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Finding Purpose

Human caring in a random universe.

Emotions
Emotions Are Key to Understanding Consciousness

Ralph Lewis M.D. on September 15, 2024

Understanding emotions may be fundamental to understanding subjective experience. Unlike other forms of information processing, you can’t have a feeling without feeling it.

Understanding emotions may be fundamental to understanding subjective experience. Unlike other forms of information processing, you can’t have a feeling without feeling it.

Emotions
How Does the Brain Actually Produce Emotions?

Ralph Lewis M.D. on September 2, 2024

There are competing theories regarding the extent to which emotions are innate, hard-wired, and universal vs. constructed by high-level cognitive processes, experience, and culture.

There are competing theories regarding the extent to which emotions are innate, hard-wired, and universal vs. constructed by high-level cognitive processes, experience, and culture.

Emotions
Where Do Emotions Come From?

Ralph Lewis M.D. on August 22, 2024

Scientists disagree on whether the cerebral cortex—the more evolved part of the brain—is necessary for conscious emotional experience, and indeed for consciousness itself.

Scientists disagree on whether the cerebral cortex—the more evolved part of the brain—is necessary for conscious emotional experience, and indeed for consciousness itself.

Emotions
What Actually Are Emotions?

Ralph Lewis M.D. on August 16, 2024

We are intimately familiar with them but defining them is harder than it seems. Understanding how emotions give rise to subjective feelings is key to understanding consciousness.

We are intimately familiar with them but defining them is harder than it seems. Understanding how emotions give rise to subjective feelings is key to understanding consciousness.

Moral Injury
Moral Courage as the Antidote to Moral Injury

Ralph Lewis M.D. on March 26, 2024

For some journalists, ignoring the crimes of corrupt or genocidal politicians, human traffickers, and drug cartels is worse than facing the repercussions of exposing such crimes.

For some journalists, ignoring the crimes of corrupt or genocidal politicians, human traffickers, and drug cartels is worse than facing the repercussions of exposing such crimes.

Free Will
Do We Have Free Will? How the Brain Makes Decisions

Ralph Lewis M.D. on January 31, 2024

As brains evolved in complexity, they acquired top-down control systems, such that bottom-up inputs cannot completely predict behavioral outputs. Does this mean we have free-will?

As brains evolved in complexity, they acquired top-down control systems, such that bottom-up inputs cannot completely predict behavioral outputs. Does this mean we have free-will?

Consciousness
The Predictive Brain and the 'Hard Problem' of Consciousness

Ralph Lewis M.D. on November 25, 2023

Predictive processing theories are unlocking deep mysteries of the mind. Solving the hard problem of consciousness will require a multifaceted approach and an evolutionary lens.

Predictive processing theories are unlocking deep mysteries of the mind. Solving the hard problem of consciousness will require a multifaceted approach and an evolutionary lens.

Consciousness
An Intriguing and Controversial Theory of Consciousness: IIT

Ralph Lewis M.D. on October 28, 2023

Here's how to understand integrated information theory, IIT. The consciousness theory is popular among (if barely understood by) the media but has polarized scientists.

Here's how to understand integrated information theory, IIT. The consciousness theory is popular among (if barely understood by) the media but has polarized scientists.

Attention
Fame in the Brain—Global Workspace Theories of Consciousness

Ralph Lewis M.D. on October 2, 2023

GWTs posit that information becomes conscious when it gains the brain's attentional spotlight and is broadcast to a global workspace. Experts like GWT; the media have other ideas.

GWTs posit that information becomes conscious when it gains the brain's attentional spotlight and is broadcast to a global workspace. Experts like GWT; the media have other ideas.

Neuroscience
Understanding Higher-Order Theories of Consciousness

Ralph Lewis M.D. on September 11, 2023

Higher-order theories of consciousness posit that mental states become conscious when re-represented by higher-order mental states in the prefrontal cortex. Here's what that means.

Higher-order theories of consciousness posit that mental states become conscious when re-represented by higher-order mental states in the prefrontal cortex. Here's what that means.

Philosophy
An Overview of the Leading Theories of Consciousness

Ralph Lewis M.D. on August 23, 2023

The scientific study of consciousness has come of age. At this still-early stage, there is a plethora of fascinating theories. Here’s a look at the main contenders.

The scientific study of consciousness has come of age. At this still-early stage, there is a plethora of fascinating theories. Here’s a look at the main contenders.

Artificial Intelligence
What Would It Take to Build Sentient AI?

Ralph Lewis M.D. on June 22, 2023

In principle, building sentient AI should be possible, given the physical basis of consciousness. Whether it’s a good idea is another question entirely.

In principle, building sentient AI should be possible, given the physical basis of consciousness. Whether it’s a good idea is another question entirely.

Cognition
Mind-Body Problem: How Consciousness Emerges from Matter

Ralph Lewis M.D. on January 20, 2023

The mind is the brain’s internal model of the body and environment. It is a physically encoded web of correlational representations of the self in relation to the world.

The mind is the brain’s internal model of the body and environment. It is a physically encoded web of correlational representations of the self in relation to the world.

Bias
Why Even Rational People Believe Conspiracy Theories

Ralph Lewis M.D. on December 8, 2022

Beliefs contradicted by evidence are not just a matter of ignorance and gullibility. Chances are that even you have found beliefs of that kind compelling. Most of us have.

Beliefs contradicted by evidence are not just a matter of ignorance and gullibility. Chances are that even you have found beliefs of that kind compelling. Most of us have.

ADHD
The Real Reason Everyone Seems to Have ADHD These Days

Ralph Lewis M.D. on August 20, 2022

ADHD is better understood as one end of a bell curve describing executive function. Relative weakness of executive function is common, and a disadvantage in modern society.

ADHD is better understood as one end of a bell curve describing executive function. Relative weakness of executive function is common, and a disadvantage in modern society.