SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Copyright © Michael Hewitt-Gleeson 2004 Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n has as s erted hi s mo ...
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SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Copyright © Michael Hewitt-Gleeson 2004 Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n has as s erted hi s mo ral ri ght to be i d en ti fi ed as the au tho r o f thi s w o rk i n ac c o rd an c e w i th the Co p y ri ght A c t. A ll ri ghts res erv ed . Ap art fro m an y fai r d eali n g fo r the p u rp os e o f p ri v ate s tu d y , res earc h, c ri ti c i s m o r rev i ew as p ermi tted ; n o p art o f thi s p u blic atio n may be rep ro d u c ed , s to red i n a retri ev a l s y s tem, o r tran s mi tted i n an y fo rm o r by an y means , d i gi tal, elec t ro n i c , mec han i c al, p ho to c o p yi n g, rec o rd i n g o r o therw i s e w i tho u t p ri o r w ri tten p ermi ss i o n . Inqu i ri es to be mad e to the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g – http : // w w w .s c ho o lo fthi n k i n g.o rg
Nati o n al Li bra ry o f A u s trali a Catalo gu i n g- i n - p u blic ati o n d ata: H ew i tt- Glees o n , Mi c hael, 1947So ftw are fo r y o u r b r ai n ISB N 1 8 7 58 57 49 4 1. C reati v e thi n k i n g. 2. Pro bl em- s o lv i n g. I H ew i tt- Glees o n , Mi c hae l, 194 7So ftw are fo r th e b rai n . W hi le ev ery c are has been tak en to trac e an d ac k n o w led ge c op y ri ght w e ap o lo gi s e fo r an y ac c i d en tal i n fri n gemen ts that may hav e o c c u rred . Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g PO B o x 3 0 0 T o o rak VIC 3 142 A U ST RA LIA Vo i c e: +613 .950 0 .8 0 0 0
i Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W hat they s ay ab ou t Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n hi s brai n s o ftw are an d his w o rk in teac hi n g p eo p le ho w to thi n k … J A C K WELC H , The Ge ne ra l Ele c tr i c Co m p a ny, N e w Yo rk I w o u ld lo v e to hav e a man agem en t team tha t re ally u n d ers to o d the C VST OB VS eq u ati o n - - i t's the ' v alu e- ad d ed ' ro le i n the man agemen t p ro c es s . PR OF ESSOR GEOR GE GA LLU P, T he Ga llu p Po ll, Pri nc e t o n I beli ev e the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k in g’s w ork i n teac hi n g p eo p le to thi nk may be the mo s t i mp o rtan t thi n g go i n g o n i n the w o rld to d ay . ED WA R D D E B ON O, co - f o u nde r of t he Sc ho o l of Thi nk i ng I w o u ld exp ec t a Sc ho o l o f T hi n k in g member to u s e thi n k i n g in a qu i et an d c o n fi d en t man n er. I w o u ld exp ec t that p ers o n to hav e p rid e in hi s o r her thi n k in g s k i ll. T hi s ap p li ed thi n ki n g is p rac ti cal- - the s o rt o f thi n k in g that i s requ i red to get thi n gs d o n e! PETER F ITZSIMO N S, Sy dne y Mo rni ng H e ra ld, Sydne y If Dr. H ew i tt- Glees o n has hi s w ay , A u s trali an s c ho o lc hi ld ren w i ll hav e th e s tu d y o f ' thi n k in g' as muc h a p art o f thei r c urri c u lu m as the trad i ti o n al s u bj ec ts o f maths an d En gli s h are n o w . T he d o c to r is i n Sy d n ey as p art o f a n ati o n wi d e to u r to p ro mo te hi s i n n ov ati v e c o nc ep t - CVST OB VS. TH E TOD A Y SH O W, C ha nne l 10 TV, Sydne y A u s trali an k i ds w i ll s o o n b e tau ght to thi n k fo r thems elv es . PR OF ESSOR R OB ER T H A Y ES, H arva rd B u s i ne ss Sc ho o l, B os t o n In bu s i n es s , mo v i n g fro m CVST OB VS s ho u ld be the c o n s tan t. R A Y MA R TIN , R a y Ma rt i n Sho w, Me lbo u rne I w an t thi s fo r my o w n k i d . GQ Ma g a zi ne , N e w Y o rk Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n , s c i en ti s t an d lec tu rer, i s an i n tern ati o n al mo v er an d s hak er. Th e St e ve He lle r Sho w, K R EX C o lo ra do CVST OB VS i s s o s i mp le y et i t really w o rk s ! U SA IR Ma g a zi ne Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n an d the Sc hoo l o f T hi n ki n g are sp read i n g thei r i d eas . So me p eo p le hav e d u b bed them the " Mc Do n ald ' s o f T hi n k in g" . N a t i o na l Edu c a ti o n A ss o ci a t i o n, Wa s hi ng t o n. Seld o m hav e I b een as exc i ted by th e p o ten ti al o f a p ro j ec t as I w as o n d i s cu s si n g the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g w i th y o u . R e a de rs D i ge s t , C o ve r St o ry, Wo rldwi de H i s s ys tem has been ad o p ted b y c o rpo rate exec u ti v es , tau ght i n s c ho o ls and s tu di ed by go v ern men t o ffi c i als .
ii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
INTRODUCTION TO THIS 2004 EDITION A p p aren tly I w as the fi rs t to c o i n the term ne c kto p c o m p u te r. In the 8 0 s , w hi le o n th e lec tu re c i rc u i t i n the U SA an d E u ro p e, I w as i n v i ted to gi v e the k ey n o te ad d res s to a s eri es o f IB M exec u ti v e c o n feren c es i n Mo n te Carlo . I i n tro d u c ed my thi n k in g s trate gy - CVS T O B VS - as ' s o ftw are fo r the b rai n ' an d refe rred to the b r ai n as a ne c kto p com p u te r. It hi ghly amu s ed the IB M exec u ti v es in the au d i en c e s o I k ep t ‘n ec k to p c o mpu ter’ i n my talk s fo r a lau gh. In 198 9 I w ro te i t u p i n S o ft w ar e F o r The B r ain an d n o w i t' s c o mmo n c u rren c y . Y o u an d I, w i th o u r hu man brai n s , a re p rep o s tero u s ly o v er en d o w ed w i th thi n k i n g hard w are b u t w e’re v ery s ho rt o n so ftw are . W hy thi s i s s o an d w hat yo u c an d o abo u t i t i s i n this b o o k . T hi s e- bo o k i s the n ew an d ev o lv ed 2004 Edi t i o n o f S o ft w ar e F o r Y our B r ain an d si nc e the fi rs t ed i ti o n , 15 y ears ago , i ts ev o lu ti o n has p ro d uc ed a few c han ges w o rth n o ti n g. T he fi rs t mu tati o n i s i n the n ame. It has ev o lv ed fro m ‘s o ftw are fo r the brai n ’ to ‘s o ftw are fo r yo u r brai n ’. Pa rt o f the reas o n fo r thi s i s bec au s e thi s bo o k has als o bec o me the bas i c text fo r the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g ( SOT ) si n c e i t w en t o n line i n 1995 . F o r y o u r i n fo rmati o n :
It w as the SOT w hi c h p u t ' thi n k i n g' on the c u rri c u lu m i n U S sc ho o ls .
It w as the SOT t hat h elp ed d ev elo p t he i d ea o f ' s i x thi n k i n g c ap s ' w hi c h E d w ard d e B o n o has d es c ri bed as " the m o s t i m p o rta nt c ha ng e i n hu m a n thi nki ng fo r the p a s t 2 3 0 0 ye a rs " .
It w as the S OT that es tabli s hed the i d ea o f ' thi n k i n g in s tru c to rs ' fo r d i s s emi n ati n g thi nk i n g s ki lls aro u n d the w o rld .
It w as SOT tha t es tabli s hed the i d ea o f ' d ai ly trai n i n g' by emai l.
It w as SOT that es tabli s hed the CVS T O B VS " un i v ers al brai n s o ftw are" w hi c h w as later t ak en u p an d u s ed by J ac k W elc h thro u gho u t G en eral E lec tri c . " F i nd i ng a b e tte r wa y e v e ry d a y" bec ame a GE s lo gan w hi c h w as p u t u p i n ev ery GE o ffi c e an d fac to ry aro u n d the w o rld .
iii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T he SOT s en d s o u t less o n s by emai l ev ery d ay to members i n o v er 40 co u n tri es w o rld w i d e. E ac h d ai ly les s o n i s a c hap ter o f thi s bo o k – p ers o n ali zed f r o m me to the tr ai n ee - an d the bo o k has ev o lv ed to bec o me mu c h mo re p ers o n al an d i n ti mate. So the ti tle i s n o w mo re p ers o n al. T he o the r mo re i n ter es ti n g mu tati o n s i n thi s ed i ti o n are d u e to feed bac k I get fro m all th es e tr ai n ees . T he o n li n e tr ai n in g gi v es me a ri c h an d c o n ti n u ou s s tream o f d ai ly c o mmen ts fro m trai n ees – w hat they li k e abo u t the les s on s , w hat they d o n ’t li k e abo u t them an d w hat i d eas they hav e fo u n d u s efu l en o u gh to t ran s fer i n to thei r o w n li v es . T hi s in terac ti v e exp eri en c e has help ed me ev o lv e man y o f the i d eas , to s tren gthen the w eak er p arts an d to hav e a c lear er u n d ers tan d in g o f ho w p eo p le pu t thi s brain s o ftw are i n to ac ti o n at ho me, at s c ho o l, i n s p o rt an d i n thei r d i v ers e c areers . F o r thes e re as o n , thi s 2 0 0 4 E d i ti o n p res en ts the la tes t ev o lu ti o n o f t hi s w o rk . In s tead o f the o ld c ha p te rs there a re the n ew d a ys . Y o u c an read thi s ed i ti o n as a bo o k , i n a c o u p le o f ho u rs at a s i tti n g, o r y o u c an rati o n y o u rs elf o n e les s o n a d ay as a c o u rs e o f trai n i n g fo r 3 7 d ay s . W hat y o u hav e here is n o t j us t a bo ok abo u t theo ry bu t a u ni qu e w o rk -i n -p ro gres s . It’s a p res en tati o n o f b rai n s o ftw ar e that has been tri ed , tes ted an d e v o lv ed b y tho u s an d s o f b rai n us ers w o rld w i d e o ver the las t few d ec ad es . A s a bon u s I in c lu d e tw o extra p arts alo n g w i th thi s edi ti o n – Fe e dba ck and F A Qs . T he F eed bac k is a c o llec ti o n o f c o mmen ts fro m members aro u n d the w o rld w ho hav e u s ed thes e les s o n s . Y o u may fi n d thei r exp eri en c es i n teres ti n g. T he F A Qs are t hei r frequ en tly as k ed qu es ti o ns ab o u t p ro blems w i th the brai n s o ftw are an d th e materi al i n thi s bo o k an d als o my rep li es . I ho p e y o u fi n d thes e bo n us es a u s efu l ad d i ti o n to the w o rk . In thi s sp ec i al ed i ti on , I hav e als o i n c lud ed a n ew an d s o mew hat c o ntro v ers i al c hap ter i n Day 6 c alled A B ri g ht Ide a W hos e T i m e H as Co me . T he c on tro v ers y i s c o n n ec ted to the materi al i n the fi rs t p art o f the bo o k ( Day s 1 to 12 ) w hic h trac es the hi s to ry o f w hy w e thi nk the way w e d o i n W es tern c u ltu re. T he d o mi n an t
iv Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s o ftw are w e teac h o u r k i d s at s c ho ol i s the RIGH T /W RONG s o ftw are w hi c h w as d ev elo p ed by the Vati c an an d s p read aro u n d the w o rld w i th mis s i on ary zeal d u ri n g the p as t 40 0 y ears . E v en tho u gh the fac ts I refer to ar e w ell k n o w n to s c ho lars and c an eas i ly be c hec k ed o u t, i t i s bec au s e I tak e s uc h a c ri ti c al ap p ro ac h to the ro le o f c ertai n reli gi o u s i d ea v i ru s es an d ho w they hav e i n fec ted o u r thi n k i n g habi ts t hat man y p eo p le feel u n c o mfo rtable , s o me ev en an gry . I c o n ti nu e to get mi xed reac ti o n s fro m read ers . So me w an t the materi al remo v ed fro m th e t rai n i n g bec au s e they are o ffen d ed by the r eli gi o u s c ri ti c i s m and o thers are s i mp ly bo red bec au s e they d o n ’t s ee the relev an c e. H o w ev e r, the ma j o ri ty o f read ers ap p lau d the c han c e to ha v e thes e i s s u es d i sc u ss ed an d o thers hav e ac c lai med thi s s ec ti on to be mo s t li berati n g fo r them. In a Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g all v i ew p o in ts n eed to be c o ns id ered , s o I hav e le ft i t i n . Rec en tly T he Da Vi nci Co de b y Dan Bro w n has in tro d u c ed a wi d e au di en c e to man y o f thes e c o n tro v ers i al matters an d s o tho s e o f y o u w ho hav e read B ro w n ’s bo o k may n o w fin d the read i n g o f this bo o k mu c h eas i er go i n g than s o me o f my earli er read ers . If y o u c an n o t s to mac h an y c ri ti c is m o f reli gi o n o r i f y o u c ann o t s ee the in flu en c e that reli gi o n s ti ll exerts o v er all o u r t hi n k in g to d ay ( es p eci ally B i g Reli gi on li k e the Vati c an ) then y o u c an s k ip Day s 1 to 12 an d s tart fro m Day 13 . B u t the re are tw o mai n reas o n s fo r k eep in g thi s materi al i n thi s bo o k an d w hy y ou s ho u ld read an d thi n k abo u t i t: W elfare an d Sec u ri ty . T he qu ali ty o f y ou r w elfare - y o u r p ro d u c ti vi ty , y ou r health, y o u r p ro fes s i o n al s u c c ess – wi ll alw ay s be a d i rec t c on sequ en c e o f the qu ali ty o f y o u r thi nk in g. If y o u are to u p g rad e y o u r thi n k i n g s o ftw are i t i s help fu l to u n d ers tan d w hy y o ur c u rren t s o ftw are w o rk s the w ay i t d o es an d w hy y o u thi n k the w ay y o u d o . T hi s c an n o t be u n d ers to o d w i tho u t exami n i n g the hi s to ry o f o u r thi n k i n g an d ho w w e c a me to b e d o mi n ated by o n e d an gero u s id ea fro m o n e an c i en t man – Pla to ’s c o n c ep t o f T RU T H . So w e exami n e thi s i n the fi rs t 12 d ay s . Y o u w i ll exp lo re Pla to ’s i d ea o f o b j e cti v e tru th an d y o u w i ll s ee ho w thi s has led to the s tro n g d efen c e o f T he T ru th w hi c h s o d i mi n is hes the thi n k er' s abi li ty to es c ap e
v Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN fro m hi s v i ew p o in t to fi n d a mu c h better o n e. Y o u w i ll un d ers tan d ho w A ri s to tle later i mbed d ed Plato ’s i d ea i n hi s s y llo gi s m w hi c h w as then p i c k ed up b y T ho mas A qu in as an d bec ame the bas i s o f l o g i c , the d o mi n an t b rain s o ftw are p u s hed by the Vati c an . W es tern ed u c ati o n has mad e a go d o u t o f lo g i c an d the ' s earc h fo r c ertai n ty ' . T he W es tern ed u c ati o n s y s tem w as s et u p by the med i ev al Chu rc h a n d s p read thro u gho u t E u ro p e an d exp o rted to o ther p a rts o f the w o rld w i th mi s s i o n ary zeal . E v en to d ay , w e s ti ll s en d ou r c hi ld ren to sc ho o l p ro grammi n g thei r y o un g brai n s w i th the lo gi c o p erati n g s ys tem. T hen , they ' re gi v en the i mp res s io n that all they hav e to d o i n li fe i s " to g et th e ri gh t an s w er" o r " tel l T he T ru th" . H o w c o u ld y o u abu s e a c hi ld mo re than letti n g hi m thi n k that li fe i s s i mp ly mad e up o f RIGH T an d W RONG? On ly Mi c ro s o ft' s glo bal exp o rt o f DOS s o ftw ar e has ev er ri v alled the Vati c an ' s glo bal e xp o rt o f the lo g i c brai n s o ftw are. In ad d i ti on to hi s to ry , the s ec on d reas o n fo r bein g up fro n t abo u t all thi s has to d o w i th y o u r fu tu re s ec u ri ty . Si n c e 9/1 1 the w o rld has bec o me a mo re d an ge r o u s p lac e an d there i s a d i rec t li n k to thi s d an ger an d to the exc es s es o f c ertai n reli gi o u s i d eav i ru s es . Man y s c i en tis ts aro u n d the w o rld a r e fi n ally s tar ti n g to s p eak u p . T hi s i s u n u su al bec au s e s c i en ti s ts us u ally p refer to g o abo u t thei r bu s i n es s leav i n g the head li n es to the c ha tte ra ti o f bu s i n es s , p o li tic s , en tertai n men t an d s p o rt. B u t n o t an ymo re. T he threat to o u r s ec u ri ty p o s ed by the extremes o f re li gi o u s fu n d amen tali s m i s o n e o f the mo s t leg en d ary i s s u es o f o u r ti mes . So , i n Day 6 I h av e c o me o u t , as ha v e s o me o ther s c i en ti s ts , i n an effo rt to d r aw atten ti o n to thi s threat an d to help o t hers w ho may feel i n c li n ed to d o s o . Lo o k i n g b ac k o v er the p as t tw o d e c ad es o f thi s d i sc u ss i on an d the c on tro v ers y as s o c i ated w i th i t the mo s t ti res o me reto r t by my c ri ti c s is that I am a nti- re li g i o n. T hi s c lai m i s mean t to s u gges t that my thi n k i n g o n thi s is s u e i s s o p re- determi n ed by p rej ud i c e that i t c an therefo re be d is mi ss ed . Of c o u rs e, as a p ers on who v alu es
vi Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN thi n k i n g, I am n o t an ti - reli gi o n at al l bu t I a m an ti the v e ry d an gero u s c la i m mad e by s o me reli gi o u s fu n d amen tali s ts that my - reli gi o n - i s - the- o n e- tru e- reli g i o n - and w hat- are- w e- go i n g- to - d o - abo u t- y o u . So , I’ ll t ak e thi s o p p o rtu n i ty to s tate o nc e a g a i n that I am f ar f ro m bei n g an ti - r eli gi o n . In A u s trali a, the las t n ati o n al c en s u s s ho w s that there i s a ri c h d i v ers i ty o f c u ltu res , p hi lo s o p hi es , i d eo lo gi es an d reli gi o n s . T his is an examp le o f o u r ‘freed o m o f reli gi o n ’ w hi c h has b een a p ro blem fo r man y o ther n ati o n s . In A u s trali a, the re a re o v e r 2 70 d i s ti n c t reli gi o u s gro u p s . T hi s i s ev id enc e o f the c reati v i ty , to le ran c e an d go o d w i ll o f o u r n ati o n an d mad e p o s s i ble by Sec ti o n 116 o f the A u s trali an Co n s ti tu ti o n w hi c h s ay s A LL reli gi o n s are equ a l u n d er th e Law o f A u s trali a.
