when you wake people up in those states deeply asleep but your brain. You know all of a sudden becomes kind of active when you wake people up in those states they go i was having a dream ok so dreams are a kind of kind of a waking state in the sleep in which your your brain is mostly asleep but a part of it is the go i was having a dream ok so dreams are a kind of kind of a waking state in the sleep in which your your brain is mostly asleep but a part of it is very active now what is it dreaming about. Mostly its just very active now what is it dreaming about. Mostly its just random firing ok this couple kinds of dreams that one kind of dream is sort of rehearsed in the days of random firing and so ok theres a couple of kinds of dreams that one kind of dream is sort of rehearsed in the days events and we think that has to do with lame down memory tracks so you have short term memory events and we think that has to do with a lame down memory track so you have short term memory and then you have long term memory in those this in between kind of memory and that that and then you have long term memory in those this in between kind of memory and that that the dream that one kind of dream is to kind of rehearse the days events and lay down memory tracks the dream that one kind of dream is to kind of rehearse the days events and lay down memory tracks so that theyre more permanent they get shifted into long term memory but a 2nd kind of dream is where theyre so that theyre more permanent they get shifted into long term memory but a 2nd kind of dream is where theres these kind of random firings between different areas of the brain and you have kind of a just these kind of random firings between different areas of the brain and you have kind of a general narrative storyteller its in the left hemisphere that kind of tries to straddle narrative storyteller its in the left hemisphere that kind of tries to string all those impulses together into a narrative story that makes sense and bring all those impulses together into a narrative story that makes sense and so these are the kind of crazy dreams we have like in the film the wizard of oz where door and so these are the kind of crazy. Yes we have like in the film wizard of oz where dorothy has this fantastic dream of going to this this world with with with with he has this fantastic dream of going to this this world with with with witches and midgets and and you know golden patches and midgets and. You know golden pads and and then the you know that you know the cowardly lion in the scarecrow and that adds and and then the you know that you know the cowardly lion in the scarecrow and i turn out to be her uncles and family members and at the end of the movie shes saying oh boy i had to turn out to be her uncles and family members and at the end of the movie shes saying oh boy i had this incredible dream and toto the dog was there and you were there and you were there and saw that 6 incredible dream and toto the dog was there and you were there and you were there and saw thats a kind of dream that we have that we cant make sense of like boy that was really weird kind of dream that we have that we cant make sense of like boy that was really weird ok what does it mean nothing it doesnt mean anything those are just ok what does it mean nothing it doesnt mean anything. Those are just random dreams and then finally there are the kind of dreams weve all had that are related to random dreams and then finally there are the kind of dreams weve all had that are related to things youre anxious about and so these are often frustrating dreams like youre trying to run away things are anxious about and so these are often frustrating dreams like youre trying to run away from a threat and you cant run youre going super slow or you show up at work or school a from a threat and you cant run youre going super slow or you show up at work or school if youre a student you dont make it or you dont have your homework assignment or youll if youre a student you dont make it or you dont have your homework assignment or you know youre missing this or that it and you cant its just those are kind of reflect youre missing this or that it and you cant its just those are kind of reflective things were anxious about or worried about in the real world so active things were anxious about or worried about in the real world so what youre thinking about as you fall asleep apparently does make a difference what youre thinking about as you fall asleep apparently does make a difference so theres this new area of sort of trying to control your lucid dreams and waiters this new area of trying to control your lucid dreams in which you as you fall asleep you think im going to dream im going to try to dream about chu as you fall asleep you think im going to dream im going to try to dream about this and you maybe write it down or whatever and some people claim that they have 6 this and you maybe write it down or whatever and some people claim that they have success in determined s. And what it did returning to me they had what kind of 3 themes they never tried this ive never i dont think i this its i think its possible it possible in the sense that in the sense that what youre thinking about what just as you think fucking a lot into snow just as you follow. If you do sleep influence at least the initial dreams that you have ok thats really interesting influence at least the initial dreams that you have ok thats really interesting so in the eightys there was a psychologist Thomas Landauer and so in the eightys there was a psychologist Thomas Landauer and he measured that an individual brain can store only one and he measured that an individual brain can