Episode 7: Chapter 7 Cognitive Intelligence

[@damianclifford9693]

I really look forward to these talks, having read the great book. The talks really improved after the first 2, I think because Alex became more concise and kept it " simple'', so to speak. I feel they work best when Alex doesn't go off on tangents and keeps the questions and comments relatively short, when he doesn't it's hard to follow him. Thanks for doing them 🙏.

[@mmnuances]

For me, this episode was extraordinarily potent. I found myself pulsating, fluidly between contraction and expansion, realizing that part of what Ian is doing is documenting this pulsation on the level of the whole cultural history of this species. The oscillation, arising from the dynamism of opposites, is from the expansion of right hemispheric capacities to the contraction and fragmentation of left hemispheric capacities. Over all cultural history, that oscillation is fractal-like with the largest patterns occurring over decades or centuries. Within a given human life, the most intelligent among us can pulsate between the two opposites in milliseconds, like the motorcycle riders, with the right hemispheric "intelligences" , the fluid dance with the dynamic (a dance with the galaxies) as the predominant mode and ground of awareness. This is the intelligence that seems to be declining in the current contraction of the global zeitgeist. Currently, the global zeitgeist is undergoing an unprecedented contraction and fragmentation; a contracted descent into the "Matrix" in which humans with virtually no intelligence (as explored and illuminated in this video) have enormous political and military power. I refer to humans like Putin and Trump who are so contracted that they advocate the use of nuclear weapons as a solution to their predicament. Dr. McGilchrist's work opens us to this dynamic Truth of human capacities playing out through all of our history and places him as a Qutub (magnetic center/pole of our age). Our function as his students is to explore these insights in the moment by moment felt sense in our embodiment and then to see if we can do anything to birth the next cultural period of expansion that is sure to rise gloriously and with a rebounding energetic joy, out of this supreme darkness into which our species is descending.

[@LucaJDLee]

"Fewer and fewer can think in terms of abstraction, develop their capacity for deductive logic and systematic planning." I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. McGilchrist and I believe this is the reason why we don't see a statesman like Churchill, who had an extraordinary historical perspective and a profound understanding of humanity, with which he was able the see the signs of the time and executed plans with determination. Alas, look around and there is no statesman even remotely comparable to him in this troubling time.

[@wolfie71231]

Trump has the guts, but not the intellect.

[@bobdillaber1195]

He is all left hemisphere. ​@wolfie71231

[@abcrane]

One method I developed for coordinating the various “intelligebces” is what I call the Stoplight Method.” The three stages of effective innovation and problem solving are 1. Red Light: constructive thinking; 2. Yellow Light: Critical thinking; Green Light : creative thinking. (Constructive thinking here simply means taking in information and re-conceptualizing it into a mental model). The pausing between each type is important so as to avoid the “hastiness” that can lead to error. This process is then a way to truly unite the intelligences into one unified productive experience. A cognitive individuation.

[@CHGLongStone]

In understanding the Flynn Effect it's worth while understanding his influence from Luria. Luria's core psycho-technologies, Abstraction, Classification (boundary conditions) and Proper Application of the Hypothetical (effective modeling) are encoded in the cultural layer. Between 1900-1960's there was a significant push to engage the approach network with an emphasis on learning and exploration. With the introduction of the social justice movement there's a significant shift towards narratives/mimetics and emotional reactivity. People stuck in limbic response are unable to access higher order function. Impacts on IQ - framing in good vs evil stories is a 10-15 points - emotional distress up to 30 points Maximized impact could take someone from the border of MENSA to under the mean. Love his point on the right to left flow. It's worth considering the metaphor of the left brain as artificial intelligence and the right brain as the training mechanism for the left engaged in a constant process of refinement like the transition from cognitive chunking into schema based thinking.