F o r o v er 10 0 y ears , Sec ti o n 116 has allo w ed all A u s trali an s to ben efi t fro m o u r great c o mmo n w ealth o f reli gi o - d i v ers i ty . J u s t to men ti o n a few : A u s trali an s s hare the lo n g ev o lu ti o n o f th e A bo ri gi n al d re a mi n g, the w i s d o m gai n ed fro m the s u fferi n g o f J u d ai s m, the w armth o f the b ro th erh o o d o f Is lam, the c ha ri ty o f the Chri s ti an s w i th thei r lo v e o f Go d an d fello w hu m an s bei n gs ,
the p eac e an d c o mp as s i on o f
B u d d his m, the p lu rali s m o f the H in du s , the T ao i s t res p ec t o f n atu re, the emp has i s o n relati o n s hi ps an d man n ers o f Con fu c i ani s m, the s o c i al j u s tic e o f Mar xi s m, the hu man i s t freed o m o f the li b erals , th e ho li s ti c ap p ro ac h o f the A fri c an s , the Si k hs w i th thei r hu mo u r an d s in c eri ty , an d , a gro w i n g n u mber o f A u s trali an s - abo v e 2 5% - w ho are fr ee to s tat e that they hav e n o reli gi o n at all . W e hav e thes e an d man y o ther reli gi o u s s ys tems w hi c h are a p ri c eles s p art o f o u r v as t treas u re o f i n tellec tu a l c ap i tal. A ll thes e d i v ers e reli gi o u s v alu es hav e thri v ed an d are c o mp ati ble i n an en v i ro n men t o f mu tu al r es p ec t an d freed o m. A s a y o u n g c o u n try , w e hav e lea rn t fro m the bi tt er exp eri en c e o f o th ers . W e h av e s een that i t i s o n ly w hen o n e reli gi o n s eek s to i mp o s e i ts au tho ri ty an d ri gh teo u s n es s o v er an o the r that w e c an exp ec t the bru ta li ty an d the te rro r o f r eli gi o u s w ars an d c ru sad es , the ho rro r o f fatw ahs an d i n q u i s i tio n s , an d the fu ry o f the p ers ec u ti o n s that f o llo w . So w hat then i s the qu i n tes s en ti al ben efit o f Sec ti o n 116?
vii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN It i s , s i mp ly , freed o m o f c ho i c e. T hat mean s freed o m fo r y o u to c ho o s e, n o t fo r s o meo n e els e to c ho o s e fo r y o u . B u t, A u s trali an s are n o t bli n d . A s w i th all n ati o n s , w e hav e s een the p ra c ti s e fall s o mew hat s ho rt o f t he i d eal . A u s trali a, li k e all n ati o n s , c an ref lec t o n i ts o w n s o rry hi s to ry o f p ers ecu ti o ns w hic h hav e inc lu d ed the flo ggi n gs o f Iri s h c on v ic ts, the ' p i g tai li n g' o f th e Chi n es e, the theft o f A bo ri gi n al c hi ld ren , the s c hi s m o f t he Labo u r mo v emen t, the t reatm en t o f Vi etn am Veter an s an d the W hi te A u s trali a Po l i c y . Sti ll, the i d eal o f F r eed o m o f Reli gi o n i s qu i n tes s en ti ally A u s trali an an d i t i s o n e that I p ers o n ally hav e alw ay s s u pp o rted . B u t fi n ally , the re al p u rp o s e o f thi s ed i ti o n is to p res en t to y o u the fu ll s u i te o f brai n s o ftw are – SD N T C VS TOB VS QR H PR R – w hi c h has been the c entral o f fer o f thi s bo o k si n c e i t w as fi rs t p u bli shed i n 198 9. I ho p e y o u w i ll enj o y thi s 2 00 4 E d i ti on o f So ftwa re F o r Y o u r B ra i n wi th i ts fres h mi x o f the o ld an d the n e w . M ic h ae l H e w it t - Gl e e so n Pr inc ipal S OT M e l bo ur ne 2004
viii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Contents
DAY 1 OF 37............................................................................................................................. 1 Welcome to the School of Thinking. .................................................................................................................1 The School of Thinking Explained ....................................................................................................................1 The Daily Thinking Lesson ................................................................................................................................1 Day 2 OF 37 .............................................................................................................................3 Brainpower and Intelligence............................................................................................................................. 3 Cognitive Science............................................................................................................................................... 4 Brain software for better thinking.................................................................................................................... 5 Interpretation..................................................................................................................................................... 7 DAY 3 OF 37 ........................................................................................................................... 8 What if you had a virus in your brain?.............................................................................................................8 And, in YOUR brain??? ................................................................................................................................... 10 Ideaviruses, Memes and Memeplexes ........................................................................................................... 10 Plato the TruthFreak ....................................................................................................................................... 10 STC - The Problem and The Solution.............................................................................................................. 11 DAY 4 OF 37 .......................................................................................................................... 12 Cognitive Dissonance: From Flat Earth to Round Earth ............................................................................. 12 The Father of Modern Science........................................................................................................................ 13 Dosage of Dissonance...................................................................................................................................... 14 DAY 5 OF 37 .......................................................................................................................... 16 My-Teacher-is-Right-and-Your-Teacher-is-Wrong.......................................................................................17 Truth 'R' Us ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 Myths, Theories and Hypotheses ...................................................................................................................20 Bores and Bullies ............................................................................................................................................. 21 Today?...............................................................................................................................................................24 Experiment....................................................................................................................................................... 25 DAY 6 OF 37 ..........................................................................................................................26 DAY 7 OF 37...........................................................................................................................32 Always remember, if you don't do your own thinking, someone else will do it for you.............................33 Mail sorting and Labelling ..............................................................................................................................33 Aristotle's Silly Syllogism ................................................................................................................................34 No Contradictions, Please!.............................................................................................................................. 35 Judging Right from Wrong ............................................................................................................................. 35 Ancient Software..............................................................................................................................................36 Let's Be Fair......................................................................................................................................................36 Beyond Critical Thinking ................................................................................................................................36 DAY 8 OF 37 ......................................................................................................................... 38 Doctor Truth and The Truth ...........................................................................................................................38 Truth Machines................................................................................................................................................40 'Angelic Doctor' Truth .....................................................................................................................................40 Exporting the Virus ......................................................................................................................................... 41 DAY 9 OF 37 ..........................................................................................................................42
ix Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN On Sovereign Thinkers, Religions, Belief Systems and PTV........................................................................43 The Sovereign Thinker ....................................................................................................................................44 The Scheme ...................................................................................................................................................... 45 Collecting Heaven Points ................................................................................................................................46 Pay Your Money, Collect Your Points ............................................................................................................46 "Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely" .......................................................................................................... 47 And he did! .......................................................................................................................................................48 The 'St Peters' Scam.........................................................................................................................................48 Luther's Pamphlets..........................................................................................................................................49 Sovereign Thinker............................................................................................................................................49 Inventor of the Media......................................................................................................................................50 Modern Martins...............................................................................................................................................50 The Internet .....................................................................................................................................................50 DAY 10 OF 37......................................................................................................................... 51 Replacing Old Truths With New Truths ........................................................................................................ 52 Another Truth Discovered! ............................................................................................................................. 53 Crick and Watson............................................................................................................................................. 54 What is life?...................................................................................................................................................... 54 Digital Genes .................................................................................................................................................... 55 The Human Genome Project .......................................................................................................................... 56 Knowledge and Power ..................................................................................................................................... 56 Instant auto-excommunication option .......................................................................................................... 57 The End of the Mystical Millennium..............................................................................................................58 The Greatest Thinkers .....................................................................................................................................58 DAY 11 OF 37 .........................................................................................................................59 The Effects of PTV ........................................................................................................................................... 59 Brain Vain......................................................................................................................................................... 59 Righteous and Sightless .................................................................................................................................. 59 Space Glutton ...................................................................................................................................................60 Lazy Critic.........................................................................................................................................................60 The Brain Software .......................................................................................................................................... 61 DAY 12 OF 37.........................................................................................................................62 The Truth..........................................................................................................................................................62 Unfair Conclusion? ..........................................................................................................................................62 DAY 13 OF 37.........................................................................................................................64 Problems and Opportunities...........................................................................................................................64 Intelligent Behaviour Equals Strategies and Options................................................................................... 65 DAY 14 0F 37.........................................................................................................................67 Units of Intellect ..............................................................................................................................................68 Messages In and Messages Out ......................................................................................................................68 To Send or Not To Send, That's the Decision................................................................................................69 DAY 15 OF 37 .........................................................................................................................70 BRAIN SOFTWARE: SDNT Search Engine...................................................................................................70 What is starting? ..............................................................................................................................................70 The Start of the Sale = Customer Attention....................................................................................................71 The Check Move................................................................................................................................................71 MBO or MBS? .................................................................................................................................................. 72
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SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Strategic Act ..................................................................................................................................................... 72 Why start things?............................................................................................................................................. 73 When to Start? ................................................................................................................................................. 74 Mistake-phobia ................................................................................................................................................ 74 Have a go! ......................................................................................................................................................... 74 Lazy Critic......................................................................................................................................................... 75 Starting by Asking............................................................................................................................................ 76 Ask and Receive ............................................................................................................................................... 76 Getting Started ................................................................................................................................................. 76 DAY 16 OF 37.........................................................................................................................78 DO ..................................................................................................................................................................... 78 The Quest - Seek and Ye Shall Find ............................................................................................................... 78 Questions are the Answer ............................................................................................................................... 79 Questions Help You Do ................................................................................................................................... 79 Do it bad! ..........................................................................................................................................................80 Bad Can Lead to Good .....................................................................................................................................80 Using Questions...............................................................................................................................................80 DAY 17 OF 37 ........................................................................................................................ 82 NOTICE ............................................................................................................................................................82 Objectivity ........................................................................................................................................................82 Cybernetics.......................................................................................................................................................82 Feedback Loops ...............................................................................................................................................83 Edward de Bono...............................................................................................................................................84 The Brain as a Body System............................................................................................................................84 Cognetics ..........................................................................................................................................................84 Who was a Noticer? .........................................................................................................................................85 Power to the People, Power to the Customer ................................................................................................85 Teaching Thinking...........................................................................................................................................86 Notice the CVS .................................................................................................................................................86 Your Own Gallup Poll Question......................................................................................................................86 How to Notice Things......................................................................................................................................86 Opposite Direction........................................................................................................................................... 87 Mistakes............................................................................................................................................................ 87 Future Consequences ...................................................................................................................................... 87 Last Chance to Choose a Safe Future .............................................................................................................88 Why notice things? ..........................................................................................................................................88 Input .................................................................................................................................................................88 Habits of Noticing............................................................................................................................................89 Skill and Training ............................................................................................................................................89 Distractions ......................................................................................................................................................89 DAY 18 OF 37......................................................................................................................... 91 Thinking vs Doing?.......................................................................................................................................... 91 Thought-Based Action:THINK-START-DO. .................................................................................................92 Action-Based Thought: DO-NOTICE-THINK...............................................................................................92 The Alternating Balance..................................................................................................................................92 The Cognetics Spiral........................................................................................................................................93 What if ...? Thinking ........................................................................................................................................94 Hardware and Software ..................................................................................................................................94 Logic and Cognetics......................................................................................................................................... 95 Thinking is Movement.....................................................................................................................................96
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SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Thought Experiment: ...................................................................................................................................... 97 DAY 19 OF 37........................................................................................................................ 98 CVSTOBVS - Cognetics Operating System ....................................................................................................98 The Cognetics Operating System....................................................................................................................98 From CVS to BVS; or CVS2BVS......................................................................................................................99 Beyond Logic....................................................................................................................................................99 Unique rightness..............................................................................................................................................99 The Law of Cognetics......................................................................................................................................101 Antidote to PTV...............................................................................................................................................101 Not Testing and Measuring = Faith ............................................................................................................. 102 Belief Systems ................................................................................................................................................ 102 Laws of Moses ................................................................................................................................................ 103 From Polytheism to Monotheism................................................................................................................. 104 Believing Science and Believing Faith.......................................................................................................... 105 Your Beliefs .................................................................................................................................................... 105 Thought Experiment ..................................................................................................................................... 106 DAY 20 OF 37 ....................................................................................................................... 111 Measuring Your Job ....................................................................................................................................... 111 Decimal Cognetics ..........................................................................................................................................112 BVS = CVS x 10 ...............................................................................................................................................112 Tenpower.........................................................................................................................................................113 DAY 21 OF 37........................................................................................................................114 Practice, Repetition, Rehearsal......................................................................................................................114 What is Tenpower? ......................................................................................................................................... 115 Put-on a Zero! ................................................................................................................................................. 115 Where to use Tenpower?................................................................................................................................116 Why use Tenpower? .......................................................................................................................................116 Quantum Leaps and Orders of Magnitude ................................................................................................... 117 Tenpower and Googols................................................................................................................................... 117 How large is a googol? .................................................................................................................................... 117 DAY 22 OF 37 .......................................................................................................................119 Managing Your Attention...............................................................................................................................119 Attention Disorders ....................................................................................................................................... 122 The CVSTOBVS Switch ................................................................................................................................. 122 Switching TO.................................................................................................................................................. 122 Programming the Software ........................................................................................................................... 123 CVSTOBVS one hundred times per day....................................................................................................... 123 (CVSTOBVS) x 100pd.................................................................................................................................... 123 Better is Clever ............................................................................................................................................... 124 To Look Is To See........................................................................................................................................... 125 Seek and You Shall Find................................................................................................................................ 126 DAY 23 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 127 QRH Styleware................................................................................................................................................127 What is Styleware?..........................................................................................................................................127 Style A Strategy for Behaviour.......................................................................................................................127 Your Personal Style........................................................................................................................................ 128 Changing Your Style ...................................................................................................................................... 128 Your Virtual Board of Directors.................................................................................................................... 129
xii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Appointing Your Directors............................................................................................................................ 129 Q is for Quality ............................................................................................................................................... 130 Quality is Adding Value................................................................................................................................. 130 The Habit of Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 130 DAY 24 OF 37 .......................................................................................................................131 Self X10............................................................................................................................................................131 DAY 25 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 133 DAY 26 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 136 PTV and RMC................................................................................................................................................. 136 DAY 27 OF 37....................................................................................................................... 138 Mutual recognition ........................................................................................................................................ 139 R1 - Self Recognition ..................................................................................................................................... 140 R2 - Other Recognition ................................................................................................................................. 140 R3 - System Recognition ................................................................................................................................141 Papal Recognition.......................................................................................................................................... 142 Princely Recognition ..................................................................................................................................... 142 Recognition for Self ....................................................................................................................................... 143 Recognition for Others .................................................................................................................................. 143 Recognition for the System........................................................................................................................... 144 On Balance ..................................................................................................................................................... 144 Secret Revolution........................................................................................................................................... 144 DAY 28 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 145 Stars and Conformists ................................................................................................................................... 145 Humour is Clever........................................................................................................................................... 145 Surprise is Human......................................................................................................................................... 146 Humour is Serious......................................................................................................................................... 146 The Humour of Change ..................................................................................................................................147 That was then ... this is now!..........................................................................................................................147 The Scientist's Dogs....................................................................................................................................... 148 Productivity is Fun......................................................................................................................................... 148 Cognetics Style ............................................................................................................................................... 149 DAY 29 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 150 PRR Personal Trainer.................................................................................................................................... 150 The Stirrup ...................................................................................................................................................... 151 Training and Service....................................................................................................................................... 151 The New Age of Chivalry ................................................................................................................................ 151 The Ultimate Strategy is PRR!...................................................................................................................... 152 Jungle Warfare............................................................................................................................................... 152 Opposite Way ................................................................................................................................................. 152 Royal Australian Air Force............................................................................................................................ 153 Knowing Versus Doing.................................................................................................................................. 153 DAY 30 Of 37 ....................................................................................................................... 155 Results as Consequences................................................................................................................................155 Results as Scores.............................................................................................................................................155 How To Get Results ....................................................................................................................................... 156 Process, Not Result........................................................................................................................................ 156 Process Equals Results ...................................................................................................................................157
xiii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Managing For Results ....................................................................................................................................157 The Secret ........................................................................................................................................................157 Results = Training Hours = Results............................................................................................................. 158 The Secret ....................................................................................................................................................... 158 SOT Training Survey ..................................................................................................................................... 159 DAY 31 OF 37.......................................................................................................................160 The Rehearsal................................................................................................................................................. 160 The AFF .......................................................................................................................................................... 160 The Dilemma...................................................................................................................................................161 The Decision....................................................................................................................................................161 The Rehearsals ................................................................................................................................................161 The Plane ........................................................................................................................................................ 162 The Omission ................................................................................................................................................. 162 The Exit........................................................................................................................................................... 162 The Fall ........................................................................................................................................................... 163 The Grin.......................................................................................................................................................... 163 DAY 32 0F 37....................................................................................................................... 165 Intellectual Capital Development (ICD) ...................................................................................................... 165 The Boardroom Factor .................................................................................................................................. 165 Business Maps................................................................................................................................................ 166 Medieval Measurement................................................................................................................................. 166 Knowledge-Based Companies .......................................................................................................................167 Intellectual Capital (IC)................................................................................................................................. 168 ICD and Investing in People ......................................................................................................................... 168 ICD and Reward............................................................................................................................................. 169 Rewarding and Results.................................................................................................................................. 170 Reward Power ................................................................................................................................................ 170 Tall Poppies .................................................................................................................................................... 170 DAY 33 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 173 What is the idea of 'Australia'? ......................................................................................................................173 Who created Australia? ..................................................................................................................................173 The Third Convention ....................................................................................................................................174 The Clever Constitution .................................................................................................................................175 What is the idea of 'Freedom of Religion' .....................................................................................................175 'For we are young and free' ............................................................................................................................176 The Clever Country .........................................................................................................................................177 DAY 34 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 181 Interpretation................................................................................................................................................. 183 DAY 35 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 184 DAY 36 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 186 DAY 37 OF 37....................................................................................................................... 189
xiv Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
N EMO N A SC ITU R SA PIEN S A R TI F EX. No - o ne i s e ve r b o rn a s ki lle d thi nke r! Welcome to the School of Thinking. T he Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g ( SOT ) i s a v i rtu al s c ho o l w ho s e mi s si o n is to en ri c h the li v es o f p eo p le by help i n g them to bec o me s marter an d mo re effec ti v e thi n k ers . It ac c o mp li s hes thi s go al thro u gh a s eri es o f 3 7 emai led les s o ns d esi gn ed to help y o u bec o me a s k i lled thi n k er thro u gh d ai ly p rac ti c e i n Sp eed T hi nk in g. T hi s i s y o u r in tro d u c to ry less o n . It w ill exp lai n the trai n i n g metho d o f SOT, tell y o u s o methi n g abo u t u s , an d o u tli n e y o u r d ai ly les s o n s c hed u le. The School of Thinking Explained SOT i s bas ed o n a s i mp le y et fu n d amen tal p remi s e: T he wa y yo u thi nk a b o u t yo u r c a re e r wi ll d e te rmi ne tha t c a re e r. F ro m thi s s i mp le p remi s e, i t fo llo w s that y o u r c u rren t c ar eer res u lts :
are a d i rec t c o n s equ en c e o f the w ay y o u hav e been thi n k i n g abo u t y o u r c areer
c an be mu c h better than th ey are i f y o u c han ge the w ay y o u thi n k
How do I go about changing the way I think? Y o u d o s o by up grad i n g y o u r c u rren t thi n k in g s k i lls o r ' brai n s o ftw are' . T he mo s t p o w erfu l w ay to d o thi s i s by d ai ly tra i n in g i n Sp eed T hi n ki n g. A ro u n d 2 0 -mi n u tes a d ay . T hi s i s w here SOT c o mes i n . The Daily Thinking Lesson E ac h d ay , fo r the n ext 3 6 d ay s , y ou hav e rec ei v ed an SOT T hin k in g Les so n in thi s bo o k .
