No, they don't. Scientific theories are formed as the result of many repeated experiments and the gathering of observations. They are characterized by...
It seems you are saying modern democratic trends are more in line with our evolutionary trends than is autocracy. Yet, for most of human history, rule...
I'm sure that this can be part of the process, but it is not required. Every person of faith has formed a theory of mind about what is in the mind of ...
But it relies more and more on neuroscience – understanding the structure and function of the brain – using techniques like brain imaging. Something m...
It's more than that. "Theory of mind" is a well-established and supported piece of psychological information that has been the subject of scientific r...
It is no more a story than atomic theory, gravity, thermodynamics, or cell theory. Stories come from the imagination. Scientific theories come from ev...
It's not telepathy. it's your brain working. Who said it does not require experience and sensory input? Re-read my posts. Right now, I have a theory o...
I feel that you have ignored all that I have said about theory of mind and remain close-minded to understanding it. I repeat - it's not about reading ...
There are some things said here which I must question. First of all, understanding the definition of a scientific theory. It is not a "hunch" - but a ...
Yeah, that would require we verify the thoughts of 8 billion people. Maybe in some weird sci-fi movie… I think that’s why I had some trouble with the ...
Well, some “beliefs’ are more supported than others. “Theory of mind’ is what the psychologists call it. But, it’s true, you cannot have a belief in a...
No, probably not. But, political systems provide the conditions that determine whether progress can be made or not. Only democracies, with representat...
You have changed the terms, and with that have changed the definition. We are not talking about an understood “concept” but rather a “theory.” And the...
This seems to be the key. Einstein termed it "combinatory play" - the secret of genius, and the essential feature of productive thought. Quoted from t...
I could not agree more. But the problem is, how do we get them all to listen? Anti-intellectualism has a long and brutal history, from Socrates to Gal...
I said reason, not reasons. The ability to think things through. Our evolution did not produce an automaton. It produced a species with enormous imagi...
Trump’s words and deeds in trying to overturn the 2020 election constitute a criminal scheme. On August 1, 2023, a grand jury of everyday Americans, c...
A problem arises when, even presented with the truth, a certain part of the population will prefer comforting lies. We see it in religion and politics...
At the same time, the theory of evolution allows for a wide degree of variation with the species. It recognizes spectrums of traits and characteristic...
More likely in the most recent common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees, which lived about 6-8 million years ago. Theory of mind does not refer to th...
Well put. Clearly, the first two examples are subjectively decided, whereas the last two examples are objectively decided. And a subjective point-of-v...
I agree, and see I need to backtrack on my comments a bit. What the above observation brings to my mind is our great creative power. The mind can crea...
The scientific research into nonhuman animals’ theory of mind (ToM) goes back decades and there is no consensus. But do I think a dog can interpret an...
The origins of both theory of mind and empathy go back about 5-6 million years ago. The species Homo sapiens dates back about 200,000 years ago. That'...
Well, the first thought is usually instinctual and made without thought. The more thought we put into, the more considered and reasonable our reaction...
I think I understand you, and I do appreciate your optimistic position. You are suggesting we need to “evolve beyond our evolution.” But when I see a ...
I'm not sure this correctly represents my view, or if that is what it seems, I did not intend that. "Rationale" suggests justification, or excuses bad...
Not just genetics, as the environment definitely plays a role. We are a responsive creature. Even our brains grow in response to the stimuli they rece...
Our need to belong to a group goes way further back than the dawn of culture and language. We can never be free of our evolution. it's like taking the...
My claim is that we are the result of our evolution - but it produced wide spectrums of behavior, emotions, aptitudes, perspectives, intellect, abilit...
I didn't equate theory of mind to empathy. I said empathy is one trait that depends on theory of mind. I never said it was. You are the one conflating...
Well, there are times when we don't, at least not the initial response, I guess. When we think through that initial reaction that tells us "I should p...
No, you’re right, “theory of mind” does not have to do with reading sensory clues, or recognizing emotional states, which is what you are describing. ...
Thank you for the opportunity to expand on my answer. First – I have had dogs comfort me! I always looked on my dogs as my babies. But the “theory of ...
An important way in which humans differ from all other animals is our highly evolved "theory of mind" - a mental capacity that allows us to make infer...
No, Jack Smith's immunity filing in the case of The United States v. Donald J. Trump, if nothing else, becomes an important historical document for fu...
Good catch, but an important difference in Phaedrus is vitalism - the existence of the soul - which opens up a whole new category of questions. The ch...
Yes. I really like Jonathan Haidt's metaphor of the elephant and the rider. The elephant is our instinctual, emotional self, and our rationality is th...
Lol, no, that's not what I meant. But boys are attracted to girls, and girls are attracted to boys, and it is a story as old as the species. I see no ...
I can see no benefit in this. If our greatest source of pleasure is to spend time with those we love, why would we want to cut that out of our lives? ...
If we are speaking in terms of identity, then clearly your identity is a function of the brain. The body is merely a support structure to house the br...
I may not have made myself clear. We are neurologically hard-wired to form bonds. This isn't about deciding to be social or not, this is the inherent ...
I was talking about human nature and instincts in general, and the overall scheme. Sorry, I have no idea how this follows from anything I have said. T...
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