[@cynthiaford6976]

I'm not sure if the problem is the framing in good and evil narratives,as our deepest oldest narratives involve good and evil. I think the stripping away of complex narratives, or banning them as colonialist or white and replacing them with "content," almost algorithmically (maybe literally) derived essentialist sort of soviet realism-ish stuff, is one of the things causing terrible damage. Walter Burkert, the historian of Greek religion, in Tracks of the Sacred in Biology, asserts that the Propp sequence (a structuralist evaluation of the structure of most narrative) mirrors the stages of food getting behavior in mammals. This is the structure of the hero's journey, as discussed by many people including Joseph Campbell. The structure of great drama, which leads to catharsis, is missing too. It is not in movies or tv or books or even video games. The reluctant protagonist sets out, encounters terrible obstacles (Mamet says the theme of Act II is how one forgets how one started out to drain the swamp when one is up to one's ass in alligators), receives help, magical or otherwise, wrestles with villains, and returns to one's community with a boon, something material or knowledge itself. (Tragedy is a little different) I think we have spent perhaps thousands of years being cognitively organized with this pattern and we mind simulate it, according to Cognitive Poetics. As narratives are in the right brain, it must begin there, but then affords us a left brain tool for navigating our lives getting what we need and hopefully not 'laying waste our powers' It is ABSENT now. I find this terrifying, that we may be reverting to being shrews instead of mammals or primates. I'm only being a tiny bit hyperbolic.

[@berg0002]

I love listening to these conversations, as I listen to them while working in the garden. Fortunately, I have a huge garden 😁 I also read the book, but just reading is too much of a passive undertaking for me. Long live KZbin!

[@cheri238]

This is fascinating listening to this. May I ask a question, as our world of great intelligence in higher educational standards, how did those become powers of greed of institutions of beauocracies? Is their an IQ test for that ? As for indigenous cultures, I believe they greatly have much to teach our world, as the powers of corporations slice up lands, that affects all of mankind. Appreciation of the world in all areas maybe will enhance a better understanding if one comes up with a test for that. Iain McGilchrist ia one of the great minds I have had the opportunity to listen to and and I love his books. Subsequently, all those that speak with him on panels I appreciate them also. They are much more educated than me in all areas. My knowledge comes from reading many books, there are many I have not read, but I do love music and creative arts. What is intelligence?What is thought? Can the ego be measured ? The words "you" and "I" seperate things. This division in the strange silence and stillness doesn't exist. And as one watches outside of a window, space and time seemed to come to an end, and the space that divides had no reality. The leaf and the wild flower and the blue shing water were not differnt from you. With the deepest appreciation and respect for all these discussions , I thank all. Futhernore with all our great institutions of higher learning such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, etc. why is America 33rd in the world in education? What causes that? As I see it , we are all walking in seas of mass insanity, all societies have become traumatized, and all have been affected. I dont know, I could be wrong I humbly often am. I got up early this morning and fed my crows, a crow is a intelligent bird. They come when I call. My grandpa taught me that as a child and how to work with bees and watch them, I was fascinated by nature, and the hum of it and planting gardens with tiny seeds, the colors keeps my imagination awake, even this present moment. The right, left hemispheres of the brain implores me to listen more to Iain McGilchrist books and take a ride to enquire more of this brain and how it works. Again, with the deepest respect for these conversations.

[@natashaarnasalam4709]

IQ is a measure in the west of intelligence, my son has right brain damage he has a IQ of 65 and is defined as mildly retardant based in his last IEP. I am presently reading your book to try and figure out how to help him, the academics only answer seems to be over medicated and call 911. It appears the more educated the less common sense is being used to solve the problem. I think we’re constantly hyper focusing on the behavior and not why the behavior is happening and how to help. Thanks for writing g this book it been very helpful in explaining the facts.

[@wolfie71231]

good luck, God bless

[@ErnestoEduardoDobarganes]

When you drive so fast, and fluidly with manual gears (I do it) it is almost out of body experience, I notice that it almost requires 0 effort or conscious mental resources, and my mental processes have the same qualia as day dreaming.... in fact, I notice heavy work in abstract thinking while driving, specially very fast in the Realistic Simulators in the computer.

