Philosophical Speculations

This op-ed on the Internet Age deserves a central place in the metaphysical conversation.

The Cassandra of the Internet Age

Hopefully we can slide past the few political hooks to discuss the key challenge of metacognition:

“Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.”

For reference, here is the long version of the 1997 prescient essay:

The Attention Economy and the Net

Once I started sleep-scrolling through that 1997 essay, I switched the attention elsewhere

Oddly enough, a great example of that very issue has appeared on the BBC website today - an argumentative parish council meeting went viral (people demanding attention and wanting power):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-m ... r-55946252

Mindfulness redux.

Ben Iscatus wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 1:14 pm Oddly enough, a great example of that very issue has appeared on the BBC website today - an argumentative parish council meeting went viral (people demanding attention and wanting power):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-m ... r-55946252

Ben ... Thanks for that telling example of the absence of mindfulness in the meeting of minds ... I prefer to pay attention to this meeting of minds and hearts bringing tears to these eyes ...

Soul_of_Shu wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:55 pm Once I started sleep-scrolling through that 1997 essay, I switched the attention elsewhere

Yup, me too! I added it in only because a friend sent it to me for original source documentation. What seems interesting is how many words it takes to speculate on something novel and unknown and later, following actual-factual experience, how much easier it seems to reduce it to pithy prose. Certainly makes a strong case for experience over speculation.

Sometimes I think that if there's any free will ; it's in - and only in - where you direct your attention.

The thoughts you have, and the choices you make, are simply an effect of where you direct your attention.

Martin_ wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 1:42 am Sometimes I think that if there's any free will ; it's in - and only in - where you direct your attention.

The thoughts you have, and the choices you make, are simply an effect of where you direct your attention.

I agree. It's almost as if free will boils down to choosing the school of life lessons one will encounter, like we choose processes
more than outcomes.