Brains

No magic, just neurons

The brain is that thing in your head that makes you do stuff.

"Brain: an apparatus with which we think we think." -Ambrose Bierce

The Mind/Body Relationship Summarized

The brain is the source of consciousness. The notion of mind-body dualism is rejected by materialism. It follows that free will does not exist and all of our actions are deterministic. But ethically and legally we must still pretend it does.

Other Brain Related Pages

The Psychology page has the full index of pages related to consciousness. These are the ones that focus more on the hardware side.

• Neurophysiology
• Neural network
• Free will
• Addiction
• Drugs
• Placebo Effect
• Psychedelics

Know Thyself

Understanding the basic functions of the brain should be a necessary prerequisite for life in modern society. Since we are nothing more than self-aware brains, we should be aware of how the brain creates the self. This section will attempt to provide a general summary of the most important aspects of neurophysiology and psychology needed to understand the mind/body relationship and how feedback from our environment shapes our thoughts and behavior.

Neural Networks

The brain is a very complex neural network. Understanding how a simple neural network functions is the most important prerequisite to understanding the brain. The functions are identical, just on a much larger scale.

Artificial Intelligence

Large Language Models in AI, a topic currently in the zeitgeist, are likewise based on neural networks. Observing the behavior of LLMs, from repeating misinformation to casual racism, helps us understand our own.

Make Brains Dirty Again

Brainwashing is the technique that cults and oligarchs who control the media use to control your thoughts. There are many common techniques that cults, intelligence agents, and abusers use to manipulate people. If you break down common brainwashing techniques and apply a contrarian approach, you can develop a program to reinforce agency and resilience instead of breaking it down.

• Isolation / Community - you brainwash people by isolating them from contradictory influences, creating a limited information environment (bubble) that is impervious to criticism. Engaging in community building, family, diverse friendships, and a variety of social activities promotes resilience.
• Us vs. Them / Inclusivity - demonizing an out-group is a primary brainwashing technique. Embracing inclusivity and universalism as a core principle makes it hard for demonization to be taken seriously.
• Breaking Down / Building Up - attacking the self-esteem of the brainwashing target is another technique. In the media, this takes the form of ads and shows that feature people who are way richer and more beautiful than you because they own products you cannot afford but must have if you want anyone to take you seriously. Positive psychology and the philosophy of optimism are all about building people up.
• Stupid Diets / Eat Anything - a lot of brainwashing and grift starts out with questionable dietary recommendations that deprive the body and make it susceptible to suggestion. Many cults and religions use fasting and diets to reinforce in-group identity and break down resistance. A diet rich in variety and love for all food will increase your resistance to ascetic cult diets.

See: Combatting Cult Mind Control

If You Like Brains So Much You Should Marry One

One complaint that a lot of academic philosophers has about popular neurophilosophers is that they seem obsessed with brains. It's always brains this, brains that, everything always comes back to the brain.

This is a feature, not a bug!

Of course everything comes back to the brain, because that's where the consciousness happens! Reinforcing that idea helps you get over your innate sense of dualism and embrace nondual materialism.

Brains on Brains

People using their brains to discuss how brains work. Basic brain anatomy and their functions are part of standard biology coursework and are familiar to most people. However, the study of neural networks is not typically part of a basic science education, even though it is fundamental to understanding both ourselves and the AI that we'll all soon be working for.

The Hidden Brain podcast is full of great brain-related content.

Max Bennett on the History of Intelligence

Intro to The Brain

Decoding the Brain

Your Brain: Perception Deception

Your Brain: Who's in Control?