Theory of Knowledge

Philosophy

What Happened to the Stratification View of Nature?

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on November 1, 2024

Stratification theories layer the natural world from the inanimate to the animate to the animal to the human. They used to be popular, but no longer. Can they make a come back?

Stratification theories layer the natural world from the inanimate to the animate to the animal to the human. They used to be popular, but no longer. Can they make a come back?

Therapy

The Common Core of Psychotherapy

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on October 25, 2024

Psychotherapy is more about a healing process than it is matching a specific intervention to a specific problem. This blog describes the common core of that process.

Psychotherapy is more about a healing process than it is matching a specific intervention to a specific problem. This blog describes the common core of that process.

Philosophy

A Simple Map of Reality

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on October 16, 2024

How to use a "map of reality" for classifying things in the world.

How to use a "map of reality" for classifying things in the world.

Neuroticism

Bumps, Bruises, and Loops: The Path to Neurotic Suffering

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on September 17, 2024

What causes psychological suffering? This post frames it in terms of bumps, bruises, and loops. Learning to see this pattern is the first step in reversing it.

What causes psychological suffering? This post frames it in terms of bumps, bruises, and loops. Learning to see this pattern is the first step in reversing it.

Cognition

No, Human Consciousness Is Not a Result of Magic Mushrooms

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on July 29, 2024

We know the key tipping point that resulted in human consciousness, and it was not consuming magic mushrooms.

We know the key tipping point that resulted in human consciousness, and it was not consuming magic mushrooms.

Consciousness

The Hard Problem of...Psychology?

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on July 20, 2024

Is the new science of consciousness making progress? There are reasons to doubt. A new path can be found considering the problem of psychology.

Is the new science of consciousness making progress? There are reasons to doubt. A new path can be found considering the problem of psychology.

Consciousness

The Three Loops of Human Consciousness

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on July 15, 2024

What is the best way to think about human consciousness? This post helps you understand it seeing it as three loops.

What is the best way to think about human consciousness? This post helps you understand it seeing it as three loops.

Consciousness

Unpacking the Consciousness Suitcase

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on July 6, 2024

This blog unpacks the consciousness suitcase, dividing it up into creature consciousness, subjective consciousness, and self-consciousness, and providing over 30 definitions.

This blog unpacks the consciousness suitcase, dividing it up into creature consciousness, subjective consciousness, and self-consciousness, and providing over 30 definitions.

Environment

The Crisis of Psychology and the Nature of Consciousness

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on July 4, 2024

Research into the fundamental nature of consciousness is split off from psychological science. This is a bad idea.

Research into the fundamental nature of consciousness is split off from psychological science. This is a bad idea.

Attention

Is Your Salience Landscape Aligned with Relevant Values?

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on June 28, 2024

Salience and relevance are key aspects of knowing. Salience draws our attention, and relevance is what is actually important.

Salience and relevance are key aspects of knowing. Salience draws our attention, and relevance is what is actually important.

Philosophy

Is Physics All There Is?

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on June 22, 2024

Does reality really just take place at the level of physics?

Does reality really just take place at the level of physics?

Cognition

The Four Realms Versus the Four Planes of Existence

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on June 7, 2024

In The Four Realms of Existence, Joseph LeDoux frames being human as consisting of nested realms of biology, neurobiology, cognition, and consciousness.

In The Four Realms of Existence, Joseph LeDoux frames being human as consisting of nested realms of biology, neurobiology, cognition, and consciousness.

Consciousness

The Four Vectors of Human Consciousness

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on May 31, 2024

Consciousness can be described in terms of four vectors: 1) a narrating ego; 2) a core primate self; 3) a public persona; and 4) pure awareness via witness consciousness.

Consciousness can be described in terms of four vectors: 1) a narrating ego; 2) a core primate self; 3) a public persona; and 4) pure awareness via witness consciousness.

Personality

Five Levels of Personality Functioning

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on May 18, 2024

Understanding personality in a more accurate way.

Understanding personality in a more accurate way.

Deception

Understanding the Private-to-Public Filter

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on May 10, 2024

When and why do you filter your thoughts from others? The process of filtering our private thoughts from our public image is a crucial part of human consciousness.

When and why do you filter your thoughts from others? The process of filtering our private thoughts from our public image is a crucial part of human consciousness.

Philosophy

There Is a Massive Blind Spot in Our Knowledge

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on May 4, 2024

A recent book diagnoses a blind spot in our knowledge and calls for a revolution that includes human subject experience in the equation.

A recent book diagnoses a blind spot in our knowledge and calls for a revolution that includes human subject experience in the equation.

Philosophy

The Problem of Natural Philosophy

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on April 5, 2024

How do we align the natural sciences with human history? This is the problem of natural philosophy. New views are emerging on how to address it.

How do we align the natural sciences with human history? This is the problem of natural philosophy. New views are emerging on how to address it.

Religion

Religion: Why We Need to Regain a Mythos

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on March 28, 2024

Science can be framed as the justification system that determines what is, whereas religion is the justification of what ought to be.

Science can be framed as the justification system that determines what is, whereas religion is the justification of what ought to be.

Religion

What Is Religion?

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on March 22, 2024

For many, being religious means believing in a personal god. We argue for a broader definition of religion that is about shared meaning-making.

For many, being religious means believing in a personal god. We argue for a broader definition of religion that is about shared meaning-making.

Artificial Intelligence

Chatbots Do Not Hallucinate, They Confabulate

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on March 6, 2024

When chatbots generate false or misleading content, we call them hallucinations. This blog explains why that is a mistake and confabulation is a better description.

When chatbots generate false or misleading content, we call them hallucinations. This blog explains why that is a mistake and confabulation is a better description.