[@ericzabiegalski6047]

In this great example Ernesto I might say you have transcended crystallized intelligence, taking that left hemisphere task out of the hands of the left brain, and plugged it into the right hemisphere incorporating it into fluid intelligence! Brilliant example TY 🙏

[@ErnestoEduardoDobarganes]

@@ericzabiegalski6047 Happens when Boxing too, if you really focus on defense, footwork and head movement... it is a wonderful experience.

[@ericzabiegalski6047]

@@ErnestoEduardoDobarganes

[@ericzabiegalski6047]

It happens to me when running

[@ErnestoEduardoDobarganes]

@@ericzabiegalski6047 Running is a different kind of flow, because the environment doesn't throw too many unexpected things at you so fast (lile boxing and car racing do) but yes. I have felt it in competitive running too.

[@oakbellUK]

Flynn Effect mostly in lower ability. Possible explanation: We know that intelligence is correlated with the academic attainment of parents. If you are third generation going to secondary school, you do better than if you are first (books at home, conversation, help with homework, schoolwork ethic etc). During the 20th century this effect is greatest for those whose parents had lower education. In the 21st century, very few children are 1st generation secondary ed.

[@thebasis1704]

These are incredible. Have you ever thought of putting these into podcast form on Spotify or other streaming services? That way we could listen while we commute or other outdoor things. Would be incredible. Regardless, love these videos. Keep it uo

[@christiandinkel8481]

Lots of websites allow you to download KZbin videos as audio files.

[@WillWinsol]

When the tool insists it is the hand the human body's contact with The Other is diminished.

[@kristianhoiland1147]

I would pay to hear Ian McGilChrist talk with Mattias Desmet. But this will do for now, great stuff, thanks for doing this.

[@gretamordue9139]

Yes, it would be most interesting to hear them discuss the concept of mass formation psychosis and explore the impact of modelling in shaping our reponses to SARS-CoV-2.

[@geoffbowcher3189]

Important. An equilibrium between the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of our human existence are vital to our general wellbeing and happiness. Consider what Hunters and gatherers perceive as ideal mates. Physical assets. The runt of the litter doesn't usually last long, especially when resources are scarce.

[@hansjohansson66]

Did anyone catch the name of the researcher that mentioned knowledge from experience?

[@abcrane]

There’s two things to consider regarding this decline in intelligence. Education and Economy. The fundamental concern is the de-contextualization of education within the larger “economic situation.” The State will educate children to meet ITS needs not those of children or citizens. But children are not stupid, they sense this usury and turn to a fantasy world of movies and games (which further degrades the intellectual and creative capacity). In this case even the highly gifted are still treated as machine components. So IQ becomes a moot point (and EQ becomes even more critical towards the end of changing the system.) Authenticity in economy will inspire authentic learning models and content. Artificiality yields artificiality. Authenticity of education, community, entertainment THESE are the necessary goals of our highest intelligence.

[@ericzabiegalski6047]

LOVE this model you made. What happens in critical and creative thinking? , in a word or two

[@abcrane]

@@ericzabiegalski6047 critical thinking is whereby one analyzes a thing or event and creative thinking where by they continue on to innovate improvements or new models altogether. I find our education systems are destroying critical and creative intelligence . “Just re-construct what you were dictated and repeat it on a test so later in life you are prepared to obey a boss in some conspicuous career or job”. I design prototypes for authentic new models of economy education and entertainment.

[@johnhare7580]

really enjoying these videos, but Im pretty sure one of my hemisphere's has acquired a Brazilian accent

[@Nick_fb]

In regards to the Scandinavian military IQ tests, I've heard that higher IQ scores "punish" applications with double the time in the Finnish military than people who score lower and soldiers are often fatigued when taking the tests. I don't know what that means for the tests, some more uncertainty for IQ I guess.

