Our brains are lying to us.

Our brains do three things:
    •    Collect, organize, and store information.
    •    Use that information to identify possible patterns and create models.
    •    Use those patterns and models to produce behaviors that increase our probability of surviving and reproducing.

That’s if, folks. Our brains do not care about truth. All that matters is utility. Effectiveness and efficiency are more important than accuracy. Fitness beats truth (FBT). I have written about this before .

The GUI interface you see on on your computer or mobile device is an excellent metaphor. It protects you from having to experience (let alone manage) the impossible complexity of the actual underlying hardware and software processes, and it provides useful metaphors for understanding things and tools for getting things done.

We experiences a very simplified map of reality.  (How simplified? Each of us is exposed to roughly 1 billion bps (bits per second) of information, the equivalent of 100 HD movies/second.  Our external and internal sensory apparatus feeds roughly 11 million bps of this to the brain. Because our brain can only consciously process 10-50 bps, it filters and funnels the data tsunami, directing most of it to the processes outside of our awareness that manage bodily function: automatic behavioral responses, and some of Kahneman’s System 1 intuitive processing. It selects at most 1 of every incoming 200,000 bits of information for conscious processes, what we call conscious awareness and  thought.)

Our conscious sense of ‘self’ is one of those lies.

Our consciousness (our awareness or sense of self) is an avatar, constructed within the brain and by the brain by networked systems of neurons. Consciousness is not an actual entity like a heart or tree or book. It is a neural process that provides a convenient but inaccurate and inconsistent narrative about our interactions with reality. It is not immortal - it stops when we sleep and vanishes when we die.  Despite this, it is extremely useful.

From an evolutionary perspective, consciousness has provided humans with immense survival advantages. It makes possible a  ‘theory of mind’ (ToM) that supports communication, shared goals, collaborative work, and collective goal-directed action.  When humans were forced by rapid climate changes to abandon life in trees and survive on the savannah, we were not fast, strong, tough, big, fierce, or dangerous enough to survive as individuals. In fact, being a solitary individual was a death sentence. Our species survived because of our ability to form complex social units with shared goals and the ability to collaborate in pursuit of abstract targets. The ‘self’ lets humans access collected data from the past and present, and then imagine and review different actions and their possible outcomes, both short term and long term.

Additionally, there is good evidence that feeling autonomous and in control is important for maintaining focus and motivation. Even if that feeling is an illusion.

Every individual is living in their own unique perception box.

Every individual is contained in - and constrained by -  their own unique neurocognitive model of reality. This ‘perception box’ is created (and constantly modified) by the individual’s unique biology, memories and associations from past experiences, ongoing filtered perceptions, and biological neurocognitive predispositions. The result: two individuals in the same place at the same time have two different experiences of the same external reality.

What is the purpose or meaning of life?

I grew up in a family that taught and practiced a strong commitment to morality and enjoyed some of the rituals and customs of both Judaism and Christianity (especially the music), but was absolutely not religious.  In high school I became aware of the role that religious beliefs played in the lives of some of my friends. Wondering if I was missing something important, I explored a handful of spiritual and religious traditions in search of a foundational belief system. I found none of them believable. I joined the local Methodist Church to be with my friends and was an active congregant: Treasurer and then President of the Youth Fellowship, sang in the choir, gave a sermon on Youth Sunday, and participated in Church-sponsored community projects.

I think I would currently be tagged as an agnostic atheist. I readily admit that there are mysteries that human intelligence has not  unraveled and probably never will. I do not that a justification for believing in the existence of a God or the claims of Christianity or Judaism. Truth seeking is a core value for me and I prefer to admit ignorance and look for answers rather than hide or deny ignorance by making up myths. I agree with the quote that God is merely a word for the blanket humans use to cover mysteries and give them shape.

Although I see no evidence for an ultimate all-knowing and all-powerful Creator, I understand that  there is great value in ritual, awe, mystery, optimism/hope in the face of misery, comforting narratives, and shared community values.  Religion can offer these things.  The word ‘can’ is doing considerable work here, because religion is not automatically a force for good: it can  both benefit/save and  harm/destroy societies.

My core values prioritize truth-seeking. I personally find no benefit in using myths or religious beliefs to explain away the unknown.  I prefer questions to answers: questions invite exploration while answers prevent progress.

Because I value autonomy and individual responsibility, I reject the practice of adopting, internalizing, and advocating a moral code that claims to derive validity from an imaginary being. The French dramatist Charles-Guillaume Étienne is alleged to have said: “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”  That is how I feel about the  meaning and purpose of life.  Meaning and purpose are not inherent in the universe,  created by someone or something and existing ‘out there’.  Meaning and purpose are things that each of us must create for ourselves, use to help us navigate our choices, and then accept responsibility for the outcomes. In short, we are not just following orders.

What does it mean to be a ‘good’ person?

For me, the most challenging of the issues I discuss here is accepting responsibility for bringing meaning and purpose into my life.

My guiding principle is beneficence: act in a way that makes a positive difference. Do what you can to leave the world a better place.

My focus is on the well-being of individual humans and human society, but it includes consideration of other living beings and the piece of the universe we inhabit and upon which we depend. Important attributes include empathy (understanding the feelings of others) and compassion (caring for others). The use of reason and logic are important to assess the consequences of actions. I favor defaulting to altruism and assuming good faith in others. I am a consequentialist (my ethics are driven by possible outcomes) rather than a deontologist (whose ethics are driven by a set of rules). I value honesty, respect, fairness (and justice), tolerance, and humility. I believe that humans thrive best in societies characterized by strong networks of mutual obligation.