Cognitive Science Rescues the Deconstructed Mind | John Vervaeke | TEDxUofT

Dr. John Vervaeke shows how modern science has broken our understanding of the mind into multiple incompatible fragments, from anthropology, to biology, and sociology, and more. However, with cognitive science, we can begin to put the mind back together again. Dr. Vervaeke has been teaching cognitive science since 1994 and is one of the most cherished professors at the University of Toronto. Dr. Vervaeke has been teaching at the University of Toronto since 1994. He currently teaches in the Cognitive Science program, the Psychology department, and the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health program. He has won and been nominated for several teaching awards including the 2001 Students’ Administrative Council and Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students Teaching Award for the Humanities, and the 2012 Ranjini Ghosh Excellence in Teaching Award. His most recent publications include Relevance Realization the Emerging Framework in Cognitive Science (2012) with Tim Lillicrap and Blake Richards, and a forthcoming chapter entitled Relevance, Meaning, and the Cognitive Science of Wisdom with Leo Ferraro. His research interests are relevance realization, insight problem solving, general intelligence, consciousness, mindfulness, rationality, and wisdom. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@antoniobarbalau1107]

The awakening from the meaning crysis series is the best lecture series I have ever seen. It is just beyond comprehension how a human being can go so deep into these matters and present them to the large public in an inteligeble manner. Prof. Vervaeke is a pure genius ♥️ I whole heartedly recommend this series

[@ElvisWoods]

I just found it about 1 week ago, just finished Ep 23....I'm addicted

[@alekseibarulin3511]

Thank you for recommendation.

[@Skyscraper21]

It's really worth to go through ALL of it

[@badreddine.elfejer]

It's so generous of him

[@reniaesaddler8632]

💯 The modern mind IS fragmented. As fragmented as we are from each other. There is nothing that unites us, nationally or globally. We have forgotten our human dignity, our souls, but it’s the things of the soul which can unite us.

[@Jacob011]

Nice preface to the Awakening from the Meaning Crisis series.

[@emmanueloluga9770]

iNDEED IT IS...sort of an allusion to the recombination of the fragmentation he emphasizes through\out this video

[@hamedmoradi5291]

In a sense Cognitive Science embarks upon the project that Existential Psychology undertook, namely to see man as a whole and not as fragmentized and compartmentalized elements.

[@mentalsquirt1423]

well it would be more appropriate to say that to see a man/mind as a whole and postulate that it's not the same as a sum of each individual smaller part is actually a main claim of Gestalt psychology, though Existential psy partly contains pretty common concept, but it mainly concentrates on the uniqueness of human self, uniqueness of every moment and believes in freedom of every human life choices, as well as values reason and cause of those decisions (those who have their "why" will stand almost any "how")

[@metasamsara]

Object oriented programming will carry humanity once we discover how to use it not only to translate human concepts, but to expand human awareness with more possibilities like a machine.

[@pederslothzuricho7685]

@@metasamsara that statement makes very little sense, do you even know what object oriented programming is? Or would you like to rephrase it perhaps?

[@metasamsara]

​@@pederslothzuricho7685 What I meant is we will figure out how to create a language dedicated to communication that will make use of the structure we use in object oriented programming, that being that every block is modular and can affect the rest of a sentence with its own logic I guess... My point is that OOP can do a lot of stuff to convey meaning that our regular languages can't, and I believe that eventually we will figure out how to take advantage of that property to create a new more powerful language. It's not easy to put words on such a new concept, but basically what I mean is that language would be modular in the sense that it could re-use conceptual patterns to talk about anything you would pass as an argument to a concept. It would avoid awkward phrasing by making more complex concepts much easier to convey/grasp due to a different type of structure and replacing grammar with a non-primitive version of that concept that actually serves a helpful purpose beyond a correct spelling and syntax. Basically a better encoding of communication to be more efficient and push our cognitive limits as a human race. No more "lost in translation", no more misconveyed emotions, no more rambling. Straight to the point informations that carries itself and its own meaning so nothing is left to interpretation.