store only one gigabyte of knowledge and not rest smartphone right now can store tens of ton of gigabyte of knowledge and not rest the smartphone right now can store tens of times more information that means that we have no idea about lots of things around us and it was more information that means that we have no idea about lots of things around us and to make you know decisions or form opinions about the things we dont know anything about to make you know decisions or form opinions about the things we dont know anything about we have to rely on other peoples opinions which are based on other peoples opinion we have to rely on other peoples opinions which are based on other peoples opinions and so on and so forth so without the ability to get knowledge 1st scenes and so on and so forth so without the ability to get knowledge firsthand are we inevitably locked in this sort of trap of wrong judge hand are we inevitably locked in this sort of trap of wrong judgments well theres a couple things back there 1st of all the runs. Ok theres a couple things to unpack there 1st of all that 1st study you mentioned this is this is almost surely related to this myth that that 1st study you mentioned this is this is almost surely related to this myth that we only use 10 percent of our brain yes or our brain can only store so much information and so on we only use 10 percent of our brain yes our brain can only store so much information and so on yeah now most of thats not true how much tell your larger one yeah now most of thats not true how much tell your larger point is true that is we are all we use all of our brain when you say it is true that is we are. We use all of our brain when you scan a subjects brain an m. R. I. The whole thing is active and so to scan a subjects brain an m. R. I. The whole thing is active and so to measure somebodys brain activity you have to give them a specific task to do usually they have a little to measure somebodys brain activity you have to give them a specific task to do usually they have a little keyboard inside the scanner they have to pick between a and b. Or this image that image that caused the keyboard inside the scanner they have to pick between a and b. Or this image of that image and that causes the blood to shift from one area to the other the whole brain is active yet to get it to be even more active so the blood shift from one area to the other the whole brain is active yet to get it to be even more active so now what portion of the brain so we use all of our brain now but your larger point i think now what portion of the brain so we use all of our brain now but your larger point that i think is true that is we are very limited in both processing is true that is we are very limited in both processing speed and total memory capacity now we dont know what the total capacity is because the speed and total memory capacity now we dont know what the total capacity is because were still understanding memory and whether its things that are stored are still in there somewhere and you are still understanding memory and whether its things that are stored are still in there somewhere and you can recall them or if theyre gone forever there are some in between states but that aside your you can recall them or if theyre gone forever there are some in between states but that aside youre more important point is that we do have technologies for storing more information more important point is that. We do have technologies for storing more information and processing it x. Turn away so this is called the and also extend the. Current so this is called the the extended mind and your cell phone is one your family members and friends your community your and your cell phone is one your family members and friends your community your society the entire media the entire internet is another place to store Information Society the entire media the entire internet is another place to store information and process information that you dont have to rely on just your brain so one theory and process information that you dont have to rely on just your brain so one theory about how humans became as dominant a species around the globe as me about how humans became as dominant a species around the globe as we have is that were very social and that we have the capacity we have is that were very social and that we have the capacity to Exchange Information through symbolic language through community to Exchange Information through symbolic language through communication initially just verbal e. But then through writing this is get occasioned initially just verbal e. But then through writing this is giving us the edge over all other species that can do this no matter how smart they are giving us the edge over all other species that can do this no matter how smart they are they do not have the capacity to share that information in the kind of detail that we can they do not have the capacity to share that information in the kind of detail that we can at such an extent so the idea that you know this idea at such an extent so the idea that you know this idea of wisdom that older people or why this actually has a good point in it in as much as before wisdom that older people are why. This actually has a good point and in as much as before there was writing elder stored information from the kind of commuter there was writing elders stored information from the kind of Community Memory going back multiple generations so as your unity memory going back multiple generations so as youre young and coming up you rely on your grandparents or the great grandparents or the young and coming up you rely on your grandparents or the great grandparents or the elders in