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SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
E ac h les s on exp lai ns , i n si mp le terms , the p ro c es s o f u p grad i n g y ou r thi n ki n g s ki lls o r brai n s o ftw are . Y o u c an s tart ap p ly i n g the les s o n s s trai ght aw ay to i n c r eas e y o u r bu s i n es s p ro fi ts , i mp ro v e y ou r s c ho o l mark s o r bett er y o u r s p o rts p erfo rm a n c e. About the School of Thinking T he Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g ( SOT ) is a n o n - p ro fi t, i n d ep en d en t s c ho o l bas ed in Melb o u rn e, A u s trali a an d o n the i n tern et. Dai ly trai n i n g i s p ro v i d ed to members v i a emai l. T he Sc ho o l o f T hi nki ng ha s ta u g ht ' thi nki ng ' to m o re p e o p le a ro u nd the world tha n a ny o the r s c ho o l i n hi s to ry. Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n an d E d w ard d e B o n o c o- fo u n d ed the Sc ho o l o f T hin k i n g in New Y o rk o n 17th No v emb e r, 1 979. I n early 198 0 th ey w ere j o i n ed by tw o fo u n d i n g B o ard Members , Dr E ri c B i en s to ck i n New Y o rk an d A lex No ble i n Cali fo rn i a. SOT is now in its 25th year.
It w as the SOT w hi c h p u t ' thi n k i n g' on the c u rri c u lu m i n U S sc ho o ls .
It w as the SOT tha t help ed d ev elo p th e i d ea o f ' s i x thi n ki n g c aps ' w hic h E d w ard d e B o n o has d es c ri bed as ' the m o s t i m p o rta nt c ha ng e i n hu m a n thi nki ng fo r the p a s t 2 3 0 0 ye a rs ' .
It w as the S OT that es tabli s hed the i d ea o f ' thi n k i n g in s tru c to rs ' fo r d i s s emi n ati n g thi nk i n g s ki lls aro u n d the w o rld .
It w as SOT tha t es tabli s hed the i d ea o f ' d ai ly trai n i n g' by emai l.
It was SOT that established the CVS to BVS brain software which was later taken up and used by Jack Welch throughout General Electric.’ Finding a better way every day' became a GE slogan which was put up in every GE office and factory around the world.
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SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
J u s t i magi n e that y ou o wn ed the best mu s i c s ys tem that y o u co u ld get y ou r han d s o n . Imagi n e that y o u p ai d $3 0 ,0 00 fo r an amp li fi er an d an o ther $15 ,0 0 0 fo r a D VD p lay er p lu s $40 ,0 0 0 fo r the bes t s p eak ers y o u c ou ld fi nd , an d s o o n . Y ou co u ld n o w bo as t that y o u o wn ed the bes t mu s ic hard w are s y s tem in y ou r s treet, ma y be ev en the bes t i n y o u r to w n . No w , i magi n e y o u o n ly had o n e s o li tary Pats y Cli n e CD to p lay o n y o u r ultra- hi fi hard w are . T here' s n o thi n g w ro n g w i th Pats y bu t a d i et o f I F a ll T o Pi e c es an d Y o u r Che a ti n' H e a rt may b e s o mew hat l i mi ti n g w hen i t c o mes to lo n g ter m mu s i c en tertai n men t. T hes e s ame li mi tati o n s fac e u s w hen w e bo as t p o s s es s io n o f a n ec k to p c o mp u ter - a brai n - y et o n ly hav e o n e p i ec e o f thi nk i n g s o ftw are, lo g i c . In y o u r n ec k to p c o mp u ter, lo gi c i s u s efu l en o u gh fo r label li n g an d mai l- s o rti n g an d d eali n g w i th the p as t b u t i t' s n o t n ear ly en o u gh to help y o u c o p e w i th the c hallen ges o f the fu tu r e. W e d o n eed s o me mo re s o ftw are fo r o u r brai n to help u s s u rv i v e i n rap id ly c han gi n g en v i ro n men ts and i n c reas in gly c o mpeti ti v e an d s hri n k in g glo bal m ark ets . W e als o n eed mo re brai n s o ftw are bec au s e w e' re n o t hap p y bei n g s tuc k w i th w hat we hav e at p res en t. Brainpower and Intelligence B rai n p o w er i s ho w y o u u s e to o ls , li k e s o ftw are, to en han c e y o u r i n telli gen c e. T hes e to o ls are hi gher- o rd er c o gn i ti v e to o ls that help u s thi n k abo u t w hat w e s hou ld thi n k abo u t. So meti mes thi s ' thi n k i n g abo u t thi n k i n g' is c alled by c o gn i ti v e sc i en ti s ts , m e ta - c og ni ti o n. T here a re tw o mai n ty p es o f i n telli ge n c es : Data In telli g en c e an d Game In t elli gen c e. Data In tel li gen c e i s the ro le that i n fo rmati o n p lay s i n thi nk i n g. Game Intelli gen c e i s the ro le o f s trategi es , c lev e r mo v es , c lev er i d eas , p lo y s an d tri c ks that are th e
3 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN p ro d u c t o f thi n k in g abo u t an d exp lo ri n g the i n fo rmati o n . Data In tel li gen c e i s o n ly n ec es s ary fo r the re lati v ely d u mb, u n thi n k i n g reac ti o n to s i tu ati o ns - W ha t d o I d o ne xt? Ga me In tel li gen c e go es a s tep fu rthe r w here th e i n d iv i du al as k s hi ms elf, W ha t d o I thi nk a b o u t ne xt? befo re as k i n g W hat d o I d o ne xt? B rai n s o ftw are i s a min d to o l w hi c h permi ts the brai n u s er to go a s tep ev en fu rther by allo w i n g hi m o r her to as k , H o w d o I thi nk b e tte r a b o u t wha t I s ho u ld thi nk a b o u t ne xt? T o o ls are i mp o rtan t fo r i n telli gen c e. T o o ls , li k e a lap to p , are n o t j us t the res u lt o f i n telli gen c e bu t they ac tu ally E NDOW i n telli gen c e o n the us er. W hen y o u gi v e s o meo n e a lap to p yo u in c reas e o r en han c e her c han c e at arri v i n g at mo re i n telli gen t mo v es . A nthro p o lo g i s ts ha v e lo ng re c o g ni sed tha t the a d v e nt o f to o l u s e a c c o mp a ni e d a m a j o r i nc rea se i n i nte lli g e nc e , o bs erv es Dan i el Den n ett, Di rec to r o f the C en ter fo r Co gn i ti v e Stu d i es at Tu fts U ni v ers i ty an d au tho r o f Co ns c i o us n es s Exp lai n ed . Co mmen ti n g o n the v alu e o f mi n d - to o ls i n d ev elo p in g the u s er' s i n telli gen c e he go es o n to s ay , T o o l u s e is a two - wa y si g n o f i nte lli g e nc e . No t o nly d o e s i t re q u i re i nte lli g e nc e to re c o g ni se a nd m ai nta i n a to o l, b u t to o l u s e CO NF E RS i nte lli g e nc e o n tho s e who a re lu c ky e no ug h to be g i ve n the to o l. T he b e tte r de s ig ned the to o l the m o re p o te nti a l i nte lli g e nc e i t c o nfe rs o n the u s e r. Cognitive Science Si n c e the 1970 s b ro u g ht th e exp lo s i o n o f the In fo rmati o n Rev o lu ti o n an d t he ri s e o f p ers o n al c o mp u ters w e' v e bec o me ev en mo re i n teres ted i n the br ai n an d ho w i t w o rk s . W ha t i s i nte lli g e nc e ? an d H o w c a n we i m p ro v e i t? are qu es ti on s bein g as k ed i n a w ho le n ew fi eld o f s c i enc e d ev o ted to thes e thi n gs c alled - c o g ni ti v e s ci e nc e . Co gn i ti v e s c i en c e i s c o n c ern ed wi th the p ro c es s es o f s e ns i ng ( s eein g, heari n g, s melli n g) ; s t o r i ng i nf o rm a t io n ( memo ry ) an d re c a ll; reas o n in g, p lan n i n g an d i n telli gen t ac ti o n . It als o i n c lu d es areas li k e A I ( A rti fi c i al In telli ge n c e) an d ro bo ti c s . In o ther w o rd s - thi nki ng - bo th i n an i mals an d mac hi n es .
4 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Li k e all hu man t rai ts - hei gh t, s tre n gth, s exu ali ty an d lo o k s etc - i n tel li gen c e i s d i s tri bu ted u n equ ally . So me p eo p le hav e mo re i n telli gen c e than y o u d o an d s o me hav e les s than y o u d o an d , o f c o u rs e, the s ame ap p li es to me. Brain software for better thinking In the c o mi n g les s o n s y o u wi ll ac qu ire all 4 n ew c o d es o f s o ftw are fo r y o u r brai n that y o u c an i mmed i ately u s e to get better p ers o n al res u lts at s c ho o l, at ho me an d at w o rk - an d als o at s p o rts . T he SOT brai n s o ftw are c o d e i s : SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R T hi s 4- p art s u i te o f brai n s o ftw are i n c lu d es :
T he SD N T Sea rc h E n gi n e: Start- Do - N o ti c e- T hi nk
T he
C VSTO B VS
Co gn eti c s
Op erati n g
Sy s tem:
Cu rren t
Vi ew
of
Si tu ati o n - T O- B etter Vi ew o f Si tu ati o n .
T he QR H Sty lew are: Qu ali ty - Rec o gn i ti o n - H u mou r
T he PR R Pers o n al T r ai n er: Prac ti c e- Rep eti ti o n - Rehears al.
So, let's begin ... H ere i s a s i mp le au d i t fo r y o u to ra te y o u r o w n brai n p o w er. It w as d es i gn ed by Dr E ri c B i ens to c k w ho i s Vi c e- Pri n ci p al o f SOT i n New Y o rk . E ri c bas ed thi s c hec k li s t o n the SOT ' s Le a rn- T o - T hi nk Co u rs e b o o k a nd Ins tru c to rs Ma nu a l ( Cap ra/New 198 2 ) . H o w d o y o u rate y o u r o w n brai n p ow er? INST RU CT IO NS: A n s w er eac h o f the fo llo w i n g qu es ti o ns , s c o ri n g ei ther 3 , 2 , 1, o r 0 p o i n ts fo r eac h an s w er d ep en di n g o n y ou r o bj ec ti v e es ti mate o f ho w o ften y o u ac tu ally d o w hat i s s tated . U s e y o u r bes t gu es s o f the fo llo w i n g c ri te ri a fo r s c o ri n g: 3 - 90 % 2 - 70 % 1 - 40 % 0 - 10 %
OF OF OF OF
THE THE THE THE
T IME T IME T IME T IME
( n early alw ay s) ( mo s tly ) ( o ften ) ( hard ly ev er)
5 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN H o w D o Y o u R a t e Y ou r B rai np o we r My j u d gemen ts o f i d eas are bas ed o n the v alu e o f the i d ea rathe r than o n my emo ti o n s at the ti me. I j u d ge i d eas n o t j us t as " go o d" or " bad " bu t als o as " i n teres ti n g" i f they c an lead o n to better i d eas . I c o n s i d er all fac to rs i n a s i tu ati o n befo re c ho o s i n g, d ec i d in g o r p lan n in g. I c o n s id er all fac to rs fi rs t, befo re p i c k in g o u t the o n es that mat ter mo s t . W hen I c re ate a ru le I s ee to i t that i t i s c lea rly u n d ers to o d an d p o ss i ble to o bey . I try to s ee the p u rp o s e o f ru les I ha v e to o bey , ev en i f I d o n ' t li k e the ru les . I lo o k at c o n s equ en c es o f my d eci s i ons o r ac ti o n s n o t o n ly as they affec t me bu t als o as they affe c t o ther p eo p le. I lo o k at a w i d e ran ge o f p o ss i ble c o n s equ en c es befo re d ec i d in g w hi c h c on s equ enc es to bo ther abo u t. On the w ay to a fi n al o bj ec ti v e I es tabli s h a c hai n o f s maller o bj ec ti v es eac h o n e fo llo w i n g o n fro m the p rev i o u s o n e. T he o bj ec ti v es I s et are n ear en o u gh, r eal en o u gh an d p o s si ble en o u gh fo r me to real ly try t o reac h them . In p lan n in g, I k n o w exac tly w hat I w a n t to ac hi ev e. I k eep my p lan s as si mp le an d di rec t as p o s si ble.
I k n o w exac tly w hy I hav e c ho s en s o methi n g as a p ri o ri ty . I try to get as man y di fferen t i d eas as p o s si ble fi rs t, befo re s ta rti n g to p i c k o u t the p ri o ri ti es . I w i ll go o n lo o k in g fo r altern ati v e s u n ti l I fi n d o n e I really li k e . W hi le mo s t p eop le lo o k fo r altern ati v es w hen they are n o t
6 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
s ati s fi ed ; I lo o k fo r them d eli bera t ely ev en w hen I am s ati s fi ed . I am ab le to tel l my s elf the re al reas o n behi n d a d ec is i o n I mak e. B efo re mak i n g a d ec i s i o n , I c o n s i d er the f ac to rs , lo o k at the c o n s equ enc es , get c lear abo u t th e o bj ec ti v es , as s es s the p ri o ri ti es , an d s earc h fo r p o s s i ble altern ati v es .
I am able to s ee the o ther p ers o n 's po i n t- o f- vi ew w hether I ag ree w i th i t o r n o t . I am able to s p ell o u t th e d i fferen c es an d s i mi lari ti es betw een d i fferen t v i ew p o i n ts .
TOTA L SC OR E.
