TST Trainer
Wisdom Mix
Topic:
Philosophy of Mind
Consciousness, subjective experience, mind-body, identity, and thought.
MODE:
~
7 minutes
Philosophy of Mind:
Consciousness, subjective experience, mind-body, identity, and thought.
Spiritual beliefs are not all the same kind of claim. Some describe the world, some organize meaning, and some reach beyond evidence. Wisdom begins by knowing which is which.
Wisdom Mix.
Here are 10 random key ideas and takeaways.
1.
.
Good thinking isn’t just about asking big questions like the Fermi Paradox—it’s about recognizing the biases that shape our answers and staying open to possibilities far beyond our current understanding.
Subject: The Fermi Paradox..
The Fermi Paradox is a valuable question, not a failed argument. The trouble arises when human expectations are smuggled in as cosmic rules. Good critical thinking means separating evidence from assumption and recognizing how bias, projection, and limited samples distort conclusions about an immense and unfamiliar universe.
2.
Quote.
“Reality is self-creating by definition… our impressions of it are what we use to build knowledge.”.
- Michael Alan Prestwood.
- 2024.
.
Life becomes calmer when you stop demanding perfect certainty. Your impressions are imperfect, but they are enough to help you learn and grow.
Subject: Empiricism.
To live well, accepting that your picture of reality is always being assembled. You will not see everything clearly at once, and that is okay. Pay attention, stay humble, and keep refining. Wisdom grows when you let experience teach you without pretending you already know the whole truth.
3.
From History: 2.3 Million BCE.
92,000 Generations Ago.
Homo habilis marks an early Philosophy of Mind turning point: intelligence was no longer just reaction, but planning. With toolmaking, foresight, and environmental manipulation, the mind began reaching beyond the present moment into imagined futures.
Subject: Ancient Humans.
To understand the mind, we have to remember that thought evolved. Homo habilis reminds us that intelligence did not arrive all at once with modern humans. It settled in gradually: hand, eye, memory, planning, and need working together. The human mind began as survival, then slowly became imagination.
4.
.
Writing didn’t appear fully formed. It evolved slowly as humans found ways to record, label, and preserve meaning beyond memory.
Subject: The Origins of Writing.
Writing systems emerged as a permanent way to document what was said. Writing systems either represent full words, the syllables that make up words, or our basic sounds.
5.
From History: 590 Million Years Ago (± 10 million).
Agency and directional action with intent..
The animal evolution of the bilaterian body plan is directionality, which gave us agency.
Subject: Animal Evolution.
By moving from a radial (circle) to a bilateral (line) shape, life transitioned from a passive state of “being” to an active state of “doing.” Every complex conflict or cooperation in history is a high-level expression of a 590-million-year-old biological “Source Code.” We are Bilaterians first. Our ability to move toward a goal, perceive a threat, and categorize “us versus them” is rooted in the first to crawl through the mud.
6.
Article summary.
.
Cultural transmission is the passing of learned behavior, knowledge, and traditions from one generation to the next in all animals.
Subject: Evolution.
From crows teaching tool use to humans building libraries, cultural transmission allows knowledge to outlive the individual. It is one of evolution’s most powerful amplifiers, letting useful behaviors spread faster than genes alone ever could.
7.
From History: How predetermined are our choices?.
.
You may not control everything, but you still must choose how to live. Living well means choosing with positive intent now and for the future.
Subject: Metaphysics.
Whether the universe is fully determined, partly open, guided by fate, or shaped by providence, your lived experience feels like you have choices. And you do. Your life is one of choosing. You are the decider of your own agency. You still weigh options, form habits, and shape character. A wise life begins by acting in ways that help you and other flourish now and in the future.
8.
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The words you encounter each day help you understand truth, but they never become the world itself. Treat language and definitions as useful tools, not reality itself.
Subject: Epistemology.
Language helps us organize, share, and test ideas, but it always stays on the human side of the split between reality and our descriptions of it. The definitions you embrace matter because they reduce confusion, but they remain working models, not final captures of truth.
9.
From History: 80 Million Years Ago (+/- 10 million years).
Enlarged neocortex.
Subject: Evolution.
Play evolved as one of the group survival traits. Lower play abilities evolved in mammals like rodents about 190 million years ago. Higer play abilities evolved in mammals like cats about 80 million years ago.
10.
Article summary.
.
Existentialism evolved during the post medieval time. At its core, existentialism is about discovering your authentic self. You, in your environment, in your time, living life your way.
Subject: Existential Toolkit.
Riding the Wild Horse: Life’s journey is an unpredictable, often absurd ride, but if you embrace your freedom and choose an authentic path, whether that path is through managing anxiety, forging your own meaning, or a rebellion against despair, you can find strength and purpose amidst the chaos.
Done. Refresh for another set.
TST Trainer
(c) 2025-2026 TouchstoneTruth.
Writing and coding by Michael Alan Prestwood.
(c) 2025-2026 TouchstoneTruth.
Writing and coding by Michael Alan Prestwood.