[@metasamsara]

@@john85132 Sure, constructors can setup logic that can be repeated without being explained every time when creating new objects. A namespace and more generally blocks avoids confusion about scope. Variables let you keep track of concepts that have already been set too but are able to change dynamically. It's kinda hard to translate it into human concept, but I believe an AI made to know everything about cognitive sciences and psychology could create its own intermediate language that can be used between humans and between human AI without any confusion for any part.

[@theohlong307]

Really nice talk, inspiring to freshmen neuroscience student like me

[@yesway]

"Stitch over those gaps". I said something very similar to my friend when discussing the Awakening from the Meaning Crisis series. It's like I have all this knowledge about philosophy, history and other stuff, but Dr. Vervaeke stitches them all together that it all starts to make great sense!

[@fukkyouthatswhy]

i call him the proposition generation machine

[@yesway]

@@fukkyouthatswhy oh, I love that description!

[@joojoosasa]

The clinical tests that Johns Hopkins and NYU have been conducting, under Dr Roland Griffiths, with Psilocybin-assisted therapy has inspired me to get into cognitive sciences/pharmacology. I think I finally figured out what I want to study in college.....at the age of 30 😂

[@authentic_101]

Exactly my feeling too! :D

[@JeremySakamaki]

I just finished a bachelors in computer science at 30 lol, so I feel ya man.

[@janitaboulton4375]

30 is OK

[@JoyFay]

Bravo! 30 is young.

[@harleyseelbinder]

Have you seen the podcast with Dr. Roland Griffith and Dr. Jordan Peterson?

[@ErnestoEduardoDobarganes]

Johnny V has one of the best YT channels ever...

[@zoomin-zoomout]

Thanks for this info :D

[@KarimaCynthiaClayton]

Yes, synthesizing the core of these disciplines is possible, largely with developing a new language. And by the way, there IS something mysterious and magical in us all! Your meditation class will bring that out in participants.😎🤺🙏

[@rezamahan7109]

It couldn’t be better!

[@decreasingentropy1]

based John Vervaeke

[@metasamsara]

This is a really interesting topic and Dr. Vervaeke sounds like an amazing teacher I would loved to be enrolled with. I often feel like for most humans that understanding of causal interaction is innate and that's why people don't consider it an urgent matter. Personally I've got some cognitive disabilities due to childhood trauma and I'm convinced figuring out that language of causal interaction will happen through technology and AI advancements. But there's one trick. Human cognition isn't only thoughts that can be explained through language, no matter which language. It's also emotional reactions and visualization. It all ties in with memory in the prefrontal cortex. We need to figure out how to generate that emergence through computer simulation so that it includes not only a lossy encryption through language, but an actual recreation on the biological chemistry level. At least that's what it should take to break through with AI and really be able to use it to collect data on the human brain as well.

[@muroecardo2262]

Have you checked out his YT channel already? A lot of really great stuff going on there, and some seems to directly address what you brought up here!

[@we3kbb]

John loves this sweater

[@OZMus]

It comes with the cognitive and existential territory.

[@familyfungi]

Same sweater, much Zen.

[@theycallmeken]

Big facts

[@flowerchildd]

incredible

[@davidheatherly171]

John great display of connection. Wonderfully worded. Sincerely, Dave16😁☺😉🐉🐲😀😁😌😉😌⚡

[@maxsterling8203]

“ Science created a scientific world view that we don’t fit into ; we’re homeless. “ Is there more truer words ever uttered ? His lectures are on KZbin thnx for reading

[@Beederda]

I appreciate your time JV ❤️🍄 i am with a fractured mind and struggling to finish the awakening from the meaning crisis series my own self deception is bringing ruin to the mind. I can only explain my feeling situation as free falling with no ground in sight, pre-shattered waiting for the ground to hit me… abysmally lost in existential thought and I don’t really have anyone to talk to the feeling of burden is something I can’t quite explain why its a feeling we feel and embrace but it’s definitely there crippling me to no end.