Interpretation T hi s i s NOT a s ci en ti fic tes t. It' s j u s t an au d i t o r c hec k li s t to help y o u take s to c k o f y o u r thi n k in g, that' s all! A trai n ed thi n k er c an d i rec t hi s o r her thi n k in g an d us e i t i n a d eli berate m an n er to p ro d u c e an effec t. T o a t rai n ed an d s k i lled thi n k er, thi n k i n g i s a to o l that c an b e u s ed a t w i ll an d the u s e o f thi s to o l i s p rac t i c al. T hi s abi li ty to u s e ' thi n k i n g as a s k i ll' i s the s o rt o f thi n k i n g abi li ty that i s re qu i red to get thi n gs DO NE . If y o u r to ta l s c o re i n thi s tes t w as betw een 51 an d 60 p o i n ts , y o u alread y p o s s ess s up eri o r b rai n p o w er. If y o u s c o red b etw een 3 1 an d 50 p o in ts , y o u hav e better t han av era ge brai n p o w er. If y o u s c o red b etw een 0 an d 3 0 , y o u p o s s ess n o ad di ti o n al brai n p o w er o ther th an the n atu ra l thi n k i n g abi li ty that mo s t p eo p le hav e. R e c o rd you r sc o re . ( No te: K eep a r ec o rd o f thi s s c o re to c o mp are res u lts at the en d o f y o u r ST C trai n i n g) .
7 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
NOTE: Reading these lessons I hav e d ev elo p ed thi s ' brai n trai ni ng' o v er a p eri o d o f 2 0 y ears an d wi th man y hu n d red s o f tho us an ds o f i n terac ti o ns w i th brai nu s ers all aro u n d the w o rld . I hav e fo u n d that tho s e w ho are s eri o u s ly in teres ted i n acc elerati n g thei r brai n p o w er w i ll be w ell rep ai d b y the c arefu l read i n g o f thes e les s o ns and by tak i n g the ti me eac h d ay to c arefu lly thi n k abo u t y o u r o w n thi n k i n g. F o r tho s e w ho are w i lli n g to e xp lo re t he i d eas an d app ly the s trategi es p re s en ted i n thi s trai n i n g the rew ard s hav e been s ho w n to be u n u su ally hi gh. T he o p p o rtu n i ty to tak e a gen u i n e qu an tu m leap i n o n e' s i n tellec tu al as s ets , w hi c h i s o ffered b y thi s t rai n i n g, i s a u n i qu e o n e. B e s u re to n o t mi s s o u t. C rea te t he s p ac e i n y o u r d ay to gi v e y o u rs elf ev ery opp o rtu n i ty to mak e the mo s t o f i t fo r y o u r o w n s elf an d y o u r c areer. What if you had a virus in your brain? W hat i f i t w as a c o gn i ti v e v i ru s , a k i n d o f c o gn i ti v e A IDS? W hat w o u ld i t d o to y o u ? H o w w o u ld i t affec t y o u r thi n k in g? H o w d i d y o u get i n fec ted w i th the v iru s ? W hat c o u ld y o u d o to cu re i t? E v ery tec hn o lo gy has i ts hack ers - tho s e en thu s i as ts w ho en jo y exp lo ri n g the i n ti mate d etai ls o f the s ys tem, c rac k i n g the c o d es an d s tretc hi n g an d t es ti n g the c ap abi li ti es o f s ys tems . T here hav e been rad i o hac k ers and c o mp u ter hac k ers an d y o u ' v e n o d o u b t read abo u t the tele p ho n e hac k ers w ho hav e ri p p ed- o ff the p ho n e c o mp an i es fo r mi lli o n s o f d o llars i n free lo n g- d i s tan c e c alls . W e' v e s een n u c lear hac k ers w ho ha v e d es i gn ed DIY n u c lear w eap o n s fo r s c i en c e p ro j ec ts an d w e hav e c y bers p ac e hac kers w ho ro am t he n etw o rk s fo r fu n an d p ro fi t. No d o u bt i t w on ' t b e lo n g b efo re w e read o f gen eti c hac k ers w ho amus e thems elv es by p lay i n g aro u n d i n o u r gen e p o o l.
8 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN H ac k ers , d ri v en b y s tro n g c u ri o s i ty , o ften j u s t s tart o ff by s eek i n g amu s emen t an d s ho w i n g o ff thei r s k i ll bu t s o meti mes thei r an ti c s lead to c hao s , frau d an d ev en ... d i s as ter! In rec en t y ears , s o me c o mp u ter hac k ers s tarted o u t m an i p u lati n g thei r s y s tems fo r fu n by d es i gni n g vi ru s es that rep li c ate thems elv es i n to o ther s ys tems . F ew hac k ers , ho w ev er, a re c o mp eten t en o u gh o r e v en w i lli n g to fu lly c o mp rehen d the o n go i n g c o n s equ en c es o f thei r an ti c s . Man y o f thei r v i ru s es to o k o ff o u t o f c o n tro l an d by n o w hav e i n fec ted m i lli o n s o f p ers o n al c o mp u ters . T hes e v i ru s es are real! T hey c au s e real d o w n ti me, re al lo s s o f c ap i tal, real d ama ge to equ i p men t, real d es tru c ti o n o f d atabas es and , s ometi mes , real lo s s o f li fe. Do n ald Latham o f Co mp u ter Sc i en c es Co rp o rati o n an d a fo rmer W hi te H o u s e A s si s tan t Sec retary o f Defen c e, s ay s , T he d a nge rs o f v i rus es a re j us t u nbe li e v a b le a nd the thre a t i s m o re se ri o u s tha n m o s t p e o p le thi nk. Dai ly c y bertran s ac ti o n s that c an be i nfec ted by c o mp u ter v i ru s es in c lu d e:
W all Str eet d ec i s i o n s i n v o lv in g the tr an s fer o f c ap i tal i n the bi lli o n s
c red i t- c ard
tran s ac ti o ns
betw een
mi lli o n s
of
trad ers
an d
thei r
c u s to mers
ai rli n e res erv ati o n s affec ti n g tho u s an d s o f trav elle rs
mai n ten an c e an d c o mman d d ec is i o ns i n v o lvi n g hun d red s o f U S mis s i les an d o thers .
T he mi n d bo ggles a t the hav o c tha t c a n be c au s ed i f thes e v i ru s es s p read u nc hec k ed . Y et, the re i s a v i ru s , a b rai n v i ru s , w hi c h alread y exi s ts i n the brai n s o f man y hu man s fro m p reac hers to p res i d en ts , that m ak es thes e c o mp u ter v i ru s es lo o k w i mp s by c o mp ari s on . T hi s brai n v i ru s , o r m e m e , i s real. I t' s s ed u c tiv e an d i t' s v ery p o w erfu l. It' s als o hi ghly d es tru c ti v e. J u s t las t c en tu ry a lo n e mo re than 2 6 mi l li o n hu man s w ere k i lled i n the w o rld w ars , rev o lu ti o n ary w ar s , c o n fli c ts , p o gro ms , p ers ec u ti o n s , gen o c i d es an d rac i al c lean s in gs . It c an be arg u ed that man y o r mo s t o f thes e ev en ts w ere
9 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN i n i ti ated by p eo p le i n fec ted w i th PT V an d mo ti v ated to ap p ly thei r ' T ru th' to o thers . In the brai n o f a p res id en t o r a terr o ri s t i t c o u ld u n leas h a mi s si le that s tarts the u n thi n k ab le n u c lear mad n es s that th reaten s the v ery e xi s ten c e o f hu man i ty . In t he brai n o f a CE O i t c an threat en the s u r v i v al o f the bu s i n es s . And, in YOUR brain??? T hi s brai n v i ru s i s the Pla to T ru th Vi ru s ( PT V) an d c han c es are almo s t c er tai n that y o u , d ear br ai n u s er, ar e al read y i n fec ted . In Par t On e o f thi s tr ai n i n g y o u w i ll c o me to u n d ers tan d the v i ru s an d ho w i t affec ts y o u r li fe an d i n Par t T w o y o u w i ll fi n d o u t exac tly w hat y o u c an d o to c o n tain i t. Ideaviruses, Memes and Memeplexes In my rec en t bo o k - - T he X 10 Me m e p le x: Mu lti p ly Y o u r B u s i ne s s B y T e n! Pren ti c eH all, 2 0 0 0 - - I lo o k c lo s ely at the c o n c ep t o f ' i n fo rmati o n brai n v i ru s es' li k e PT V. T he o the r s c i en ti fi c n ame fo r thes e i d ea v i ru s es i s ' memes ' as c o i n ed by Oxfo rd bi o lo gi s t, Ri c hard D aw k i n s , i n hi s bo o k T he Se lfi s h Ge ne . Y o u c an re ad hi s arti c le o n the ro le o f reli gi o u s b rai n v i ru s es i n the Sep tember 11, 2 0 0 1 attac k o n the W o rld T rad e Cen tre . Plato the TruthFreak W hen i t c o mes to ' thi n k in g' , Plato w as the u lti mate hac k er. A t that ti me , p lay i n g aro u n d w i th thi n ki n g sy s tems w as as mu c h the rage amo n gs t an eli te g ro u p o f men i n Greec e, as p lay i n g aro u n d w i th s o f tw are s y s tems i s the ra ge amo n gs t th e hac k ers o f to d ay . So c ra tes , Pla to an d A ri s to tle w er e the mo s t famo u s ' thi n k i n g hac k ers ' o f thei r d ay . T hes e hac k ers o f 2 50 0 y ears ago d es i gn ed fu n d amen tal thi n k i n g tec hn o lo gi es , s y s tems and vi ru s es that hav e d o mi n ated W es tern thin k in g ri ght u p to the 2 0 th c en tu ry , an d w ho k n o w s fo r ho w mu c h lo n ger? T o d ay ' s hac k ers hav e han d les li k e Ac i d F re a k an d Cyb e rSa m . Plato ' s hand le w o u ld w ell hav e b een T ru thF re a k s i n c e i t w as he w ho i n v en ted his ' tru th' c o nc ep t - the s tran ge n o ti o n that the re i s s u c h a thi n g as ' abs o lu te tru th' . Y et thi s bi zarre s u g ges ti o n has s o s i d e- trac k ed W es tern p hi lo s op hers that ev en to d ay man y great mi n d s i n W es tern c o lleges an d u n i v ers i ti es hav e s ti ll n o t es c ap ed
10 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN fro m Pla to ' s ' tru th' i d ea an d thei r thi n k in g remai n s i n fec ted w i th thi s d an gero u s v i ru s . It w o u ld b e a d i ffi c u lt ( b u t w o rthw h i le) p ro j ec t to c alc u late the c o s t to hu man i ty an d the s taggeri n g d es tru c ti o n c au s ed by PT V - Plato ' s ' tru th' v i ru s . It' s u n li k ely that Plato had an y i d ea o f the e xtr em e c o n s equ en c es o f hi s i n v en ti on an y mo re th an s o me o f to d ay ' s hac k ers w i ll hav e o f thei rs . H e w as j u s t hack in g aro u n d wi th thi n k i n g. STC - The Problem and The Solution. T hi s trai n in g - ST C ( Sp eed T hi n k ers Co u rs e) - i s p res en ted to y ou at the rate o f a les s o n a d ay fo r 7 w eek s . I t i s d i v i d ed i n to tw o mai n p arts : T he P ro blem ( w eek s 1 & 2 ) an d T he So lu ti o n ( w eeks 3 to 7) . T he So lu ti o n c o ns is ts o f the s u i te o f 4 brai n s o ftw are p ac k ages - SDNT CVST OB VS QRH PRR - w hi c h y o u w i ll get i n w eek s 3 thro u gh 7. T he Pro b lem i s p res en ted i n thes e fi r s t tw o w eek s - i t i s the d eep c o gn i ti v e p attern w hi c h w e c all PT V o r the Plato T ru th Vi ru s .. In thes e fi rs t ten les s o n s w e' ll tak e a c arefu l lo o k a t the Plato T ru th Vi ru s : W hat i s PT V? H o w d o es i t w o rk ? W hat d o es i t d o ? W hat i s the u p si d e an d d o w n s id e o f the v i ru s ? H o w d i d the v i ru s bec o me s o v i ru len t? W ho s p read i t a ro u n d ? H o w d i d y o u bec o me i n fec ted ? W hat i s i t d o in g to y o u r brai n ? Is there a c u re?
11 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Y o u ' re go i n g to fi n d that i n thes e fi rs t tw o w eek s w e' l l be d eali n g head - o n w i th the bi gges t o bs tac le that m ay p rev en t y o u bei n g a s p eed thin k er. It' s als o y o u r bi gges t c o g ni ti v e i nhi b i to r. It' s s to p pi n g yo u fro m rap i d ly d ev elo p i n g y o u r intellec tu al c ap i tal. It' s c alled PT V o r the Pl ato T ru th Vi r u s . Cognitive Dissonance: From Flat Earth to Round Earth In c o gn i ti v e s ci en c e, the term c o g ni ti v e d i ss o na nc e is o ften u s ed . Co gn i ti v e d i s s on an c e is i n teres ti n g b ec au s e i t refe rs to w hat hap p en s i n y ou r br ai n w hen i n fo rmati o n i s p res en ted to i t w hi c h do es n ' t s eem to fi t. In memeti c thi n k i n g thi s is c alled m em e ti c d i ss o na nc e . F o r examp le, j u s t s u pp o s e the c u rren t s tate o f i n fo rmati o n i n y o u r brai n ( the balan c e o f memes ) w as s u c h that y o u beli ev ed the ea rth w as fla t. J u s t s up p o s e y o u r b rai n w as a hap p y c o - o p erati v e o f fla t e a rth memes . T hi s , o f c o u rs e, s eems n aiv e to us n o w bu t n o t lo n g ago mo s t s mart peo p le s aw thi n gs thi s w ay . No w , s up p os e so meo n e c alled F red c o mes alo n g and s ay s , No , the e a rth i s ro u nd! an d tri es to exp lai n to y o u w hy y o u s ho u ld c han ge y ou r v i ew . Y o u w o u ld begi n to exp eri en c e c o gn i ti v e di s s on an c e. If, tho u gh y o u tho u ght the ea rth w as flat, y o u w ere n o t s u p ers ti ti o u s ly c o mmi tted to that v i ew y o u mi ght o n ly exp eri en c e a mi ld c as e o f c o gn i ti v e d i ss o n anc e. T hen , as y o u fo llo w ed the ev i d en c e F red p res e n ted , y o u mi ght fi n d y o u r v i ew ev o lv i n g fro m fla t e a rth to ro u nd e a rth. If, o n the o the r han d , y o u n o t o n ly beli ev ed the ear th w as f lat bu t y o u als o PT Vbeli ev ed y o u r fla t e a rth v i ew w as a b s o lu te ly ri g ht, then y o u mi ght hav e a d o s e o f
12 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s tro n g c o gn i ti v e d i ss o n anc e, s o s tro n g that i t mi gh t be eas i er to bu rn F red at th e s tak e than to c han ge y o u r v i ew fro m f la t e a rth to ro u nd e a rth. The Father of Modern Science T hi s k in d o f thi n g i s n o t j us t a s i lly sto ry bu t ac tu ally d o es hap p en . On e o f the mo s t n o to ri o u s examp les w as that o f the F ather o f Mo d e rn Sc i en c e, the bri l li an t 17t h c en tu ry mathemati c i an , Gali lei Gali l e o . Gali leo had c o n s tru c ted hi s teles c o p e to s ho w ho w th e ea rth rev o lv ed abo u t the s u n an d n o t the s u n aro u n d the earth. Si nc e Co p ern i cu s adv an c ed thi s hy p o thes i s i t had c au s ed great c o n tro v ers y . Ga li leo n o w had p ro o f. W hen he d emo ns trated thi s , man y hi ghly i n telli gen t p eo p le ev en refu s ed to lo o k thro u gh t he te les c o p e, s o fri ghten ed w ere they o f w ha t they mi gh t s ee. So me p eo p le had s u c h a s tro n g d o s e o f c o gn i ti v e di s s on an c e that they fo rc ed Gali leo to hi s kn ees an d mad e hi m w i thd raw hi s ev i d en c e an d rec an t hi s d is c o v ery . In 163 3 , Ga li leo , n o w 70 y ears o ld , s i c k and c o mp letely bli n d , w as fo rc ed by the p o p e to mak e the ard u o u s j o u rn ey to Ro me to s tan d tri al fo r ' heres y ' . U rban VIII , tak i n g ti me o ff fro m c an n i b ali s in g the Co lo s s eu m to bu i ld his B arberi ni p alac e, ac c u s ed Gali leo o f c au s i n g " the great es t s c an d al i n Chri s tend o m" fo r c o n trad i c ti n g the Sc ri p tu res . Gali leo t ho u ght o f hi ms elf as a d ev o t ed Catho li c . H e ar gu ed that the bi ble w as n o t a s c i en ti fi c text an d that w e s hou ld n ot exp ec t i ts ' sc i en ti fic s tatemen ts ' to be tak en li teral ly . H e ar gu ed that i t p res en ts n o c hallen ge to fai th th at bo th n atu r e an d the bi ble are d i v i n e texts an d c an n o t c on trad i c t o n e an o ther. On 2 1 J u n e, af ter a lo n g tri al , he w as fo u n d gu i lty o f heres y , by th e In qu i s i ti o n . No t o n ly that, he w as b u lli ed and ac tu ally fo rc ed i n to c o v eri n g up his ev i d en c e. T he p o p e d emand ed that he b e to rtu red i f he d id n o t o bey : T he s a id Ga li le o i s i n the j u d ge m e nt o f the H o ly O ffi c e v e he m e ntly s u s p e c te d o f he re s y, na m e ly, o f ha v i ng b e li e ve d a nd he ld the do c tri ne whi c h i s fa ls e a nd c o ntra ry to the Sa c re d a nd Di v i ne Sc ri p tu re s tha t the su n i s the c e ntre o f the wo rld a nd d o es no t mo v e fro m e a s t to we s t, a nd i s no t the c e ntre o f the wo rld .
