Here's the latest state of the art in the cognitive science of emotion, summarized in three words: Emotions are predictions More precisely, emotions are predictions generated by the brain using an internal model informed by sensory data and past experiences. What does this mean? Let's analyze that definition word by word, starting from the end: Past experiences. All your emotions are shaped by your memories of the past, categorized by distinct emotion concepts. Some of your experiences … [Read more...]
On the Power of Thought
What is the power of mind? Definitions Thought = a mental process = a conscious cognitive process Power of mind = the causal efficacy of thought = the capacity of mental processes to create changes in the world Two types of mind power Natural causal efficacy. Thoughts indirectly influence the external world through intentional behavior. Spiritual causal efficacy. Thoughts directly influence the external world through psychic forces. The second type of mind power is … [Read more...]
Why Positive Thinking Is Bullshit
I recently wrote an article on How to Live a Good Life by Doing Your True Will, and you might have noticed that nothing in that post refers to thoughts, beliefs, or the power of mind. This is because these concepts are hugely overrated and commonly misused. What makes thoughts useful is that they can be structured by reason to make plans and solve problems. Likewise, beliefs are useful if they map on to reality. And the power of mind? Well, there are psychological mechanisms like placebo … [Read more...]
What Is Well-Being? And Is It All We Care About?
If we want to know what's good for us as individuals and as a society, we must know what personal actions and public policies maximize our subjective well-being. But before that, we must know what it means to be well in the first place. Is well-being a feeling? Something more lasting? Or maybe something deeper altogether? As scientists have found, well-being is all these things—and they are less different than we think. Economists have also investigated whether maximizing well-being truly … [Read more...]
Do You Have Meaning in Life? (Take This Quiz!)
Eudaemonic Well-Being There are two types of happiness: Pleasure is short-term happiness: the hedonic feeling we enjoy while we're present to the moment. Meaning is long-term happiness: the eudaemonic sense we enjoy while we're aware of our purpose and belonging in life. In this blog post, I want to introduce some recent research on meaning in life, which rests on one key conceptual distinction. But before I expand on the distinction, I want you to take a little quiz that shows you how it … [Read more...]
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