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Follow Up: What can we learn about the Mind from Autism

Josh Alfred January 25, 2019 at 12:40 1075 views 0 comments
Two weeks ago I started a discussion on: "what can mental illness tell us about the nature of consciousness/the mind." There wasn't much talk about the subject, but there were some good conclusions. Here is the discussion:

https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/4824/how-to-relate-mental-illness-to-the-nature-of-consciouses/p1

Now I ask about a specific "giftedness" of the mind called Autism.

Here's what I have been able to come up with.

The double code theory states that mind is visual and audio code, but there is also moods and computation and other mental modes to consider.

One Autistic man has a visual intelligence greater than average, where he is able to see a scene and than draw it with great detail and great breadth. This is the VISUAL MIND:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=x3IMP0fwlCM

One autistic man has a audio intelligence greater than average, where he is able to read anything and than recall in great detail the information he has read. This is the AUDITORY MIND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u6Y8FQGSf8

These are just two examples of "autistic giftedness" that tell us at least something about how the mind works.

Others are known for musical talents as well as deft motor skills required to duplicate visuals into clay or sculpture.

What might further research into the nature of Autism confer about the Nature of the mind? Can TOMs (Theories of the mind) benefit from studies on Autism?

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