13 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W eary an d bro k en , the o ld man k n el t befo re the p o p e an d mad e hi s c o n fes s i o n: I, Ga li le o , s o n o f the la te Vi nc e nzo Ga li le a , F lo re nti ne , a g e d s e ve nty ye a rs .. . m u s t a lto g e the r ab a nd o n the fa lse o p i ni on tha t the s u n is the c e ntre o f the wo rld a nd i m m o b i le . H i s tri al w as a grav e an d s o lemn mi les to n e i n the hi s to ry o f the Chu rc h o n ly s u rp as s ed , in p o i gn an c y , b y the tri al o f J es u s befo re Pi lat e. Gali leo w as a bri lli an t mathem ati c i an an d a p i o n eer o f s ci en c e w hi c h tries n o t to rely o n s u p ers ti ti o n . H e ad v o c ated th e i d ea tha t " T he B o o k o f Na tu re" i s w ri tten i n mathemati c al c ha rac te rs , a v i ew w hi c h i s en o u gh to mak e hi m a fo u n d i n g father o f the s c i en ti fi c metho d . T he u n i v ers e w hi c h Gali leo o bs erv ed at the en d o f hi s teles c o p e to tally d w arfed th e o n e that p eo p le w er e s eei n g w i th thei r o rd i n ary v i s i o n . H e tri ed to s ho w th at i t w as i mp o rtan t to c o n s i d er the v alu e o f n ew o bs erv able p hen o men a as a w ay o f es c ap in g fro m w eak t ru ths an d mo v i n g to bette r o n es . T he 17th c en tu ry , s u p ers ti ti o u s , ec c les i as ti c al, Ro man brai n u s ers exp eri en c ed s uc h c o gn i ti v e d is s on an c e fro m Gali leo ' s d i s c ov eri es that, to thei r ev e rlas ti n g s hame , they c ho s e to abu s e an d b u lly an o ld man rathe r than to c han ge thei r o w n mi n d . T he c o gn i ti v e d is s on an c e en d u red s o s tro n gly that i t w as o n ly i n 1993 ( after a 12 y ear Po n ti fi c al Co mmi s s i o n! ) that, i n a belated bu rs t o f Ch ri s ti an c hari ty , th e Vati c an brai n u s ers fin ally fo rg a ve Gali leo fo r le tti n g the s u n o u t o f the c lo s et. B etter l ate th an n ev er, I s u p p o s e. Dosage of Dissonance It may be that s o me o f the materi al i n this trai n in g gi v es y o u a c ertai n amo u n t o f c o gn i ti v e d is s on an c e. It i s d i ffic u lt to d es i gn the i d eal d o s age o f d i ss o n an c e. W hat i s fin e fo r s o me read ers an d is j us t en o u gh to help them to o p en up thei r mi n d wi ll, o n the o ther han d , be to o s tro n g fo r o thers an d c au s e them to c lo s e d o w n . F o r examp le, e arli e r d raf ts o f thi s trai n i n g w ere mo re p ro v o c ati v e i n to n e an d p ro bably to o mu c h s o . So I s ou ght the o p i ni o ns o f a fai rly w i d e ran ge o f brai n u s ers - d i fferen t ages , d i ffe ren t c u ltu res , d i fferen t p ro f es s i o n s , di fferen t bac k gro u n d s .
14 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A fter r ec ei v i n g the gen ero u s an d v alu able feed bac k o f hu n d red s o f read e rs ( es p ec i ally that o f my father w ho w as the fai res t man I ev er me t) I c o mp letely rew ro te t he tr ai n i n g an d tri ed to fi nd a better balan c e betw een the i n fo r mati o n I hav e left i n an d the i n fo rmati o n I hav e left o u t . T han k s to them i t' s a bett er trai n i n g c o u rs e b u t the fau lts an d mi s tak es y ou may fi n d are s ti ll mi n e. A t the en d o f the d ay , d ear brai n u s er, my o w n go al fo r thi s trai n i n g has alw ay s been to gen er ate en o u gh c o gn i ti v e d i s s on an c e to mak e i t i n teres ti n g read i n g b u t n o t s o mu c h as to c lo s e y o u r mi nd .
15 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Plato ' s o ri gi n al i d ea w as that ther e IS s u c h a thi n g as a bs o lu te tru th. Plato ' s ' tru th' i d ea ( li k e all hi s i d eas ) w as a p ro d u c t o f hi s i magi n ati on . H e w as the y o u n ger fri en d o f So c rat es w ho m he ad mi red gr eatly an d w ho w as als o hi s men to r. It w as So c rat es w ho i n v en ted the i n terro gato ry s ty le o f argu men t i n v o lv in g s tri n gs o f qu es ti o ns s eekin g ei ther a Y E S o r NO res p o n s e. It' s an o ld d i n os au r k n o w n as the So c rati c Meth o d bu t i t s ti ll s u rv i v es i n o u r legal s y s tem an d c o u ld be s een o n T V s ho ws li k e LA Law an d the O. J . Si mp s o n tri al. B o th So c rates an d Plato b ec ame tw o o f the gre ates t thi n k i n g hac k ers i n W es tern hi s to ry . T o me , o n e o f th e mo s t fas c i n ati n g o f P lato ' s w o rk s i s Sy mp o s i um bec au s e i t' s an i ns i ghtfu l ac c o u n t o f ho w i t all be gan at a ty p i c al d i n n er-p arty bac k i n A then s , aro u n d 40 0 B C, w i th Plato , S o c rates an d a few fri en d s . Sym p o s i u m is w i tty , en tertai n i n g an d s ho w s ho w thei r d i s c us s i on s and banter, lac ed w i th mu c h w in e an d b aw dy go s si p , p ro d u c ed a s mall c o llec ti o n o f thi nki n g p lo y s , c o n c ep ts , s o ftw are an d v i ru s es that, amazi n gly , hav e d o mi n ated W es tern thi n k i n g ri ght u p to the 2 1s t c en tu ry . Mo s t d es tru c ti v e o f all th es e i n v en ti on s has been the Pla t o Tru t h Vi ru s . In the W es tern w o rld , Pl ato i s rec o gn i s ed as the o n e w ho p u t thin k in g o n the map . Plato fi gu r ed that the mo re o n e tho u ght abo u t matters an d the mo re o n e tri ed to d i s c ov er an d u n d ers tan d thei r tru e es s en c e o r fo rm, the mo re i n s i ghts o n e c o u ld exp eri en c e. B u t he als o d ec i d ed ( and thi s i s the k i ller) that thi n k i n g w as NOT an o p en - end ed p ro c es s . Plato fi gu red there mu s t be a fi n i te en d to a thi n k er' s relen tles s s earc h fo r mean i n g, an u lti mate d es ti n ati on to a thin k er' s effo rts , s o he c alled that d es ti n ati o n o b j ec ti v e ' tru th' . U h- o h! B i g mis tak e! !
16 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T o d ay , 2 ,50 0 y ears la ter , mu c h o f W es tern s o c i ety s ti ll behav es as tho u gh the re ac tu ally
such
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as
abs o lu te
tru th.
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c o n s equ en c es , man y W es tern u ni v ers i ti es an d c o lleges are fu ll o f d i s c u ss io n s abo u t ' tru th' , ri ght' , ' w ro n g' , ' go o d ' , ' ev i l' , ' ho n es ty ' , ' j us ti c e' and s o o n . T hi s all s pi lls o u t i n to s o c i ety s o that B i g Go v ern men t, B i g Reli gi o n , B i g B u s in es s , B i g B ro ther an d o ther g ro u p s in v o k e thes e ' abs o lu te tru ths ' as the bas i s fo r thei r p o li c i es an d the j u s ti fic ati o n fo r thei r ac ti o n s - s o o ften w i th ho rri fi c c o n s equ en c es . T he tro u b le w as that o n c e Plato had i n v en ted hi s tru th c o nc ep t, i t exi s ted . Su bs equ en tly , w hen o ther p hi lo s o p hers o r theo lo gi an s c ame alo n g Plato ' s in v en ti on i n fec ted thei r i d eas li k e a v i ru s - an d s o w e n ame the v i ru s afte r hi m, t he Pla t o Tru t h Vi r u s o r PTV. Grad u ally th e ac ti v i ty o f thi n k i n g c ame to be s u bv ert ed by the i n s i d i o us tru th v i ru s . So me thi n k ers i n ev i tab ly c lai med to hav e fo u n d ... T he T ru th. PT V, the t ru th v i ru s , b egan to i n fec t the thi n k er' s s et o f i n tellec tu al c lai ms an d s o w e s ee a n u mber o f p hi lo s o p hi es an d d o c tri n es an d mo v emen ts that c lai med to hav e d i s c ov ered a b s o lu te tru th an d gav e n o ti c e o f fi li n g t hei r c l ai ms : Sto p lo o k i n g! ... W e hav e the tru th! ... W e are ri ght, y o u are w ro n g! ... W e are go o d , y o u are ev i l! ... B eli ev e i n the tru th o r be d amn ed! ... T he tru th i s o n ou r s id e! ... W e k n ow w hat' s ri ght! Do w hat w e tel l y o u , o r e ls e! ... Cru s h the i n fi d el! ... K i ll th e u n beli ev er! My-Teacher-is-Right-and-Your-Teacher-is-Wrong T he p ro b lem fo r the o bs e rv er i s the n u mber o f c o n fli c ti n g c lai ms o f o w n i n g a b s o lu te tru th an d u ni q u e ri g htne s s . T he s e d u c ti v en es s o f PT V i s als o w hat ma k es i t s o d es tru c ti v e an d d ead ly: ev ery o n e w ants to be the o n e w ho has T he T ru th. T herefo re, ev ery o n e i n fec ted w i th the v i ru s c laims to be u n i qu ely ri ght an d that' s where the c arn age begi n s . F ro m ti me to ti me teac he rs li k e B u dd ha, J es u s an d Con fu c iu s hav e emerged i n the d i fferen t c u ltu res o f the w o rld . Mo s t p eo p le are relati v ely free o f PT V an d s o man y hav e ben efi ted fro m t hei r te ac hers ' mes s ages o f go o d w i ll. H o w ev er, the re a re tho s e w ho s eek p o w er o v er o th ers .
17 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Sad ly , thes e g reat teac he rs are o f ten u p s taged by greed y PT V- i n fec ted fr an c hi s ees w ho c lai m to hav e exc lu s i v e ri ghts o n thei r teac he r' s i n tellec tu al p ro p erty . W ho c an blame the o ri gi n al teac he rs fo r t he s i c k n es s o f thei r fo llo w ers ? So o ften , i n the n ame o f p eac e an d go o d w i ll, i n fec ted fo l lo w ers fi g ht w i th a s i c k rage an d bu rn i n g hatred . T he b rai n v i ru s s o d i s to rts the o ri gi n al mes s age that i t w o u ld be u n rec o gn i s ab le to the o ri gi n al mes s en ger. Peo p le hav e b ec o me mo re i n teres ted i n the ' tru th s tatu s ' o f the mes s age than the mes s age i ts elf. Pe rhap s i t i s mo re i mp o rtan t to be an ' ef fec ti v e fo llo w e r' t han to be a ' ri ght fo llo w er' . Truth 'R' Us H ere i s s mall s amp le o f PT V- i n fec ted c lai ms w hi c h hav e lo n g s i nc e u ps taged tho s e c lai ms mad e by the o ri gi n al teac her: Christian Science: ... i s u ne rri ng a nd Di v i ne ... o u t s i d e o f Chri s ti a n Sc i e nce a ll is va g u e a nd hyp o the ti c a l, the o p p o s i te o f T ru th. Seventh-Day Adventists: the Ge ne ra l Co nfe re nc e o f Se v e nth-Da y A d v e nti s ts is the hi g he s t a u thori ty tha t Go d ha s u p o n e a rth. Jehovah's Witnesses: ... a lo ne a re Go d 's tru e pe o p le , a nd a ll o the rs wi tho u t e xc ep ti o n a re fo llo we rs o f the De v i l ... A t A rm a g ed d o n a ll o f ea rth' s i nha b i ta nts e xc e p t Je ho v a h's W i tne s s es wi ll b e wi p e d o u t o f e xi s te nce . Mormons: T he re i s no sa lv a ti o n o u ts i de the Chu rc h o f J e s us Chri s t o f La tte r- Da y Sa i nts ... e v e ryb od y, u nle s s the y re p e nt a nd wo rk ri g hte o u s ne s s , wi ll b e d a m n e d e xc e pt Mo rm o ns . Christadelphians: No ne b u t Chri s ta d e lp hi a ns c a n be s av e d . Islam: Mo ha m m e d is the m es se ng e r o f Go d ... the la s t, a nd fi na l e xp o ne nt o f Go d ' s m i nd , the s e a l o f the p ro p he ts . The Divine Light Mission:
18 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T he Gu ru Ma ra ha j Ji a lo ne ha s the key to the kno w le d g e o f the s o u rce o f Go d . The Unification Church: O nIy the Lo rd o f the Se c o nd A d vent, the Re v e re nd Su n Myu ng Mo o n, wi ll b e p o we rfu l e no u g h to c o m p le te the res to ra ti o n o f m a n to Go d . (Krishna Consciousness: Di re c t lo v e fo r the Lo rd K ri s hna , i n the fo rm o f c ha nti ng , s i ng i ng a nd d a nc i ng , i s the b e s t wa y to ri d the s ou l o f i g no ra nc e . Church of Scientology: It i s o nly thro u g h the e xe rc i s e o f the p ri nc i p le s o f Di a ne ti c s tha t the re is re a l ho p e fo r ha p p i ne s s i n thi s li fe ti m e a nd the e v e ntu a l- fre e i ng o f the s o u l fro m d eath. The Children of God: No p o we r i n the wo rld c a n s ta nd a g ai ns t the p o we r o f Da v i d . ( T hi s refers to Dav i d B erg, the s ec t' s lead er) . Catholic Church: No o ne c a n b e s a v e d wi tho u t tha t fa i th whi c h the H o ly, Ca tho li c , A p o s to li c , Ro m a n Chu rc h ho ld s , b e li e ve s a nd te ac he s ... the O ne T ru e Chu rc h e s tab li s he d o n e a rth b y J e s us Chri s t ... to who m a lo ne i t b e lo ng s to j u d g e the m ea ni ng a nd i nte rp re ta ti o n o f the H o ly Sc ri p tu re s . T hes e extrav a gan t c lai ms w o u ld be r ej ec ted by mo s t exp eri en c ed ad u lts alo n g w i th s i mi lar c lai ms mad e by d o o r- to - d o o r s ales men an d o thers . T he p ro b lem i s that th ey are o ften p ro gram med i n to the brai n s o f v ery y ou n g c hi ld ren befo re thei r mi n d s are s u ffi c i en tly i mmu n e to rej ec t them. It may b e tha t the s c ale o f thi s k i n d o f c o g ni ti v e a b us e mak es o ther fo rms o f c hi ld abu s e p ale i n to i ns i gn i fic an c e by c o mp ari s o n o f n u mbers . In s p i te o f thes e c o rp o rate c lai ms an d the c o n s equ en c es they hav e c au s ed to mi lli o n s , mo s t memb ers o f thes e gro u p s bec o me les s i n fec ted w i th PT V as they gro w o ld er. Mo s t o f the fai th fu l are p eo p le o f gen u i n e p eac e w ho qui etly go abo u t thei r bu s i n es s . T hey try to li v e b y thei r c re ed s w i tho u t bo theri n g o the rs at a ll . T he s i len t maj o ri ty are n o t the v i llai n s , s o o ften they are th e v i c ti ms , to o . If ther e w ere ev er s u c h a thi n g as a bs o lu te tru th, by i ts o w n d efi ni ti o n , there c o u ld
19 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN o n ly be o n e a bs o lu te tru th. So , w hi c h tru th i s the ' tru e' t ru th? A s a p hi lo s o p hi c al p i ec e o f games man s hi p , thi s c o v etin g o f the label o f a b s o lu te tru th i s n o t li mi ted to reli gi o u s d o c tri n es , bu t s p i lls o v er i n to p o li ti c al, bu s i n es s , s o c i o lo gi c al, an d ev en ec on o mi c theo ri es , altho u gh the la tte r hav e fa lle n o n hard ti mes lately . A t fi rs t, ad d i n g PT V s eemed to mak e a s et o f i n tellec tu al c lai ms o r d o c tri n es s u p eri o r to tho s e th at w e re n o t abs o l u te, bu t ti me has s ho w n the o p p o s i te to be t he c as e. W e k n o w n o w that o n c e the thin k i n g effo rt s w i tc hes to d efen c e an d s u pp o rt, ( as i t mu s t i f a d o c tri n e i s fro zen as a bs o lu te tru th) fu rther gro w th an d c reati v e d ev elo p men t are d i sc o u raged . T he tr u th begi n s to los e i ts c red i bi li ty as i t begi n s to lo s e i ts relev an c e an d i ts effec ti v en ess . PT V i n ev i tably s erv es to u n d ermi ne the d o c tri n e i t w as o ri gi n ally mean t to rei n fo rc e. T w o p eo p le c an , o f c o u rs e, hav e tw o d i fferen t p o i n ts o f v i ew . No thi n g o d d abo u t that. B u t, i f eac h v i ew p o i n t i s i n fec ted w i th PT V , i f eac h beli ev es hi s v i ew p o i n t is u ni q u e ly ri g ht, PT V c an k eep them fi ghti n g an d bu lly i n g eac h o ther fo r s o me ti me. Rep lac e tw o p eo p le w i th tw o fami li es , tw o c o mmu n i ti es , tw o gro u p s , tw o reli gi o n s o r tw o n ati o n s an d thi s p ern ic i o us tru th v i ru s c an be p ass ed on to eac h su c c es si v e gen erati o n an d the fi ghti n g an d p ers e c u ti o n c an c o n tin u e fo r hu n d red s o f years . It may be tha t P lato ' s tru th v i ru s h as d o n e mo re d amage to W es te rn c i v i li s ati on than an y hu man thi n ki n g d ev i c e ev er i n v en ted . It has been es ti mated tha t j u s t las t c en tu ry alo n e mo re than 2 6 mi lli o n W es tern ers hav e been k i lled by PT V. T hi s d o es n o t i n c lud e s i mi lar v i ru s es that may in fec t n o n - W es tern s o c i eti es . Myths, Theories and Hypotheses It d o es s eems to be a g en u i n e, legi ti mate an d u n i v ers al n eed o f the hu ma n mi n d to c reate my ths , s to ri es , theo ri es an d hy p o thes es to exp lai n an d mak e c oheren t an u n exp lai n able w o rld .
