« Mental Games | Main | Huh? »

February 11, 2003

Mental Games

The lady in front of me had a large print book today. It was describing a character playing mental games with herself. You know where you say to yourself something like "I'll do my exercise today only if a get a green light at the next intersection....". A sort of self as observer bargaining with self as actor.

One upon a time that sort of deal would probably have been an intellectual challenge to God - "I'll believe in you if you do this miracle for me....". I guess society has changed so much that we sort of do that bargaining with ourselves. Sort of mini-gods.

Of course if you believe Dennett ("Consiousness Explained") then "we" don't exist other then as the loudest shouting thread in a mental storm which means I guess we can't really bargain with ourselves. For that matter, who could challenge us if we cheat.....

Posted by Ozguru at February 11, 2003 12:02 PM

Comments

Retrospective - February This is a feature I sometimes wish other sites had - when I find a new blog, I often go back through the archives looking for the good bits. Anyway, as one way of celebrating a whole year of blogging, I figured that each month I'll put together a short...

Posted by: GDay Mate at February 11, 2003 12:02 PM