[@yusefnathanson]

Have you engaged with Nassim Taleb's argument that low IQ is predictive of low intelligence but high IQ is not predictive of high intelligence? E.g., someone with 85 IQ is predictably less competent than someone with 100 IQ, but someone with IQ 155 is not predictably more competent than someone with IQ 140? Certainly, it seems to me to be common-sensical to think that once a threshold of logical skill is reached, other factors such as self-awareness, communication skills, conscientiousness, and passion dominate IQ as success factors; do you disagree?

[@yusefnathanson]

Our contemporary world seems to value communication skills over technical understanding, and it's no secret that high-intelligence can be an obstacle that inhibits one's ability to communicate. Smart people often struggle to explain their ideas in simple terms. It thus makes sense that a world dominated by pop culture would incentivize people at the tails of the In spectrum to develop towards the center, as there is significant value to capture in being in touch with and able to relate to the perspective of the average person.

[@david-jr5fn]

In the opening it was mentioned that IQ is going up, is this true. I recall reading a study a few years back that average IQ in Western countries is decreasing.

[@GrimrDirge]

To whomever posts these, does the good doctor have an opinion on Erich Neumann?

[@nitahill6951]

This convo reminds me of mone-prohodos-epistrophe

[@artandculture5262]

I wonder whether the reduction in use of cursive handwriting, and most handwriting, has affected brains and right brain facility.

[@annjuurinen6553]

I believe so. Cursive writing has a known effect on the brain.

[@tehdii]

I have been living for the last 20 years in a world where I was told IQ is rising, now I will be living in a world of IQ dropping... You know what, I do not know if any of the debates I have seen in last three decades were right about anything and those new one would not be right about the world to :)

[@goudafeta2165]

Can’t wait for creativity (8)

[@fraserbailey6347]

I can assure Alex that most of us do not consider academics to be intelligent.Quite the reverse, in fact.

[@MikeFuller-ok6ok]

I find being so highly intelligent a problem. I would have other problems if I was not as intelligent though.

[@FoundingStockNZ]

I'm from New Zealand and I'm curious what is the honest view of us from the outside world? Anyone? Just for fun.

[@Sleekmint18]

Do we know how, say, indigenous peoples, rate their own intelligence and/or usefulness, between themselves, as it were?

[@artandculture5262]

The contemporary cultural forces try to put art into the left brain both in makers and in curation.

[@geoffbowcher3189]

Nature has shown me that having a great balance is i

[@ew8311]

Love Iain, but he’s out of date on intelligence testing. The newer tests are much more culturally fair, particularly the Woodcock Johnson. If anything, the discourse has gone too far in the other direction and made it more difficult to get people supports who would benefit from them. Further, I see children increasingly scoring higher on the 3-D cube tests in recent years and much, much lower on vocabulary and general information. I suspect this ability is trained by video games while schools no longer focus on spelling and writing, or complex argumentation.

[@maggieadams8600]

Minecraft! Children get addicted to that game, but it would improve 3 d thinking I'd have thought having witnessed my grandchildren playing it incessantly, compulsively. There's not much scope for imagination it seems to me within these games, no beauty, nothing ageless and mysterious like a fairy story told well!

[@abcrane]

@@maggieadams8600 that's then up to a parent to limit. I know grandparents do not often have a say, but parents usher their children into the abyss generation after generation...(and I'm aware of peer pressure too.) TV did the same for my generation, people watched desert storm like it was a football game. I was so sickened by this I gave up all pop entertainment, read books, studied the humanities, and did something meaningful with my life. what saddens me is that the models that I have created for others will go to waste on a generation strung out on kill kill content and getting butt jobs. I'm disgusted by our species and I try to keep on track, but when you are a seer in a blind world, the alienation is like bullets in the soul. I hide in books! I talk to dead philosophers! I find more life in the dead!

[@vanessadylyn6916]

the popular CBC documentary The Divided Brain @divided_brain, is a good introduction to Iain and his work.