20 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Examples:
W hen fri ghten ed by a thu n d ers to rm s o me thi n k ers exp lain ed i t as a bu rs t o f Zeu s ' an ger. O the rs late r s ai d i t' s an elec tro s tati c p hen o men o n .
A n i lln ess c an be s een by so me as a v o o d o o s p ell o r by o thers as a v i ral i n fec ti o n .
In an attemp t to p erfo rm thei r fu n c ti o n o f mak i n g s en s e o u t o f c hao s , my ths an d s c i en ti fi c theo ri es w o rk on the s ame p ri n ci p le. T he v i ew that w e hu mans bu i ld o f o u r w o rld i s alw ay s a p ro d u c t o f o u r i magi n ati o n . Y o u r v i ew o f a s i tu ati o n i s a c o gn i ti ve p hen o men on . In a s i tu ati on , y o u r exp eri en c e o f the s i tu ati o n i s an elec tro - c hemi cal ev en t w hi c h tak es p lac e i n y o u r brai n . T he p hras e ' y o u r e xp e rie nc e o f the s i tua ti o n' i s i mp o rtan t bec au s e i t p oi nts to the u n i q u en es s o f y o u r u nd ers tan d in g o f the s i tu ati o n . Others i n the s i tu ati on w i ll als o hav e thei r o w n u n i q u e exp eri en c e o f it. W hi c h i s ri ght? F o r examp le , I lo v e mo v i es . I am a regu la r mo v i e- go er . I fi n d mo v i es to be gre at v alu e. In mo v i es , tho u s an d s o f talen ted p eo p le s p en d tho u s an d s o f ho u rs an d mi lli o n s o f d o llars to c reate a p ro d u c t that I c an en j o y fo r $ 15 . W here el s e d o y o u get s u c h en o rmo u s lev erag e o f v alu e? W hen I tell y o u abo u t a rec en t mo v i e I hav e s een , am I telli n g y o u abo u t th e mo v i e, o r, am I tel li n g y o u abo u t my exp erien c e o f the mo v i e? W hen a mo v i e c ri ti c w ri tes abo u t a mo v i e, i s s he w ri ti n g abo u t the mo v i e, o r , i s s he w ri ti n g abo u t her u nd e rs ta nd i ng o f the mo v i e? No te the d i s tin c ti o n . T here i s a d i s ti n c ti on an d i t i s a c ru c i al o n e. PT V i s a p ro bl em bec au s e i t c an d i s to rt the ho s t brai n ' s abi li ty to mak e thi s d i s tin c ti o n . T he v i ru s- i mp ai red brai n may be u n ab le to d i s ti n gu is h b etw een i ts p aro c hi al exp eri en c e an d that o f o the r br ai n s . T he PT V- i n fec ted brai n thi n k s i ts experi en c e i s u ni q ue ly ri g ht. Bores and Bullies T he s i c k b rai n c an c au s e p eo p le to bec o me bo res o r bu lli es , I' m n o t s u re w hi c h i s w o rs e.
21 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T he b o ri n g brai n u s er i s o n e w hos e behav i o u r i s w eary in g to o thers bec au s e he o r s he c an n o t s to p thei r ted i ou s , en thu s i as ti c talk abo u t thei r o w n i n teres ts an d exp eri en c e, n o t b ec au s e o thers are i n teres ted bu t bec au s e PT V mak es the m as s u me o thers are i n teres ted . Man y c o mp an ies trai n thei r s ales p eop le to bec o me bo res w ho an n o y thei r p ro s p ec ts an d p rev en t them fro m ev e r bec o mi n g c u s to mers . It w o u ld be i n teres ti n g to meas u re the p ro fi ts lo s t to s hareho ld ers w ho hav e n o i d ea w hat they ar e lo s i n g d u e to man agem en t' s arc hai c , PT V- i n fec ted s ales d o c tri n es . F o r examp le, o n e la rg e, mu lti - lev el s o ap c o mp an y has s o bo red the mark etp lac e w i th i ts PT V- ri d d led trai n in g p ro p agan d a an d Nu rembu rg- s ty le s ales ra lli es , that i t' s no w to o as hamed to men ti o n i t' s o w n n ame to n ew p ro s p ec ts . Its s ales agen ts are s o embar ras s ed they w o n ' t ev en ad mi t w hat bran d they s ell. It p ro ba bly c o mes as n o s u rp ri s e that les s than 2 % o f thei r s ales agen ts ev er m ak e a p ro fi t. Can y o u i magin e a c o mp any ac hi evin g a s tate o f affai rs w he re they are ac tu ally fri ghten ed o f thei r o w n n ame! W ell, thi s c o mp an y s o c on tami n ated the mark etp lac e i n A meri c a w i th i ts s p o o ky tri c k s , that i t' s #1 c o mp eti to r s u ed i t fo r d amag es F OU R T IME S an d w o n eac h ti me. PT V c an w rec k a bus i n es s lik e thi s . It c an c au s e brai nu s ers to au to mati c ally as su me that o ther b rai n u s ers are ali gn ed to thei r u n i qu e i n teres ts w hen they are so u n li k ely to be. I t c an as s u me o thers w an t " to s hare" w hen they d o n o t. Or, PT V c an c au s e a brai n u s er to n eed , w an t, o r d eman d o thers to share thei r ' u n i qu ely ri ght' exp eri en c e o f a s i tu ati o n . T he i n fec ted brai n c an c aus e behav i o u r that ev en e mp lo y s p res s u re, c o erc i o n o r fo rc e to f ri ghten o r bu lly o ther b rai n u s ers to to e the li n e. So mu c h ti me, effo rt, p eac e an d p ro du c ti v i ty has been w as ted by n aggi n g bo res an d ti res o me bu lli es . Y es , the hu man b rai n i s an exp lan ati o n - man u fac tu ri n g mec han is m bu t that' s n o t the s ame thi n g as e xp lai n i n g. Do n o ti c e t he d i fferen c e. B y c reati n g exp lan ati o n s to fi ll i n the gap s w hen n eed ed , the br ai n help s to k eep s u s men tally s table. T hi s w i ll alw ay s be a u s efu l p ro p erty o f the hu man brai n .
22 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T hi n k in g, bei n g a thi n k er, hav i n g a healthy c u ri o s i ty i s a no rmal p art o f the fu n c ti o ni n g o f a healthy hu man brai n . W hat i s n o t healthy o r n o rmal bu t i s a v ery d an gero u s
c o g ni ti v e
d i se a se
is
the c o n d i ti on
o f the T ru e B eli ev e r.
In
pop
p s yc ho lo gy terms , thi n k ers ar e OK bu t T ru e B eli ev ers a re NOT OK . T he s y mp to m o f the T ru e B eli ev er i s t he c o llo qu i al an d v ery c ri p p led v i ew p o i n t that s ay s : " I hav e the tru th" ... " My p o lic y i s the tru e p o lic y " ... " My d o c tri n e i s go o d an d y o u r d o c tri n e i s ev i l" , o r, p erhap s , " W asn ' t I luc k y to be bo rn in to that T ru e Reli gi o n an d n o w w hat are w e go i n g t o d o abo u t y o u , u n beli ev er? " It i s d i ffi c u lt to i magi n e a mo re d an ge ro u s men tal c o n d i ti on . So me beli ev e that reli gi o u s extremi s m i s a g reate r d i s eas e than p o li ti c al e xtremi s m. Co mmen ti n g o n the d amage b ei n g d o n e by reli gi o u s extremi s ts to the A u s trali an Labo u r Pa rty , B en Chi fley , the mu c h- res p ec ted fo rmer P ri me Mi n i s ter o f A u s trali a, o n c e s ai d , " T he re li g i ou s fa na ti c i s far wo rs e tha n the p o li ti c a l fa na ti c ." In the P ref ac e o f hi s b o o k , T he T ru e B e li e ve rs , ( Methu en 198 6) P eter B o w l er w arn s : H e re the y c o me , the T rue Be li e ve rs , wi d e -e ye d a nd e a rne s t; he re the y co m e , the d e v o te es ,
the
fa na ti c s ,
the
e v a nge li s ts ,
the
p i lg ri m s ,
the
wo rs hi ppe rs ,
the
c o nte m p la ti v e s - c lu tc hi ng the i r hym ns a nd i nv o c a ti o ns , o b se rv i ng the i r ho ly c o m m a nd m e nts a nd ta bo o s , p e rfo rmi ng the i r s a c ri fic e s b u t, a b o ve a ll, be li e v i ng . B e li e v i ng i n Go d , o r i n s e v e ra l g od s, o r e v e n a g o d d es s o r two . B e li e ving i n the s o u l, i n d e m o ns , i n e te rna l fo rg i v e nes s , i n e te rna l p u ni s hm e nt, i n li fe a ft e r d ea th, i n a s s o rte d va ri e ti es o f he a ve n a nd he ll, i n t he p o we r o f fa i th to he a l, to m o v e m o u nta i ns ... T he y a re a nd a lwa ys ha v e b ee n, the i de a li s ts o f hu m a nki nd . Se e ki ng so m e thi ng b e yo nd
the
m a te ria l,
s o m e thi ng
i nta ng i b le ,
s o m e thi ng
to
e xp la i n
the
u ne xp la i na b le , s o me thi ng to a ss u ag e the i r fe a r o f the u nc o ntro lla b le , s o me thi ng to c o m p e ns a te the m fo r the u na c ce p ta ble , s o m e thi ng to o ffe r the m a ki nd o f d i g ni ty a nd p o we r i n the m i d s t o f i nd i g ni ty a nd i m p o te nc e . Le t u s no t m oc k the T ru e Be li e v e r fo r the i r i de a li s m . Bu t wa tc h ou t fo r them - the y c a n b e d a ng e ro u s . Co m b a ti ve p e o p le, the y a re , b y na tu re ; c ru s a d e rs ra the r tha n c o m p ro m i se rs . B e ca u se the y a re ri g ht, o the rs a re wro ng . T he s i nfu l m u s t b e
23 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN p u ni s he d , a nd who m o re s i nfu l th a n the u nb e li e v e r? T he m o re i nto le ra nt a nd wa rli ke a m o ng the m s e e k to p u ni s h t he u nb e li e v e r i n thi s li fe , wi th ho ly wa rs a nd i nq u i s i ti o ns ; the m o re b e ne vo le nt a nd to le ra nt le a v e i t to the i r Go d to p u ni s h the u nb e li e v e r wi th e te rna l to rm e nts a fte r d e a th. F ro m ti m e to ti m e hi s to ry has thrown u p a se c t tha t is ge ntle a nd m o de ra te a nd p e a ce lo v i ng , li ke the Q u a ke rs o r the B a ha ' i ; i nv a ria b ly the se se c ts a re sing le d o u t fo r the m o s t ru thle s s p e rse c u ti o n a t the ha nd s o f the T ru e B e lie v e rs . W he n two re li g i o ns a re s o s i m i la r a s to be a lm o s t i de nti c a l i n e v e ry si g ni fi c a nt re s p ec t
the n
ta ke
c o v e r,
be ca u se
the
c o nfli c t
b e twe e n
the m
wi ll
be
tru ly
m u rd e ro us . B u dd hi s ts a nd Pres b yte ria ns ge t a lo ng fa m ou s ly, b u t i f yo u a re se lli ng i ns u ra nc e yo u wo u ld b e i ll- ad v i se d to s e t u p s ho p i n Pa le s ti ne o r Be lfa s t. F o r exa mp le, the n u mber o f E u ro p ea n s w ho d i ed o r w ere k i lled as a res u lt o f the Cru s ad es i s p u t at ap p ro xi mately fo u r mi lli o n . T he v i c ti ms o f the In qu is i ti o n , in Sp ai n alo n e, i n c lud ed :
3 0 ,0 0 0 - bu rn ed at the s tak e 17,0 0 0 bu rn ed i n effi gy 2 90 ,0 0 0 p un i s hed by to rtu re, p ri s o n o r fi n an c i al ru i n . Of all thes e v i c ti ms , mo s t w ere w o me n , ' hereti c s ' an d J ew s .
Today? T hat' s all v ery s ad , o f c o u rs e, bu t tho s e med i ev al d ays are go n e n o w , aren ' t they ? T o d ay w e li v e i n the A ge o f A q u ari us , the n ew mi llen n i u m, i sn ' t all that t r u th v i ru s s tu ff rath er o ld hat an d ev en s li ghtl y alarmi s t to u s c o o l, lai d - bac k , d u d es ? ' F rai d n o t! ... F o r examp le, rec en t w o rld ' s head li n es w ere fi lled w i th s to ri es abo u t a gro u p i n J ap an w ho s e id eas are v ery mu c h i nfec ted w i th the tru th v i ru s . T i m e magazi n e' s c o v er s to ry ( A p ri l 3 , 19 95) i s abo u t a g ro u p that p o i s o n ed 3 ,00 0 T o k yo s u bw ay c o mmu ters w i th n erv e gas . T i m e rep o rts , I n wha t c o u ld o nly ha v e b e e n a c a re fu lly c o o rd i na te d , p a i ns ta ki ng ly
24 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN p la nne d a tro c i ty, a n a p p a re ntly d i lu te d fo rm o f ne rv e g a s c a lle d s a ri n, a we a p o n o f m a s s ki lli ng o ri g i na lly c o nc o c te d b y the Na zi s , was p lac e d s i m u lta ne o u s ly i n fi v e s u b wa y ca rs a t m o rni ng ru s h ho u r, ki lli ng 10 v i c ti m s a nd s i c ke ni ng t ho u s a nds m o re . ... ( la te r a t the s u s p ec t g ro up ' s c o m p ou nd ) Po li c e m a n i n p ro te c ti v e s u i ts wi th c a na ri e s e me rg ed wi th to n a fte r to n o f c he m ic a ls- - s od i u m c ya ni de, s o d i u m flu o ri d e , p ho s p ho ru s tri c hlo ri de , i s op ro p yl a lc o ho l, a c e to ni tri le ... e no u g h to ki ll 4.2 m i lli o n p e o p le . Later , i t w as rep o rted th at p o li c e fo u n d c on tai n ers o f a bi o lo gi c al to xi n c alled bo tu li n u m, o n e o f the w o rld ' s d ead li es t. T he y fo u nd e no u g h to wi p e o u t the who le p la ne t! Pres u mab ly thi s w ou ld be j usti fi able, all i n the n ame o f tru th. A s a res u lt o f thi s atro c i ty " the J ap an es e hav e lo s t thei r tru s t i n s o c i ety ," s ays s oc i o lo gi st K en i c hi T o mi n aga o f K ei o U n i v ers i ty . " It w i ll n ev er be the s ame ." A n d the n ame o f thi s p o s t- mod ern gro u p o f the 1990 ' s ? A u m Shin ri k y o w hic h mean s - Supreme Truth! PT V i s n o t j us t a medi ev al c u ri o si ty . T o d ay , PT V i s s ti ll v ery mu c h ali v e an d may be li v i n g i t u p in y ou r brai n ! Li s ten!
Experiment Si t qu i etly n o w fo r abo u t 3 to 5 minu tes an d n o ti c e the ac ti vi ty go i n g on in y o u r brai n . T ry to n o ti c e the tho u gh t p att ern s , the d i s s o n anc e, the d ef en c es that PT V i s w o rk i n g to p res erv e i ts s u rv i v al. W hat y o u hav e n o ti c ed abo u t yo u r thin k i n g p attern s an d w hat, i f any thi n g, y o u hav e n o ti c ed ab o u t PT V' s ac ti v i ti es i n y o u r brai n ?
25 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
So , I fi n ally get to c o me o u t o f the clo s et. A ltho u gh I’v e n ev er, ev e r d en ied i t, I’v e alw ay s been a li ttl e re ti c en t to p ro c la i m the fac t that – I a m a b ri g ht! W hat abo u t y o u ? Do y o u w an t to c o me o u t o f that d ark o ld c lo s et w i th me? A re y o u a bri ght? T he c o n v en i en c e o f the in tern et mak es i t p o ss i ble fo r y o u to c o me o u t onli n e ri ght n o w at http://www.the-brights.net … … W hat exac tly i s a b ri ght? A b ri ght i s d efi n ed as a p ers o n who se wo rld v i e w i s na tu ra li s ti c ( fre e o f s u p e rna tu ra l a nd m ys ti c a l e le m e nts ) . B ri ghts are ev e ry w here . T hey li v e i n y o u r s treet. T hey d o bu s i n es s w i th y o u . T hey s i t n ext to y o u o n trams , at the fo o ty an d at the p u b. B ri ghts co me i n ev ery s i ze, s hap e an d co lo u r. T hey are p aren ts , p artn ers , lo v ers , au n ts an d c o u s in s . Y o u r ten - y ear- o ld mi ght be a bri ght . Y o u r n ext d ate may be a bri gh t. Y o u r fami ly d o c to r may be a bri g ht. Y o u r H ead o f State may be a bri ght ( H i s E xc ellen c y Bi ll H ay d en ad mi tted he w as an athei s t) . T here a re ev en b ri ghts i n fo xho l es an d , as a y o u n g d i gge r, I s e rv ed w i th th em i n the 60 s i n Vi et Nam. B ri ghts are n o t beli ev e rs i n go d s an d go d d es s es , an gels , fai ri es , s p i ri ts , c ro s s i n g o v er,
gho s ts ,
voodoo,
s n ak e- han dli n g,
as tro lo gy ,
f ai th- heali n g,
i n d u lgen c es ,
c ry s tals , li mbo , hell o r p u rgato ry . B ri ghts may s ay they are a Gemi n i an d go to o c c as i on al reli gi o u s ev en ts to be p o li te o r to ap p eas e thei r fri en d s an d fa mi li es o r j u s t to en j oy s o me en du ri n g c u ltu ral feas t bu t they real ly d o n o t beli ev e i n the Res u rrec ti o n , the A s s u mp ti o n , the Pi lgri mage , o r the Sabb ath. Y o u r o w n fami ly ’s bri ghts m ay go alo n g w i th H allo w een , Chan n u k ah an d t he H aj o u t o f res p ec t o r ev en o u t o f fear bu t they really d o n ’t beli ev e. E v en y o u r San ta may be a b ri ght . I k n o w , bec au s e I am. I’v e been San ta at the lo c a l p re- s c ho o l f o r o v er a d ec ad e. I try v ery hard to b e a c on v i nc in g San ta an d to meet all the s eas o n al exp ec tati o n s o f the w i d e- ey ed k i d s an d thei r d o ti n g p aren ts bu t I’m real ly j u s t a fri en d ly o ld frau d i n a b ad b eard .
