In Episode 9 of the Transcendent Naturalism series, Dr. John Vervaeke, Gregg Henriques, and guest Brett Andersen delve into the intricate relationship between complexity, criticality, and consciousness. The episode explores the concept of self-organized criticality and its role as a linchpin in understanding a variety of scientific topics. Andersen introduces his work on the diametric model of autism and psychosis, and the trio discusses the growing consensus around criticality as a framework for understanding brain function. The episode also touches on the psychology of meaning, the nature of sacredness, and the transformative power of psychedelics. This intellectual journey culminates in a discussion about the role of individual and collective consciousness in shaping society. Whether you're interested in the cutting-edge theories of cognitive science or the philosophical implications of modern neuroscience, this episode offers a comprehensive look at how these ideas are shaping our understanding of the world.
Brett Andersen, a Ph.D. student in Evolutionary Psychology at the University of New Mexico, is a compelling voice at the intersection of cognitive science, complexity science, and the philosophical underpinnings of morality and religion. With a penchant for delving into controversial topics, Brett crafts thought-provoking essays on Substack and produces insightful YouTube videos. He's also in the process of writing a book, slated for a free PDF release, that encapsulates seven years of rigorous research across scientific and philosophical literature.
Resources:
Brett Andersen: Substack | YouTube | X
Gregg Henriques: Website | Facebook | X
Books:
Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief - Dr. Jordan Peterson
How Nature Works: the science of self-organized criticality - Per Bak
The Life of the Cosmos - Lee Smolin
The Cortex and the Critical Point: Understanding the Power of Emergence - John M. Beggs
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions - Thomas S. Kuhn
The Romance of Reality: How the Universe Organizes Itself to Create Life, Consciousness, and Cosmic Complexity - Bobby Azarian
The Voyage of the Beagle - Charles Darwin
Publications:
Predictive processing and relevance realization: exploring convergent solutions to the frame problem - Brett P. Andersen, Mark Miller & John Vervaeke
Relevance, Meaning and the Cognitive Science of Wisdom - John Vervaeke and Leonardo Ferraro
Flow as spontaneous thought: Insight and implicit learning - John Vervaeke, Leonardo Ferraro, and Arianne Herrera-Bennett
The self-organization of cognitive structure. - Stephen and Dixon
The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs - Robin L. Carhart-Harris et al.
Gaining Insight Into the ‘‘Aha’’ Experience - Sascha Topolinski and Rolf Reber
The Experience of Presence in the Mars Exploration Rover Mission - Dan Chiappe, John Vervaeke
Distributed Cognition and the Experience of Presence in the Mars Exploration Rover Mission - Dan Chiappe, John Vervaeke
The Enactment of Shared Agency in Teams Exploring Mars Through Rovers - Dan Chiappe, John Vervaeke
Perception and self-organized instability - Karl J Friston, Michael Breakspear, and Gustavo Deco
Psychological Entropy: A Framework for Understanding Uncertainty-Related Anxiety - Jacob B Hirsh, Raymond A Mar, and Jordan B Peterson
Video:
Intimations of a New Worldview, Part 7.1: The Evolutionary Psychology of Meaning - Brett Andersen
MIsc.
The REBUS Model
People:
Per Bak
Brendan Graham Dempsey
Bobby Azarian
Jean Piaget
Ann Taves
Elkhonon Goldberg
Terence McKenna
Jonathan Pageau
Émile Durkheim
Ludwig Wittgenstein
J. A. Scott Kelso
David Wolpert and William Macready ("no free lunch" theorem)
Samantha Heintzelman
Time Codes:
00:00:20 — Dr. John Vervaeke opens the discussion, welcoming co-host Gregg Henriques and guest Brett Andersen.
00:00:48 — Gregg Henriques provides a recap of previous episodes. He highlights Brendan Graham Dempsey's vision on the emergence and meaning of meaning.
00:02:09 — Brett Andersen introduces himself and his work. He discusses his YouTube series 'Intimations of a New Worldview' and the diametric model of autism and psychosis.
00:03:46 — Andersen introduces the concept of self-organized criticality. He explains its significance in understanding scientific topics and their relationship to transcendent naturalism.
00:05:40 — Per Bak's work is discussed. Andersen elaborates on the phenomena of complexity in nature and the concept of self-organized criticality.
00:07:40 — The conversation turns to how complexity emerges at the border between order and chaos. Andersen explains why this concept is pivotal in various scientific disciplines.
00:09:20 — Dr. Vervaeke introduces the concept of relevance realization and maps it onto self-organizing criticality.
00:13:00 — The growing consensus around criticality as a framework for understanding brain function is discussed. Dr. Vervaeke highlights its increasing acceptance in neuroscience.
00:16:20 — Gregg Henriques introduces the concept of behavioral investment theory and aligns it with the criticality framework.
00:18:20 — Brett Andersen discusses the epistemological implications of criticality. He relates it to the functioning of the brain's two hemispheres.
00:21:41 — Henriques introduces the concept of the microscopic and macroscopic fractal of criticality. He suggests it can be observed in everyday situations.
00:25:50 — Andersen gives insights into the complexity of human existence and its sense of sacredness. He argues that humans not only manifest this complexity but also participate in it.
00:27:40 — Dr. Vervaeke argues about our ontological significance. He suggests that in terms of the universe's capacity to produce properties, we are apex and ontologically privileged.
00:32:23 — The concept of nested language is introduced. Andersen and Vervaeke discuss its implications for understanding hierarchies and change.
00:41:00 — Andersen explores the clash that occurs when an anomaly disrupts a tradition. He discusses the tension between adherents of the tradition and those who perceive the anomaly.
00:50:36 — Dr. Vervaeke talks about the ability of collective intelligence to detect hyperobjects. He suggests that these are too complex for any individual to understand.
01:00:29 — Dr. Vervaeke introduces the concept that intelligibility is almost like a living entity. He links this to the inexhaustible nature of the complexifying world.
01:02:55 — The conversation turns to the concept of affordance coupling. Dr. Vervaeke argues that internal peace is not just about the inner state but also about being in contact with reality.
01:08:36 — Dr. Vervaeke elaborates on how psychedelics can induce transformative processes. He suggests that experiences like flow states are insights into having an optimal grip on the world.
01:09:20 — Dr. Vervaeke expresses his interest in discussing the Trinitarian model in their next discussion. Gregg Henriques appreciates the concept of criticality and its implications on our ontology and cognitive grip. He expresses his interest in discussing the worldview implications.