the community to tell you what it was like 50 years ago when the glade elders in the community to tell you what it was like 50 years ago when the glacier was they are now its not there anymore or whatever youre taught youre worried about thats a culture was they are now its not there anymore or whatever youre youre youre taught youre worried about thats a kind of stored information that you cant have in your brain that other people can have and of stored information that you cant have in your brain that other people can have and we can share that and you know you talk about paradigm shifts earlier if theres any paradigm that we can share that and you know you talk about paradigm shifts earlier if theres any paradigm shift were going through now its in communicating knowledge and information if were going through now its in communicating knowledge and information at really in real time at the speed of light in which you know its an at rate in real time at the speed of light in which you know it soon every Single Person on the planet all 7 and a half 1000000000 of us will have to know every Single Person on the planet all 7 and a half 1000000000 of us will have access to all the worlds knowledge instantly for free of access to all the worlds knowledge instantly for free that is never been the case in Human History that is. That is never been the case in Human History that is something people call it the singularity Something Big is right now some people call it the singularity Something Big is right now. We have of course theres a downside. We have of course theres a downside. Good for your eyes not good for your brain not good for your social life so theres a downside good for your good for your brain good for your social life so theres a downside to that but as a tool you know its a game changer for sure but as a rule you know its a game. Dissenters be. Dissent is being criminalized speech is being arrested just Max Blumenthal energy criminalize speech is being arrested just asked Max Blumenthal editor of the gray zone project and a leading investigative journalist increasingly questioner of the grays own project and a leading investigative journalist increasingly questioning Mainstream Media narratives and interrogating policymakers can get you back in the Mainstream Media narratives and interrogating policymakers can get you banned monetized and even arrested. And monetized and even the rest. Of the callender some. Cooked additional submersed so i know what was it gets up there to look at some of these its just a butcher looking its nice to know its just a butcher looking its nice to know. Who is doing it. Simply yes. See him do you have seen him if you can also post me. Look with a showing at the scene in my future notional post. Look with a showing of the where scully see his last 2 in the church. And hes like a pickle ship to ship a skeleton is lost when the church. Hes like a pickle ship you know youre pushing 30. Bolts of shipping. Youre pushing 30. Bolts of shipping. You up and most of the book hit the roof of the bus and you will actually be up and most of the book hit the roof of the bus and you will have still to see you know i dont know what that for. George bush you know i dont know what that or. If it was the latest news in the protests. If it was the latest news in the protests. Stop us no worries and all right so you have put this. Stuff no worries and all right so you have put this was going to say. Lyricists release or in the story this was going to do some. Ministers through the summer in the story yeah the soulful get over it but it does. Today. There are some good wouldnt it is just the magic that it seems the bad. News is on the losing to many and then. Just as deems to be a threat to the good those who are in syria the cias deems to be a threat the looked at it is those who are in syria the cia and the us military were engaged in covert actions really throughout the world and the us military were engaged in covert actions really throughout the world. Where they were assassins from a dating populace was leaders leaders they were back they were back in the conduct of right with right away military militaries when there is going to be fun funding and arming an army moment. There is no confidence and then one more because theres always a small people for one really good thats because theres always a small people or a really good this is true prophet. And true prophets. Have. The Power Company in california is accused of starting the devastating wildfires now company in california is accused of sponsoring the devastating wildfires now breaking through parts of the state. And israeli soldier the fake 3 parts of the state. An israeli soldier who frankly shot a palestinian teenager is sentenced to just one month of Community Service totally shocked a palestinian teenager sentenced to just one month of Community Service we can speak to the boys found that. The soldiers didnt get a punishment weve been speaking to the boys about midday. The same. His colleagues. Over. His colleagues. Over on the. Court in the us rules the embryos all property. And a court in the us rules that embryos all property not human lives needing to feed to debate in the u. S. Human lives leading to heated debate in the us. Well those are the headlines and thats it for me andrew from will be here with you next hour with all the headlines and thats it for me andrew from will be here with you next hour with the latest news from around the world and stay with us for crosstalk next here on r. T. International the latest news from around the world stay with us for crosstalk next here on r. T. International
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