Philosophy Wire: Brain. Monitoring. Forgetting.

In a study of epilepsy patients, researchers monitored the electrical activity of thousands of individual brain cells, called neurons, as patients took memory tests. They found that the firing patterns of the cells that occurred when patients learned a word pair were replayed fractions of a second before they successfully remembered the pair. [1] Monitoring how memory works. But why care what happens when we remember? Life is about forgetting. Monitoring what brain does. But why care for what the brain does? We are defined by the moments when our brain stands still. Look at a brain doing nothing. Can you feel all memories flowing? Look at the lake being calm. Can you sense the storm coming?

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Philosophy Wire: Cells… Doing nothing…

Scientists have linked obesity to a number of different neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression, but the exact nature of this relationship is still poorly understood, making treatment difficult. New research now suggests the answer may have to do with an overabundance of "zombie cells". Zombie cells, also known as senescent cells, are semi-dormant cells that build up in certain parts of the brain, impairing normal function in that area. [1] A simple example on how we tend to see things the wrong way. Referring to cells which cause so much as “zombie” cells. Because our lenses for life are distorted. We like to refer to "doing" in a sense of providing an outcome. We cannot see any value in doing nothing. But in reality, even when you do nothing, you do something. Or even more, inactivity is the most active thing you can do, since it is then when you do nothing while you could be doing anything. Try to stop and breath. And inside the hectically moving cosmos, you will see things which do not move at all. And it is only then that you will realize, that you were standing still all that time... 

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Philosophy Wire: Lazy…

Society has encouraged people to be more physically active, yet we are actually becoming less active. This new study offers a possible explanation: Our brains may be innately attracted to sedentary behavior. Electroencephalograms showed that test subjects had to summon extra brain resources when trying to avoid physical inactivity. [1] It is true that being active requires effort. But being inactive requires more. Look at those people running. How difficult it must be. Sweating. Gasping for air. Increasing speed. Overcoming obstacles. They think of nothing. They are not even themselves. They just run. Look at those people sitting on the bench. Thinking of everything. Pondering their existence. Fighting with their inner self. Wandering in the shadows of their dasein. Look at those people running. How easy...

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Philosophy Wire: Sahara. Let it dry.

Wind and solar farms are known to have local effects on heat, humidity and other factors that may be beneficial - or detrimental - to the regions in which they are situated. A new climate-modeling study finds that a massive wind and solar installation in the Sahara Desert and neighboring Sahel would increase local temperature, precipitation and vegetation. Overall, the researchers report, the effects would likely benefit the region. [1] People trying to control things. Because they are more afraid to control the most difficult thing: Themselves. People trying to “do something”. Because they are too afraid to do the most important thing: Accept things. Men walking through the desert. It used to be a green valley, but not anymore. They do not care. They smell the hot air. They love their life. And they feel cool under the blistering sun…

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Philosophy Wire: Be clever. Be smart. The curse of our society.

Researchers at the Universities of Bristol, Minnesota and Heidelberg showed that people with a higher IQ displayed ‘significantly higher’ levels of cooperation, which in turn led to them earning more money. Personality traits – such as agreeableness, conscientiousness, trust and generosity - also affect behavior, but in smaller measure, and only initially. The researchers concluded, based on their findings, that a society is cohesive if people are smart enough to be consistent in their strategies, and to foresee the social consequences of their actions, including the consequences for others. In other words: it doesn’t pay (for you, or society) to be just nice – you also need to be intelligent. [1]

Clever people target success.
Society celebrates success.

But it is the unsuccessful people who define the success of a civilization. It is the crazy ones which follow paths never tread before. It is the outcasts who can grasp the essence of our existence. It is the stupid people who ask the most intelligent questions. And only clever people have the illusion that they know the answers…

In a successful society, always look at the shadows.
You will find a poor man begging there.
Don’t turn your back at him.
Neither laugh at his lack of success.
Do not feel good for your success.

Because it is the last ones who will come first…

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Philosophy Wire: Brain. Signals. Essence?

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2015-02-15]: A new drug boosts the brain's signal transmission speed 1,000 times. [1] But is this what we need? Is this what we lack? Analyze the world and you will lose it's essence. Increase thought and you will lose the insight given it's lack. Increase the effort and you will no longer be able to accept the cosmos as it is. Keep on thinking. And you will stop living...

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Philosophy Wire: Frappe. The Ultimate priority!

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-11-23]: Dying after working for 3 days straight. [1] What are your priorities? Look at the sparrows. Chill. Drink a frappe. Don't do anything. And you will realize that then is when you have done the most...

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