Brain Science Podcast discussion

I commend to your attention this week's story from the science fiction podcast Escape Pod, titled "Dead Merchandise".

It's a pretty dark take on the future application of brain science. I have some doubt that brain science on its own will get to the point described in this story, but brain science combined with Big Data aggregation may well do so. It's an interesting take, and I'd be interested to hear what people think of it.

I listened. Dozed once. Sorry. Neat story, though. I see science providing a larger, more dynamic environment for us and the mind to dwell in. It's just evolution. Socrates did not like written language. The church did not like the printing press. I don't see any reason to be afraid of things or be negative. Google presents different search results to people based on profiles accumulated on their servers. So what? The whole internet cannot be viewed. We do not have the wherewithal individually to look at all possible information, pick, choose, and make decisions. Google is now part of mind. The definition of mind has expanded to include Google, just as embodiment explains mind in other contexts. Go with it. Be happy. These are exciting times with neat things to experience and ponder.

For an example of what I mean by expanded/embodied mind see the video for the next generation of Google maps at: https://maps.google.com/help/maps/hel... .

How does the definition of mind for starving people in Ethiopia compare with that of people in the USA who have internet access? In either case I don't think mind can be separated from environment, and Google is an example of mind including environment, whatever that may be.

Another example is what I found today. Someone in a Facebook group I belong to posted about someone who died, with a link to that person's 1947 5th grade class. That was before I was born. Upon viewing the link I clicked on another link about the school. Amazing! A building I didn't even know about. This is an example of memory and another way the mind is expanded.

How is the memory from the internet similar to personal memory recalled from the brain? It's much the same I think, if self is understood to be an illusion as Bruce Hood describes. I also think this gives consistency to mind in a historical perspective. Is mind different in past civilizations? I do not think so.

Neuropath - Scott Bakker

It's a little dated but one of my favorites. The fact that the author nearly always disowns it now but yet pursues the philosophic implications of the Blind Brain Hypothesis relentlessly (working on a title called Through the Brain Darkly) makes me wish Dr. Campbell might approach him for an interview. Easily as intelligible and well-spoken as my many idols Dr. Campbell already interviews.