Reality shaped by mind from "summary" of The Man Who Wasn’t There by Anil Ananthaswamy
The idea that reality is shaped by the mind is not a new one. Philosophers have grappled with this concept for centuries, but recent advances in neuroscience have added a new dimension to our understanding of how the mind creates our experience of the world. In his book 'The Man Who Wasn’t There', Anil Ananthaswamy explores this idea through the lens of individuals who have experienced disorders of self-awareness. These disorders, such as schizophrenia, depersonalization, and Cotard’s syndrome, can cause individuals to feel disconnected from their bodies or to believe that they do not exist at all. Ananthaswamy delves into the experiences of these individuals to shed light on the intricate relationship between the mind and reality. He explains how the brain constructs our sense of self and how disruptions in this process can lead to a distorted perception of the world. Through interviews with patients and discussions with neuroscientists, Ananthaswamy uncovers the mechanisms underlying these disorders ...
Similar Posts
Mindfulness can help counteract brain tricks
When our brains play tricks on us, it's easy to fall into patterns of thought that are not helpful or accurate. These tricks ca...
Art has the ability to evoke strong emotions
In art, we find a power that goes beyond mere representation. It has the ability to touch us deeply, to stir emotions within us...
Religion is built upon faith and emotional commitments
Religion, according to Hume, is not grounded in reason or evidence, but rather in faith and emotional commitments. He argues th...
Cultivate a growth mindset to achieve your goals
To achieve the goals we set for ourselves, we must first cultivate a growth mindset. This essentially means believing that our ...
Consciousness is always consciousness of something
Consciousness is fundamentally intentional. It is always directed towards an object, whether that object is something external ...
The body is a source of existential depth and richness
The body is not just a physical entity; it is a source of existential depth and richness. It is through our bodies that we expe...
Emptiness at core of self
The idea that there is an emptiness at the core of the self is a profound and unsettling concept that challenges our very under...
Cognitive biases can lead to irrational decisionmaking
Cognitive biases are subtle mental quirks that can have a major impact on our decision-making processes. These biases occur whe...