Month: August 2009

quotes

Quote #246 “Mostly a nap”

Post author By tom
Post date August 26, 2009
No Comments on Quote #246 “Mostly a nap”

I don’t think, as a matter of fact, that I’m going to benefit from anything on this earth. It’s more like that, I mean, if you have love on the earth, that seems to be number one. There’s food, water, air and love, right? And love is just basically heartbreak. Human’s can’t live in the present as animals do; they just live in the present. But human’s are always thinking about the future or the past. So, it’s a veil of tears, man. And I don’t know anything that’s going to benefit me except more love. I just need an overwhelming amount of love. And a nap. Mostly a nap

Townes Van Zandt

events

York Cafe Scientifique 2/9/09: The Learning Brain

Post author By tom
Post date August 23, 2009
No Comments on York Cafe Scientifique 2/9/09: The Learning Brain

On Wednesday the 2nd of September I will be speaking at York Cafe Scientifique about ‘The Learning Brain’. This is what I promised to talk about:

Your brain is not fixed clockwork, but an ever changing economy of abilities, habits and desires. Everthing we do, every thought and experience, changes the brain and how we think and feel in the future.
Dr Stafford will talk about the discoveries psychologists and neuroscientists have made that reveal just how changeable the brain is, the astonishing ability it has to learn and cope with astounding injuries. Using examples taken from everyday life, he will evidence how the brain’s capacity to learn has a surprising influence on our behaviour. Why do people insist that coffee tastes better from their favourite cup? Why do people compulsively check their email? How do your reduce prejudice? These and other questions will be considered from the perspective of The Learning Brain.

Venue: City Screen Picturehouse, Basement Bar, York
Time:7.30 – 9.00
Details: here

quotes science

Quote #245

Post author By tom
Post date August 17, 2009
3 Comments on Quote #245

The lesson I draw … is that a uniform ‘scientific view of the world’ may be useful for people doing science – it gives them motivation without tying them down. It is like a flag. Though presenting a single pattern it makes people do many different things. However, it is a disaster for outsiders (philosophers, fly-by-night mystics, prophets of a New Age, the “educated public”). It suggests to them the most narrowminded religious commitment and encourages a similar narrowmindedness on their part

Paul Feyerabend, in ‘Against Method’ (third edition, chapter 19). ‘the “educated public” is included in the list in his ‘Conquest of Abundance‘, in which this section is repeated with a few changes.

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