Civilization: Dynamic and Static Societies
This was inspired by the book, Lords of the Cosmos: From Stasis to Stars (https://www.amazon.com/-/he/Arjun-Khemani/dp/1544549539)
#vlog #philosophy
Brian Appavu, MD
brian.appavu@iris.to
npub1sh22...ct5g
Physician, father, husband, and enthusiast for solutions to complex problems.
To others, we're a mystery waiting to be unraveled.
When I learn something new about somebody, it doesn't 'change my opinion of them'. Rather, it elucidates a part of the mystery I have in my mind of who they are.
My article on the 'Consciousness of Bitcoin'. It highlights how both bitcoin and consciousness are emergent network phenomena with very similar properties.
#philosophy #bitcoin #consciousness #neuroscience #mind #brain #awareness #neurology
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Political Assassinations, The Fourth Turning, and Orienting Yourself Toward Your Best Character
#vlog
A lecture-version of my article on the 'Hard Problem of Consciousness'.
#philosophy #vlog #readstr #consciousness #neuroscience #brain
My latest article on the 'Hard Problem of Consciousness'.
#philosophy #readstr #consciousness #neuroscience #brain
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Whether it's reactions to Charlie Kirk or the recent uproar over the discussion surrounding acetaminophen (Tylenol) and autism, I'm continuing to observe the same thing: We're all looking at the same observations and data, but we're not comprehending each other.
On the acetaminophen question, I don’t believe that many of the staunchly committed voices on any side are all that confused about “association vs. causation.” I think there are quite a number of people with drastically different viewpoints who demonstrate some understanding of the limits of observational studies — confounding, mediation, collinearity, and so on.
So why do we still continue to talk past each other?
I don’t think the Charlie Kirk discourse is really about politics.
I don’t think the acetaminophen debate is really about politics or even science.
I think the issue is deeper.
I think some of it has to do with our emotional processing during discourse, and the language we use when we respond. But part of it also comes down to something even more basic: whether we share the same epistemology — the way we define what counts as knowledge and truth.
And here’s the problem: most people don’t even know what the word “epistemology” means.
Yet without some shared understanding of it, I don’t see how we’ll ever truly understand each other.
#philosophy #politics #knowledge


My video lecture on the Biological Theories of Consciousness
#philosophy #brain #mind #psychology #neuroscience #consciousness
My recent article on Biological Theories of Consciousness.
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I found this interview from Ilhan Omar very emotionally provocative.
Initially, I felt a lot of anger, but I've heard a lot of terrible things said about Charlie Kirk and I wanted to explore why I found her words so provocative.
I think the weight of her words were in saying that his legacy should be "in the dust bin of history".
The thing is, if we think someone is wrong or terrible, we take their legacy as important. Not because we agree with them, but because we want to understand their motivations, errors, and not repeat the evils of the past.
We understand that it's important to understand Adolf Hitler and his writings in Mein Kampf. We understand that it's important to understand the background and motivations of Osama Bin Laden.
So why would someone want someone's ideas and legacy, which are clearly inspiring others, to be forgotten and never heard from again?
I think that reason is that to erase ideas entirely is not to defeat them. The only reason to demand they be forgotten is fear—fear that those ideas reveal truths that threaten the illusions that those individuals wish to protect.
Jimmy Kimmel firing and the future of free speech.
#vlog
This is a beautiful analysis of the film, Gladiator. It's fundamentally the story of Cain and Abel.
#filmstr #philosophy #dadstr
The article version of my discussion on the eastern metaphysical and philosophical foundations of consciousness.
#philosophy #bookstr #consciousness #psychology #health
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Consciousness: Eastern Metaphysical and Philosophical Foundations
#philosophy #vlog #bookstr
An article version of my discussion on the western metaphysical and philosophical foundations of consciousness.
#philosophy #bookstr #filmstr #health
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Consciousness: Western Metaphysical and Philosophical Foundations
#philosophy #vlog #bookstr #health #filmstr
Part II: National Tragedies and Our Unique Experiences with Empathy
#vlog
National Tragedies: Our Empathy is Limited, but Unique to Each of Us
Teamwork: Why Most Teams Fail, but the Fellowship of the Ring Succeeded
Note: This is a video I put on my Youtube page a few weeks ago, but I'm really interested in putting my content directly onto Nostr. I just got introduced to Blossom, so I'm trying for the first time to see if I can upload my videos and content here.
I hope this works and runs well. If it does, I hope you enjoy!
#vlog #grownostr
Last night, I played tag and hide-and-seek with my two oldest children. Before that, they were both on their tablets.
While we don't enforce screen time rules with our kids, we aspire toward what Aaron Stupple discusses in his book, 'The Sovereign Child', that children should be treated as autonomous individuals - as people with their own desires, capacities, and rights - rather than primarily beings to be controlled, disciplined, or shaped to conform. I worry about their screen time, but we aren't enforcing any rules on them.
However, absolutely any time I offer them the chance to play tag, hide-and-seek, or other games of their choosing, they always choose play over the tablet.
We don't need to control screen time. We need to recognize whether they are getting the interaction, relationships, and stimulation that their hearts desire.
#dadstr #parenting

