Tag: consciousness

Hierarchical Intention and Attention in Conscious Reality Formation


A paper to help me understand the ‘Magic’ in my latest book. May be interesting to some—it does kind of explain where reality comes from 😉


We present a theoretical framework describing reality as a hierarchical system of conscious computational entities that shape quantum states through coordinated patterns of intention and attention. Each entity simultaneously exists as both a collection of smaller conscious units and a component of larger conscious systems. Through this hierarchy, higher-order consciousness creates consistent reality strands (fila) by directing both the intentional goals and attentional focus of its component consciousnesses. This framework provides a novel perspective on the quantum measurement problem by suggesting that classical reality emerges through hierarchical patterns of conscious observation rather than through physical collapse or decoherence.

Hierarchical Intention and Attention Conscious Reality Formation

Tech from Singularity’s Children: #BugNet



Wealth inequality exists between the rich and the poor.
All animals are poor.
In our world, so focused on economic worth, the gap between us and them keeps on widening.


To access to wealth, and revert some of the inequality—which has yawned like a gaping chasm since we lit our first fire—the animal kingdom needs access to the global economy.


This is the @BugNet (members only), a distributed, cryptographically secured economic protocol layer, accessible to both humans and animals via smartphone, neural-prosthetic or synthetic wealth-manager working behalf of your species.

New Scientist article Here

Literal ‘Maps of Meaning’


I’m currently listening to Sam Harris talking to Barbara Tversky. They are dealing with the roots (or maybe routes?) of human cognition. Very interesting stuff! I’d come across the concept of Grid and Place cells before, probably during a stint of random, omnivorous, browsing. Listening, it occurred to me that if the brain uses the same neural architecture to map concepts and meanings as it does locations and routes in physical space—which is what they are discussing in the podcast, hence the poor pun above—then perhaps this is why language fails so often to dissuade people of their existing misconceptions?

If the brain’s architecture treats ideas and physical space the same way… then once a ‘Map’ is internalized it may be very difficult to re-write?

You would have a hard time persuading me that a familiar river or mountain no-longer exists.

Things in the physical world do change, but slowly – or catastrophically for big important solid things. When these go, it tends to be in very tangible significant ways; like flood, fire, or eruption.

If this conjecture holds, it would explain why people are so reluctant to give up ideas which have become central, familiar cognitive landmarks in their lives.

Words are puny ammunition when used against solid real things like mountains.

Perhaps people need to see—or touch—their fallacies before they can learn?

On the bright side, rising waters and burning forests are both compellingly palpable events, so may prove very effective at disabusing people of their misconceptions.

See! It all turns out all right in the end! 🙂

 

If you enjoyed this short essay, please go over to Medium and give me a ‘clap’ or two…

More on Grid and Place cells:
“The two parts of the brain’s navigational system are roughly analogous to the split functionality of modern GPS units. Grid cells help to fix the individual’s coordinates, while place cells are believed to organize memories about specific locations. Ongoing research is probing the details of how grid cells and place cells work together.”

https://www.quantamagazine.org/brains-positioning-system-linked-to-memory-20141007/

Sam Harris Podcast:
https://samharris.org/podcasts/168-mind-space-motion