26 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W hi le n o tw o b ri ghts are ali k e an d they all d i ffe r o n man y thi n gs an d i n ev ery p o s si ble w ay they d o s hare a w o rld v i ew free o f s u p ern atu rali s m. T hei r e thi c s are bas ed o n thei r u n d ers tan d i n g o f a n a tu rali s ti c w o rld v i ew . B ri g hts may be: A thei s ts , A gn o s ti cs , F reethi n k ers , H u man i s ts , No n - Reli gi o u s , No n - Prac ti c i n g, Obj ecti v i s ts o r Sk ep ti c s . So me bri gh ts are famo u s . F reu d w a s a famo u s bri gh t. T h e A u s tri an p io n eer o f p s yc ho an aly s is s ai d: " In the lo n g ru n , n o thi n g c an w i ths tan d reas o n an d exp eri en c e, an d the c o n trad i c ti o n reli gi o n o ffers to bo th i s p alp able … T he w ho le thi n g i s s o p aten tly i n fan ti le, s o fo r ei gn to reali ty , tha t to an y o n e w i th a f ri en d ly atti tu d e to hu man i ty i t i s p ai n fu l to thi nk that the grea t maj o ri ty o f mo rta ls w i ll n ev er be able to ri s e abo v e thi s v i ew o f li fe."
W hen Mark T w ai n , the A meri c an hu mo ri s t, w as
o n c e ask ed w hether he feared d eath he s ai d that he d i d n o t, in v i ew o f the fac t that he had been d ead fo r b i lli o n s an d bi lli o n s o f y ears befo re he w as bo rn , and had no t s u ffered the s li gh tes t i n c o n v en i en c e fro m i t. K atheri n e H ep bu rn , w hen as k ed i n an i n terv i ew , rep li ed , " I' m an athei s t, a n d that' s i t. I beli ev e ther e' s n o thi ng w e c an k n o w exc ep t that w e s ho u ld be ki n d to eac h o ther an d d o w hat w e c an fo r eac h o ther." Qu en ti n Cri s p , the E n gli s h ac to r an d gay ri ghts c amp ai gn er rec alled : " W hen I to ld the p eo p le o f No rthe rn Ire lan d that I w as an athei s t, a w o man in the au d i en c e s to o d u p an d s ai d , ' Y es , b u t is i t the Go d o f the Catho li c s o r the Go d o f th e P ro te s tan ts i n w ho m y o u d o n' t beli ev e? ’” B eatle and s on gw ri ter, J o hn Len n o n , may have been a bri ght w hen he w ro te: Im a g i ne the re ' s no he a ve n, It' s e a s y i f yo u try, No he ll b e lo w u s , A b o v e u s o nly s ky, Im a g i ne a ll the p e o p le li v i ng fo r to d a y Im a g i ne the re ' s no c o u ntri e s It i s n' t ha rd to d o No thi ng to ki ll o r d i e fo r No re li g i o n to o
Other c el ebri ty bri gh ts are t he A u s trali an p hi lo s o p her Peter Si n ger, the Ic elan d s i n ger B j ö rk , the c o s mo lo gi s t Carl Sagan , the femi n i s t Vi rgi n i a W oo lf, the Chi n es e
27 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN lead er
Mao
Zed o n g ,
the
ac ti v i s t
an d
sc i en tis t
No am
Cho ms k y ,
the
No bel
mi c ro bi o lo gi s t F ran c i s Cri c k , the i n ven to r T ho mas E d i s o n , the magi c i an s Pen n an d T eller , the p o et Lo rd B y ro n , the Cu b an d i c tato r F i d el Cas t ro , the B ri ti s h mark eti n g gen i u s Si r Ri c hard B ran s on , the fi lmmak er W o o d y A llen , the s ci - fi w riter Is aac A s i mo v , an d the ac to r w ho rec en tly d i ed Marlo n B ran d o . Co u ld ev en a go d b e a bri g ht? In o u r relati v ely s ho rt hu man hi s to ry there hav e been man y lead ers w ho hav e c lai med to be d i v i n e an d n o d o u bt man y mo re w ho hav e ac ted as tho u gh they w ere . Lama, hav e ev er had
On ly a f ew li k e J es u s , Caes ar an d K u n du n , the Dalai
thei r c lai m
o f d i vi n i ty
w id ely
ac kn o w led ged
by
thei r
c o n s ti tu en c i es . I’v e had s ev eral mee ti n gs w i th T en zi n Gy ats o , the Da lai Lama o f T i bet an d I d o ho ld hi m in hi gh regard . In New Y o rk i n 198 1 I o n c e as k ed hi m, rathe r tac tles s ly , i f he c o u ld d es i gn a n ew reli gi o n . T he meeti n g w as reco rd ed an d here i s o u r exc han ge: Y o u r H o li n es s ,
i f y o u w ere as k ed to d es i gn a n ew reli gi o n ,
w hat w o u ld be
s o me o f the fea tu res that y o u w o u ld wan t to i n c lu d e in thi s n ew reli gi o n ? (La u g hi ng ) I c a nno t a ns we r t ha t! Lo o k at i t as a d es i gn p ro j ec t. The r e is no ne e d t o as k m e s u c h qu e s t io ns , Mi c h ae l. (la u g hi ng ) ( Lau ghi n g)
Y es .
It i s a tri c k !
I t' s a tri c k qu es ti o n , Y o u r H o li n es s , bu t y o u
hav e my p ermi s s i on to an s w er i t. Oh, a t ri ck ! (la u g hi ng ) The n I will a ns we r … H mm m . Mo re s im p le r, m o re ef fe c t i ve re lig i o n. I t hi nk t hat I a lre a dy, yo u s e e , ha ve m a de a n e f f o rt t o p rom o t e the "U ni ve rs a l R e lig i o n" - t ha t is , t h e p ra c t is e o f C O MPA SSION . Ir re s p e c t i ve o f whe t he r yo u a r e a be lieve r o r a no n- be li e ve r, if yo u a re a h uman be in g yo u do ne e d k i ndne s s. K i ndne s s … c om p a ss i o n … t hi s i s m y u ni ve rs a l re li g i o n. Si m ple r. Wi t ho u t a ny p hi lo so p hy.
Y o u k no w t hro u g h yo u r o wn e xp e rie nc e
28 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN ho w m u c h i s t he va lu e o f yo u r p are nt s ' k i ndne s s . Whe n yo u r m o t h e r s ho we d a ki ndly a t t i t u de t o wa rd yo u , yo u a p p re ci a t e i t ve ry mu c h . Wi t ho u t yo u r p a re nt s ' c o mp a ss i on, yo u wo u ld no t s u rvi ve , yo u c ou ld no t li ve . Y o u s ee , he re t he re is no ne e d t o p ro ve ! N o ne e d fo r lo g ic ! N o ne e d fo r r e lig i o n! N o ne e d fo r t em p le ! So no w, t ha t i s t he re a l r e lig i on.
I a m t ryi ng a s ha rd as I can t o
p ro p a g a te t ha t … t o t e a c h t hi s s im p le r a p p ro ac h.
C o m p a s si o n, m o re
c o m p as s i o n! Of c o u rs e, n o t all b ri ghts k n o w they are n o w c alled ‘b ri ghts ’ , s i n c e thi s termi n o lo gy has o n ly rec en tly been i n tro d u c ed . Las t y ear, Oxfo rd Pro fes s o r Ri c hard Daw k i ns w ro te i n T he Gu a rd i a n ( J u n e 2 1 2 0 0 3 ): “ B ri g ht i s the w o rd , th e n ew n o u n fo r a the i s t. I am a bri ght. Y o u a re a b ri g ht. She i s a bri gh t. W e a re th e bri gh t s . Is n ' t i t abo u t ti me y o u c ame o u t as a bri ght? Is he a bri ght? I c an ' t i magi n e fall i n g fo r a w o man w ho w as n o t a b ri ght . Nu mer o u s i n tellec tu als an d o ther famo u s p eo p le are bri ghts . B ri ghts c o n s ti tu te 60 % o f A meri c an s c i en tis ts , an d a s tu n n i n g 93 % o f tho s e s c i en tis ts go o d en o u gh to b e elec te d to the e li te Na ti o n al A c ad emy o f Sc i en c es ( equ i v alen t to F ello w s o f the Ro y al So c i ety ) are bri ghts . Lo o k o n the br i ght s i d e: tho u gh at p res en t th ey c an ' t ad mi t i t an d get elec ted , the U S Co n g res s mu s t be fu ll o f c lo s et bri ghts .” Ori gi n ally p u bli s hed i n the Ne w Y o r k T i m e s as an ar ti c le c all ed T he B ri g ht Stu f f ( J u ly 12 , 2 0 03 Dan i el C. Den n ett, the d i s ti n gu is hed p ro fes s o r o f p hi lo s op hy at T u fts U n i v ers i ty and mo s t rec en t au tho r o f F re e d o m E v o lve s had thi s to s ay : “ I rec en tly to o k p art i n a c o n feren c e i n Seattle t hat bro u ght to gethe r lead i n g s c i en tists , arti s ts an d au tho rs to talk c and i d ly an d info rmal ly abo u t thei r li v es to a gro up o f v ery s mart hi gh s c ho o l s tu d en ts . T o w ard the en d o f my allo tted 15 mi n u tes , I tri ed a li ttle exp e ri men t. I c am e o u t as a bri ght. No w , my i d en ti ty w o u ld c ome as n o s u rp ri s e to an y bo dy wi th the s li ghtes t k n o w led ge o f my w o rk . Nev erth eles s , the res u lt w as elec tri fy i n g. Man y s tud en ts c ame up to me afterw ard s to than k me, w i th c o n si d erable p as s i o n , fo r " li berati n g" them. I had n ' t reali zed ho w lo n ely an d i n s ecu re thes e tho u ghtfu l te en agers f elt. T hey ' d n ev er heard a res p ec ted ad u lt s ay ,
29 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN i n an en ti rely matter o f fac t w ay , that he d i d n' t beli ev e i n Go d . I had c almly bro k en a tabo o an d s ho w n ho w easy i t w as . In ad d i ti o n , man y o f the late r s p eak ers , i n c lu di n g s ev eral No b e l lau reates , w e re i n s p i red to s ay that th ey , to o , w e r e bri ghts . In eac h c as e the rema rk d rew ap p lau s e. E v en mo re gr ati fy i n g w ere the c o m men ts o f ad u lts an d s tu d en ts ali k e w ho s o u ght me o u t aft erw a rd to tel l me th at, w hi le they thems elv es w ere n o t bri ghts , they s u p p o rted bri ght ri gh ts . A n d that i s w hat w e w an t mo s t o f all: to b e tr eated w i th the s ame res p ec t ac c o rd ed to B ap ti s ts and H i nd us an d Catho li c s , n o mo re an d n o les s .” No t ev e ry o n e i s hap p y ab o u t B ri ght r i ghts . A s y o u w o u ld exp ec t, ther e has been the u s u al han d - w rin gi n g by tho s e fearfu l c ri ti c s w ho s ay the w o rd ‘bri ght’ has been hi j ac k ed . B u t lan gu age i s o rg an i c , i t ev o lv es , i t’s n o rma l. Co ke , a p o llu ti n g fu el bec o mes a p o p u lar d ri n k . Vi rg i n bec o mes a rec o rd l abel . A g a y i s n o w a ho mo s exu al. A n d n o w a b ri g ht i s an athei s t. Get o v er i t! Th e re a re a ls o t ho s e who m i sc hie vo u s ly p re t e nd t o c o nf us e t he no u n wi t h t he a djec t i ve i n o rde r t o c la i m t ha t s om e k i nd of a t he is t i c a rrog a nc e is a f o o t . The a dje c t i ve br igh t , m e ans e ve r yt hi ng f rom s u nny, da zzl i ng a nd ra di a nt t o c le ve r, g i f t e d a nd c he e rf u l a nd i s qu i t e a di s t i nc t c o nno t a t i o n. It ’s no t ro c k e t s ci e nc e to di ff e re nt i a t e be t we e n a no u n a nd a n a dje c t i ve a nd a ny s c ho o l k i d c a n do i t s o t he r e ’s no ne e d t o g o to t he t ro u ble o f g e t t i ng t he m c o nf u se d.
B ri ghts are NOT c lai mi n g to b e c lev erer than beli ev ers they are j u s t s tand in g u p fo r thei r ri g hts . A bri ght ( the n o u n ) i s the n ew w o rd fo r a n athei s t. B ri ghts s p ec i fi c ally u s e the n ou n NOT the adj ec ti v e. A re there d i m an d d u ll bri ghts ? Certai n ly . A re there bri g ht an d c lev er beli ev ers ? Of c o u rs e there are. On e c an s i mp ly n o te the d i s tin c ti o n betw een the n o un an d the ad j ec ti v e. W i ll w e s o o n b e s eei n g B ri ght P ri d e marc hes ? W i ll Me lbo u rn e s o o n hav e i ts B ri ght Mard i Gras to ri v al Sy d n ey ’s Gay an d Les bi an c iv i l ri ghts ev en t? May be, may be n o t. B u t, i f y o u are a b ri ght an d y ou are c o ns i d eri n g this is su e y o u c an v is i t the s i tes li s ted belo w . So , c o me o n o u t o f the c lo s et – i t may j u s t be a bri ght i d ea w ho s e ti me has c o me!
30 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Y o u c an v is i t thes e B ri ght s i tes : http://www.the-brights.net/ http://www.visi.com/~markg/atheists.html http://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/~ddennett.htm http://www.world-of-dawkins.com/index.shtml http://www.schoolofthinking.org/ http://www.randi.org/ http://www.skeptic.com/ http://www.secularhumanism.org/ahal/nhm.html http://www.teachingaboutreligion.org/ http://www.dangerousgames.com/~ironwolf/philosophy/bright-idea.html
31 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
On read i n g thes e les s o n s ab o u t PT V I am o ften as k ed by trai n ees : B u t, a re n' t the s e le s s o ns T he T ru th? I u s u ally an s w er s o methi n g li k e: No . T he s e les s o ns a re no t T he T ru th. Research T he d i fferen t v i ew s o ffered i n thes e l es s o ns may n o t be the o n es pu s hed by man y o f the mai n s tream au tho ri ti es bu t they are res ea rc hed an d p res en ted i n go o d fai th. T he fac ts s tated c an eas i ly be c hec k ed o u t w i th y o u r o w n res earc h an d I e n c o u rage y o u to d o s o . Go o gle mak es i t mu c h eas i er fo r y o u to d o thi s . Mistakes and Faults W here SOT tr ai n ees hav e fo u n d fau lt s o r w her e mi s tak es hav e b een bro u g ht to o u r atten ti o n they hav e b een rec ti fi ed an d there are, n o d o u bt, man y mo re flaw s i n thes e i mp erfec t les s o n s . Provocation and Tactlessness A ltho u gh thes e les s o n s may b e p res ented s o mew hat tac tles s ly they hav e v alu e i n the p ro v o c ati o n they gi v e to tho s e w ho are w i lli n g to exp lo re th em. Si n c e w e are exp lo ri n g the s u b j ec ts o f ' tru th' an d ' thin k in g' w e c an n o t av oi d exp lo ri n g the hi s to ry o f r eli gi o n an d s c i en c e. Di s cu s s in g reli gi o n w i tho u t d efe ren c e s o meti mes s eems tac tles s and is to o mu c h fo r s o me p eo p le bu t i s refres hi n g fo r o thers . T he i n d iv i du al thi n k er mu s t mak e u p hi s /her o w n mi n d o n this . Not 'The Truth' T hey are c ertai n ly n o t T he T ru th to be beli ev ed i n . T hat w o u ld be exac tly the o p p o si te o f the p u rp os e fo r thes e les s o ns . T hei r v alu e li es i n the thi n kin g y o u d o abo u t them an d the ef fo rt y o u tak e to fo rm y o u r o w n o p i ni o n s .
