we now have growing reasons to suspect that agency is a genuine natural phenomenon. Biology could stop being so coy about it if only we had a proper theory of how it arises. Unfortunately, no such thing currently exists, but thereās increasing optimism that a theory of agency can be found ā and, moreover, that itās not necessarily unique to living... See more
the nervous system is not only a biological entity but also a complex network highly responsive to personal interests. This concept suggests that when individuals engage in activities they are genuinely interested in, their nervous system is more likely to respond positively, leading to increased focus, creativity, and overall well-being.
Our financial system is so obviously incompatible for the biosphere.... I want a lot of optionality for having anything I want.
Learned helplessness, the failure to escape shock induced by uncontrollable aversive events, was discovered half a century ago. Seligman and Maier (1967) theorized that animals learned that outcomes were independent of their responsesāthat nothing they did mattered ā and that this learning undermined trying to escape. The mechanism of learned... See more
Novel technologies like artificial intelligence or neurotechnology are expected to have social implications in the future. As they are in the early stages of development, it is challenging to identify potential negative impacts that they might have on society. Typically, assessing these effects relies on experts, and while this is essential, there... See more
The Empathy Trap: Lessons from Contemplative Medicine | Jud Brewer
āWhen we can see how being with suffering doesn't deplete us, and, in fact, energizes us... then also we can know what our limits are, instead of trying to be the hero.ā