[@peterrosqvist2480]

I’m currently going through the awakening from the meaning crisis, some of it is difficult to understand but I’m pushing through! How are you doing now?

[@zeffery101]

coolio, gonna study cogsci at UCSD next fall

[@fluffynipples]

Going to minor cogsci this Fall at UCSD, whoop

[@tom.k7616]

@@fluffynipples what are you majoring in?

[@tom.k7616]

How'd it go?

[@zeffery101]

@@tom.k7616 its all right. We just started classes again last thursday. Most lower div classes are BS imo, but im almost done with those. The only class I enjoyed was an upper div intro to Data Science class. (Cogs 108). im excited to take more machine learning classes since thats my specialization.

[@tom.k7616]

@@zeffery101 glad to hear your enjoying it atleast now. Do you think jobs will be relatively easy to come by?

[@ajmarr5671]

Cognitive Science: A branch of psychology that aims to figuratively find out how minds work without literally having to figure out how minds work. Not to be confused with 2nd generation cognitive science, which aims to literally figure out how minds work without figuring. 2nd Generation Cognitive Science: Coined by the linguist George Lakoff. In contrast to to 1st generation cognitive science, holds that behavior occurs primarily due to the influence of sensori-motor areas of the body, or 'embodiment'. That means that your day to day decisions are more likely to be due to that day old burrito you ate this morning than any purely thinking processes going on in your noggin, which come to think of it makes sense. from Dr. Mezmer’s World of Bad Psychology, found on an internet near you!

[@lesliecunliffe4450]

I think you'll find that Lakoff's thinking is, without his knowing, a footnote to Wittgenstein and Heidegger, who also provided the additional insight that embodiment also manifests the social within. This is why cog. psychology 2 can trades under the name of discursive psychology, and why John Shotter, one of the thinkers who initiated the move away from cog. psych 1, made the logical move and became a Wittgensteinian thinker.

[@rifatulislamhimel172]

WOW!! I love this discussion. Only cognition can combine or integrate different disciplines together. That's what I like about cognitive science. It's so powerful.

[@danielazavala1382]

Where do you recommend me to take the Cognitive science master program? I'm currently a UX designer

[@andrewizzoclarke]

Vervaeke needs to be as popular as Jordan Peterson, for everyone’s sake.

[@badreddine.elfejer]

I find him much more interesting and persuasive

[@manlikeJoe1010]

@@badreddine.elfejer Absolutely. Vervaeke is light years ahead of Peterson. Way more well-read, much more balanced in his thinking, and understands that the level of the political needs to be transcended to tackle the problems of our current age. Peterson is, at best, a stepping stone to Vervaeke and the other serious thinkers

[@erichacop3005]

Dude, I want everyone reading this to imagine, JUST IMAGINE... if this guy was the president!! Have a good day!

[@K-A5]

"Vote for Vervaeke!" has a nice ring to it

[@arvinsilberman804]

Amen

[@91bumbi]

6:00 is make sense to me

[@davidjohnzenocollins]

Peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches are the key to happiness and long life!

[@drcunda1]

Love cannot be found in stature, science, and books… whatever people chatter about, that way is not the lovers’ way. 💚 RUMI

[@TheDevNell]

I'd argue if you haven't found it in them, you're doing them wrong.

[@sentientstill]

this is like Jordan accidentally showed up at the YMCA, and just decides to play or a few minutes

[@mackmaster100]

Why no mention of sociology in the study of these things?

[@Cutest1TheGame]

He does: he calls it culture. Then he references it by calling it distributed cognition.

[@manlikeJoe1010]

Perhaps because sociology is a corrupt enterprise full of ideologues...

[@malpais776]

Who is "We" ?

