epiphenomenalism

Epiphenomenalism is a position on the mind–body problem which holds that physical and biochemical events within the human body (sense organs, neural impulses, and muscle contractions, for example) are the sole cause of mental events (thought, consciousness, and cognition). According to this view, subjective mental events are completely dependent for their existence on corresponding physical and biochemical events within the human body, yet themselves have no influence over physical events. The appearance that subjective mental states (such as intentions) influence physical events is merely an illusion. For instance, fear seems to make the heart beat faster, but according to epiphenomenalism the biochemical secretions of the brain and nervous system (such as adrenaline)—not the experience of fear—is what raises the heartbeat. Because mental events are a kind of overflow that cannot cause anything physical, yet have non-physical properties, epiphenomenalism is viewed as a form of property dualism.

via big think fb share – Epiphenomenalism: One of philosophy’s most disturbing ideas – sept 2022 article – [https://bigthink.com/thinking/epiphenomenalism-mind-body-problem-dualism/#Echobox=1689222027]:

What actually is the point of a thought?

This is the view of “epiphenomenalism,” and it might just be one of the most disturbing ideas in all of philosophy.

The question, then, is: what is the point of our consciousness? If we can explain all of our behavior quite happily (or “sufficiently” as philosophers like to say) with physical causes, what is there left for our thoughts to do?

to me.. that we can explain (whatever it is we’re explaining) it’s not legit us.. not legit free us.. because ie: graeber unpredictability/surprise law et al

This all stems from a key problem of dualism, which is the philosophical idea that the mind and body are different things. There is something intuitive to the idea. When I imagine a flying dragon with fiery breath and leathery wings, that is entirely different from the physical world of lizards, candles, and bats. Or, put another way, you cannot touch with your finger or cut with a knife the stuff that happens in your head. But we don’t like believing that our thoughts don’t exist. So, what are they?

The problem in dualism is understanding how something mental, nonphysical, and subjective possibly could affect the physical world and especially my physical body. Yet, it clearly happens. For instance, if I want a cupcake, I make my hand move toward it.

the problem is that we keep trying to understand everything.. graeber can’t know law et al

But if epiphenomenalism is correct, it means that our thoughts don’t add anything to the physical world that isn’t already ongoing. It means that we are locked in our heads. All the thoughts and feelings are ultimately pointless or nonsense. We are like children pretending to drive a car — it can be great fun, but we are really not in charge.

maybe that’s the point.. let go of thinking we have to be in charge.. again.. graeber unpredictability/surprise law et al

need ai as nonjudgmental expo labeling as a global detox/re\set.. from all this having to know things ness..

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• know\ledge ness
  • know – David Weinberger – too big to know – book
  • know – graeber can’t know law
  • knowing knowledge
  • knowledge as a common
  • knowledge econ
  • knowledge vs wisdom
  • knowledge – taleb knowledge law
  • knowmad society
  • knowmadic learner
  • knowmads
  • known – everyone is known by someone
  • know what to do when you don’t know what to do – Erica McWilliam – usefully ignorant

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