[@JGMio]

Please turn off ads @tedx

[@whoosWE]

Yeah I know Jordan. So

[@iyze8792]

will ferrell is pogging off

[@jesperandersson889]

deep shallowness

[@zzero9438]

Does cognitive science explain why he walks back and forth so much as he speaks?

[@theeskatelife]

yes

[@zzero9438]

@@theeskatelife how?

[@lunam9376]

In speech class I learned do this often and I feel like this helps with being nervous/anxious. Instead of putting your hands in your pockets and keeping the listeners slightly more engaged. It probably also helps him organize his thoughts, especially the way he paces and looks down often 😂

[@michellefoley8438]

Yeah, keeps the viewers engaged I think. Or it calms his anxiety

[@colewilliams6573]

Should include quantum mechanics

[@GavinderSahota]

"We're homeless"

[@ObeySilence]

If you don´t want to watch the whole video here is the gist: Horsewomen.

[@lesliecunliffe4450]

This talk provides no new insight. Wittgenstein had already established such a paradigm minus the idea that 'cognitive science' would be the master key for understanding the mind. His philosophical psychology aims to dissolve this misconception.

[@TheDevNell]

Reductive.

[@alrightthengreat]

This was a very long introduction to a topic the speaker failed to speak on. Guess I’ll have to google it.

[@ianxaviertan3928]

alrightthengreat You can search up his series, “awakening from the meaning crisis”.

[@TwinAquarius484]

He has about 40 hours of content on his channel, cog sci is not simple. An introduction to the idea is the best he could do in this setting.

[@marktomasetti8642]

I don’t think he makes the point very well. How can the fragmentation of the view of the mind by neurologists, psychologists and cultural anthropologists cause alienation and confusion of meaning in the vast majority of us who have no knowledge of those disciplines? If it doesn’t look "apart" to me, I don’t think I’d see a need to put it "back together."

[@TheDevNell]

They aren't the cause of fragmentation. The obsolescence of spirituality to the point of meaninglessness is a source of existential incongruence. Deconstructing spirituality using input from these disciplines is what would allow restoration to happen.

[@marktomasetti8642]

@@TheDevNell - I've listened to several other of JV's lectures. I think I understand his point that loss of religion and community have somehow lowered the "meaningfulness" of life. He seems like a brilliant guy and high on the "good-faith" scale; great compassion and sincerity. It seems doubtful that inventing rituals and similar religious practices will carry the same weight as traditional ones - I suppose time will tell.

[@zelenisok]

13 minutes of saying nothing specific, wow, thanks.

[@bogdanhadarag5223]

How awesome! Talking a lot about nothing. Pretty utopian wish from this guy.

[@alejimenez2550]

Actually is talking about cognitive science. A new paradigm, according to Kuhn's followers.

[@michellefoley8438]

If you think he is talking about nothing you probably are not listening, and therefore, are retaining nothing.

[@stanleyklein524]

Since cognitive science (sic) is not science, this is, of necessity, a logically incoherent lecture. BTW: Since the lecturer is putting the mind back together, what exactly is this broken object/entity (i.e., mind)? A multiplicity of what? Pure nonsense. Passionate about vacuous verbiage.

[@AliTwaij]

To get the whole picture you need to acknowledge the Creator. Then all the disconnection will melt away I think. But today’s science only has one eye ( materialistic)

[@JohnSmith-ft1ul]

Oh no you won't. Religion is psychologically driven, for example, the need to belong. Ever wondered by Muslims are so poor everywhere - why is that Inshallah? (the will of God).

[@strangeloopJH]

Nonsense thanks for adding nothing to the conversation.

[@garykoshland]

Which creator? Yours or mine?

[@manlikeJoe1010]

@@JohnSmith-ft1ul Notice the person said "the Creator" and you jumped straight to religion...then trotted out a terrible example of trying to psychologize God into materialistic oblivion. Good effort but try again.