32 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Always remember, if you don't do your own thinking, someone else will do it for you. W ho e v e r u nd e rta kes to s e t hi ms e lf u p a s a j u dg e o f T ru th i s s hi p wre c ke d b y the la u g hte r o f the Go d s . - Albert Einstein, thinker and scientist A nyti m e s o me o ne sa y s s o me thi ng with g re a t c o nfi d e nc e , c he c k to s ee whe the r o r no t i t' s tru e ! - Noam Chomsky, cognitive scientist and activist No w let' s c o n ti n u e o u r exp lo rati o n o f Pla to ' s T ru th Vi ru s o r meme . If Pl at o w as the hac k er w ho i n v en ted the tru th v i ru s, A ri s to tle w as the fi rs t to p ac k age i t i n to a p o w erfu l c o gn i ti v e o p erati n g s y s tem or thi n k i n g s o ftw are p ac k age. A ri s to tle s tart ed as a s tu d en t i n Pl ato ' s ac ad emy an d remai n ed there f o r tw en ty y ears u n ti l Plato , hi s men to r, d i ed . B y the ti me Plato d i ed A ri s to tle w as tho ro u ghly i n fec ted w i th hi s men to r' s tru th v i ru s an d di d mu c h to es tabli s h ' the searc h fo r c ertai n ty ' as the bas i s o f all i n tellec tu al en d eav o u rs . A ri s to tle bec ame a p as s i o n ate an d o bs es s iv e tru th f reak . Pla to o n ly w en t as far as s ay i n g that tru th w as w hat lay at th e lo n g en d o f a thi n k er' s s earc h, an u lti mate d es ti n ati o n . No t en o u gh fo r A ri ... No s i r! A ri s to tle s ai d " I w an t tru th! I w an t i t here! I w an t i t n o w ! " A ri s to tle w en t o n to i n si s t that the o rd i n ary fu zzy j u mble o f o u r d ai ly reali ty w as j u s t n o t ti d y en o u gh. So , to b ri n g o rd er to the w o r ld he i mp o s ed a k i nd o f tru th temp late o v er ev ery thi n g. Mail sorting and Labelling A ri s to tle' s med i u m w as lan gu age. H e as s u med that the c ertai n ty o f w o rd s co u ld gi v e c ertai n ty to the i n effable flo w o f e xp eri en c e. T he u n ti d y c hao s o f reali ty o ffen d ed A ri s to tle' s o rd ered , PT V- i n fec ted mi n d s o he d eci d ed to break ev ery thi ng u p in to p i geo n ho les an d c atego ri es - k in d o f li k e mai l s o rti n g an d labeli n g. T hi s go es here, that go es the re , s ti c k thi s label o n thi s and that label o n that! Let' s j u s t ti dy ev ery thi n g u p . Y es s i r. A p lac e fo r ev ery thi n g an d ev ery thi n g i n i t' s p lac e w as A ri s to tle' s mo tto .
33 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
In hi s c lass i fy in g ferv o u r A ri s to tle mad e u p pi geo n ho les an d s o rted o u r d ai ly reali ty i n to them. H e t ri ed to i n v en t s lo ts fo r ev ery thi n g. F o r examp le , he s et abo u t s o rti n g ' go v ern men t'
i n to
c atego ri es
li k e :
' c o ns ti tu ti o n al' ,
' ty ran n i c al' ,
' mo n arc hy ' ,
' ari s to c rac y ' , ' o li garc hy ' , ' d emo c rac y ' . H e then go t bu s y break i n g ev e ry thi n g u p i n to s u bj ec ts li k e: p o li tic s , ethi c s , rheto ri c ( s p eec h- maki n g) , metap hy s ic s , p hys ic s , bi o lo gy , meteo ro lo gy . F i n ally , he i n v en ted hi s v ery o w n thi nk i n g s o ftw are c alled lo gi c . Aristotle's Silly Syllogism A ri s to tle' s thi n k in g s o ftw are w as al r ead y i n fec ted w i th the Pla to T ru th V i ru s fro m d ay o n e. F o r lo gi c , A ri s to tle i n v en ted hi s s i lly sy llo gi s m. I s ay i t' s s i lly bec au s e i t lac k s w i sd o m an d s en s e. T he s y llo gi s m s tarts w i th the s o - c alled ' tru th' as i ts p remi s e. T hen o n e s i mp ly matc hes u p i tems that c o me alo n g an d o u t po p s y o u r c on c lu si o n . Si mp le really . .. an d v ery s i lly . F o r examp le: TR U TH : A ll s w ans are w hi te. ITEM: T hi s i s a s w an . LOGIC A L EXTEN SION : T h ere fo re i t i s w hi te. Or, TR U TH : Sales p eo p le tell li es . ITEM: A my i s a s ales p ers o n . LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T he refo re A my i s lyi n g. Or, TR U TH : Ou r c hu rc h i s the ri ght c hu r c h. ITEM: Y o u ar e n o t a membe r. LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T he refo re y o u are w ro n g. Or, TR U TH : T he eart h i s flat.
34 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN ITEM: T here fo re i t has an ed ge . LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T h ere fo r e y o u w i ll fall o ff th e ed ge i f y o u g o to o far fro m s ho re . Or, TR U TH : T he Pres i d en t i s the law . ITEM: T he Pr es i d en t d i d s o methi n g. LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T he refo re i t i s legal ( A ri s to tle' s Lo gi c s o ftw are c au s ed Ni xo n to beli ev e thi s w as s o ) . Or, TR U TH : A b o s s 's o pi n i on is bes t. ITEM: Y o u ar e n o t a b o s s . LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : So w hen w e w an t y o u r o p i ni o n w e' ll gi v e i t to yo u . No Contradictions, Please! F o r A ri s to tle, j u s t thi n k i n g w as n ' t go o d en o u gh. No , y o u hav e to thi n k lo gi c ally . Lo gi c i s o bs es s ed w i th hu n ti n g d o wn c o n trad i c ti o ns . In lo gi c , a thi n g c an n o t be i n bo x A an d b o x NOT A at the s ame ti me. No , i t mu s t be s o rt ed an d c las s i fi ed i n to the ' c o rrec t' bo x. A ltho u gh rea l li fe i s fu ll o f c o n trad i c ti o n s an d p arad o xes (i s the glas s half fu ll o r half emp ty ? ) thi s w as j u s t no t go o d en o u gh fo r o u r man A ri s to tle. T hi n gs mu s t be c u t u p in to p i ec es li k e a j i g- s aw and then s o rted i n to thei r ' tru e' c atego ri es . Judging Right from Wrong Li fe, ac c o rd i n g to A ris to tle, i s a matter o f s o rti n g thi n gs o u t in to 'ri ght' an d ' w ro n g' . J u d gemen t i s the k ey ac ti v i ty . T hi s i s ri ght. T hat' s w ro n g. I' m ri g ht. Y o u ' re w ro n g. T hi s i s blac k . T hat i s w hi te. T hi s i s A meri c an . T hat' s u n -A meri c an . T hi s i s go o d . T hat i s b ad . T hi s i s the ri ght an s w er. T hat i s the w ro n g an s w er. Grey n es s ? F u zzin es s ? Un c ertai n ty ? Op en - end ed n ess ? Con trad i c ti o n ? Parad o x? W ell, w e c an n o t hav e that s o rt o f thi n g arou n d here. Y o u ' v e go t to s o rt thi n gs ou t! Clean u p y o u r ac t! Get thi n gs ri g ht! In A ri s to tle' s Ly c eu m, ev ery thi n g w as c o v ered by ru les , ru les , ru les . T he li v i n g arran ge men ts , the s tu d y co u rs es , the ti metables w ere all d o mi n ated b y ru les an d regu lati o n s .
35 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Ancient Software A ri s to tle c rav ed o rd er . H e lo v ed the o rd er tha t hi s c las s i fic ati o n s bro u ght to hi s i d eas an d tho u ghts . H e as s u med that the s ame o rd er t hat h e fo u n d he c o u l d i mp o s e o n w o rd s an d lan gu age c o u ld als o be i mp o s ed o n the real w o rld . Man y h av e mad e the s ame mi s tak e. A ri s to tle' s c o gn i ti v e o p erati n g s y s tem, lo gi c , has d o mi n ated W es tern ed u c ati o n fo r far to o lo n g. H o w c o me w e s ti ll thin k thi s w ay 2 500 y ears after o ld Ari j o i n ed So c rates an d P lato o n Mo u n t Oly mp u s ? H o w c o me thi s an c i en t s o ftw are has s u rv i v ed s o lo n g? W ho k ep t i t ali v e? W ho s p read i t aro u n d ? W ho p ro gr ammed i t i n to y o u r brai n ? W e w i ll d is c us s thi s n ext c hap ter. Let's Be Fair H av i n g s ai d all thi s , let' s n o w be fai r. Of c o u rs e, A ri s to tle mad e a grea t c o n tri bu ti o n that w as n eed ed at the ti me. My p o i nt i s ho w the u s e o f lo gi c has been s u bs equ en tly d i s to rted by p eo p le, i n s ti tu ti on s an d s o c i eti es . W hat I am d o i n g i n the les s o n s is a few thi n gs :
bei n g d eli berately p ro v o c ati v e
balan c i n g s o me o f the o bs es s i on w i th ' lo gi c ' by attac k i n g i ts ' my s ti qu e'
refe rri n g to the les s p rec i s e ' co mmo n u s age' o f lo gi c n o t the ' ac ad emic p rec i s i on ' o f lo gi c as A ri s to tle hi ms elf s et i t ou t. Often w hen the av erage p ers o n s ays ' s ales men tell li es ' they behav e as tho u gh th ey real ly s ai d ' A LL s ales men tell li es ' etc .
Beyond Critical Thinking It w as the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g w hi c h i n tro d u c ed the i d ea o f ' teac hin g thi nk i n g as a s k i ll' i n to the s c ho o ls i n the U S. B y 198 3 , SOT thi nk i n g les so n s had alread y reac hed o v er 50 mi lli o n p eop le. T hi s w as tho u gh SOT ' s Le a rn- to - T hi nk Pro j e c t w hi c h I s tarted w i th E d w ard d e B o n o i n 198 0 i n New Y o rk . E d w ard an d I c o - au tho red a bo o k , T he Le a rn- T o - T hi nk Co u rs e - b o o k ( Sec o n d E d i ti on . 198 2 . Cap r a New . San ta B arb ara) , i n w hi c h he w ro te th e fo llo w i n g:
36 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W ha t wo u ld I e xp e c t fro m a m e m be r o f the Sc ho o l o f T hi n ki ng ? I w o u ld exp ec t a trai n ed p ers on to p os s es s a great d eal o f w i s d o m an d c o mmo n s en s e. T hi s aris es fro m an abi li ty to s ee an y si tu ati o n i n a bro ad p ers p ec ti v e. W i s d o m i s qu i te d i fferen t fro m the s o rt o f c lev ern es s that i s tau ght i n scho o l. Clev ern es s may be alri ght fo r d eali n g w i th p u zzles bu t w is d o m i s requ i red fo r d eali n g w i th li fe. W e tri ed to en c o u rage teac he rs to teac h thei r s tu d en ts to go bey o n d c ri ti c al thi n k i n g to latera l thi n k i n g. In SO T trai n i n g, the o n ly thi n g y o u a re as k ed to c ri ti c i s e is y o u r o wn thi n k in g.
37 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
In the las t few les s o n s w e lo o k ed at PT V - the P lato T ru th Vi ru s . W e s aw ho w the ' thi n k in g' hac k ers o f an c i en t A then s - So c rates , Pl ato an d A ri s to tle - fo o le d aro u n d w i th ' thi n ki n g' s o ftw are an d ho w they d ev elo p ed an d p ac k aged the co n c ep t o f ' abs o lu te tru th' . T hes e n ext few les s o n s w e' ll exp lo re ho w PT V w as p i c k ed u p and s p read thro u gho u t the W es tern w o rld , i n fec ti n g mi lli o n s o f mi n ds and k i llin g mi lli o n s o f hu man bei n gs an d s ti ll flo u ri s hi n g 2 50 0 y ears later. In trac k i n g the s p read o f a v i ru s , w e c an try to fi n d o u r w ay bac k to the i d en ti fi c ati on o f i ts Pati en t Zero . W h o w as the fi rs t p ati en t w ho real ly go t the v i ru s go i n g? W ho w as the o n e to s p read i t aro u n d en o u gh to let i t tak e ho ld ? W ell, w h en i t c ame to th e s p read i n g o f A ri s to tle' s Lo gi c So f tw are ( alr ead y i n fec ted w i th PT V) n o - o n e w as mo re s u c c es s fu l than a y o u n g Ita li an n o bleman c alled T ho mas A qu in as . Doctor Truth and The Truth B o rn , i n 12 2 5, i n to p o w erfu l n o bi li ty n ear Nap les , A qu i n as ou traged hi s fami ly w hen he d ec i d ed to bec o me a Do mi n i c an fri ar. W hen i t c o mes to tru t h f reak s , T ho mas w as o n e o f the g reates t ev e r. H e w as Do c t o r T ru th hi ms elf! T ho mas d i s c ov ered a n ew tran s lati o n o f A ri s to tle f ro m the Greek an d s o h e s et o u t to s y n thes i s e A ri s to teli an i d eas i n s uc h a w ay that i t w as u s efu l fo r d ef en d i n g T he T ru th. Of c o u rs e, as far as T he T ru th w as c on c ern ed , there w as n ev er an y d o u bt fo r o u r F ra T ho mas . No n eed to lo o k a ro u n d . No n eed to s earc h. H e al read y k n ew exac tly w here an d exac tly w hat T he T ru th w as . T he r e w as n o fu rthe r s earc h requ i red fo r T he T ru th as far as A q u i n as w as c on c ern ed . J us t a matter o f d ef en d i n g i t an d p reserv i n g i t fro m an y attemp t to c han ge i t.
38 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T he T ru th, p ro c lai med T ho mas , w as t he teac hi n gs o f the Chu rc h. A n d w ho s e c hu rc h mi ght tha t be, T ho mas ? T he Mu s li m s ? T he B u d d his ts ? T he J ew s ? Pi c tu re T ho mas o p en in g the en v elo p e, " A n d the w i nn er i s ... T h e Catho li c Chu rc h" . T hat' s i t! No thi n g els e. Sto p lo o k i n g. H ere i t i s . T he lu c k y wi nn er! . W ell, n o w , the w i n ni n g T ru e Chu rc h als o hap p ens to be Y OU R c hu rc h, T ho mas o ld c hap. W hat a c o i n ci d enc e! W hat a s tro k e o f lu c k ! A s i t hap p en ed , T ho mas ' Chu rc h w as an i n fo rmati o n mo n op o ly . A ll E u ro p ean u n i v ers i ti es w ere ru n by the Chu rc h w i th head o ffi c e i n Ro me. Ro me li ter ally o w n ed all o f k n o w led ge an d w as b u s i ly exp o rti n g i ts c o rp o rate ed u c ati o n s y s tem. T h e p o w erfu l bu t flaw ed thi n ki n g s o ftw are, lo gi c , w as the c o gn i ti v e op erati n g s y s tem they u s ed , c o u rtes y o f A ri s to tle v i a Aqu i n as . T hi s ed u c ati on al en terp ri s e amo u n ted to p ro grammi n g b rai n s w i th w hat t he c hu rc h tau ght - v erb ati m - an d rep eati n g i t bac k agai n . Sc ho lars hi p w as red u c ed to mere d efen c e o f Vati c an teac hi n gs , w hi c h w ere k n o w n c o llec ti v ely as - T he T ru th. On ly Mi c ro s o ft' s exp o rt o f Bi ll Gates ' DOS has ev er ri v alled the Vati c an ' s exp o rt o f T ho mas A qu in as ' PT V. T o d ay , there a re a ro u n d 170 mi lli o n PC u s ers i n the w o rld an d w hen they tu rn o n thei r d es k to p o r lap to p c o mp u ter th e fi rs t thi n g 1 50 mi lli o n o f them s e e i s " MSDOS" . T hi s i s an amazi n g ac c o mp li s hmen t fo r B i ll Ga tes an d Mi c ro s o ft i n les s than 2 0 y ears . T hi s i s on ly beaten b y the fac t that a ll 170 mi lli o n PC u s ers ar e als o n ec k to p u s ers . A n d , all 170 mi lli o n are u s i n g a Vati c an - exp o rted lo gi c o p erati n g s ys tem to w o rk thei r n ec k to p s c o mpu ters s o they c an w o rk thei r PCs ! In the o ri gi n al T ho mi s t A ri s to tle n euro w are the lo gi c o p erati n g s ys tem w ork ed li k e thi s :
T RU T H : Vati c an teac hi n g i s T he T ru th. IT E M: u s i n g A ri s to tle' s lo gi c to matc h thi n gs u p , w e are mean t to as k : Do es IT E M
39 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN matc h T RU T H ? LOGICA L CONC LU SION: If Y E S, then i t is RIGH T an d i t is T RU TH . If NO, then i t is W RONG an d i t i s H E RE SY . E v en p eo p le w i th the mos t su p erfi c i al k n o w led ge o f hi s to ry k n o w w hat hap p en ed to hereti c s . Truth Machines I w as o n c e i n A ms terd am an d p ai d a v i s i t to the n o to ri o u s In qu i s i ti o n 's T o rtu re Mu s eu m. T hi s p o p u lar to u ri s t s p o t featu res a c o ll ec ti o n o f the ' t ru th mac h i n es ' , the extrao rd i n ary array o f m ac abre mac hi n es , rac k s , to n gs , an d s p i k es . T hes e an d o ther i mp lemen ts o f to rtu re w ere u s ed by the In qu i s i to rs to ' pu ri fy ' the hereti c s . On e c o u ld o n ly marv el u n eas i ly at the c o ld - blo o d ed in gen u i ty that w en t i n to the d es i gn o f thes e i n s tru men ts of tru th . T he In qu i s i to rs , i n v ari ab ly , w ere F ra T ho mas ' fello w Do mi n i c an s . T hey were qu i te w i lli n g to i n fli c t un sp eak able ho rr o rs o n tho u s and s up o n tho u s an ds o f fello w hu man bei n gs j us t fo r d i s agreei n g. T ho mi s t A ri s to tle d o c trin e c o u ld s how u p an y c o n trad i c ti o ns . It c o u ld s ho w that thei r p o in t- o f- v i ew d id no t exac tly matc h T he T ru th an d s o they w ere hereti c s . Cu t o u t thei r to n gu es ! Cran k u p the rac k ! Get me the bran d i n g i ro n! Off to th e s tak e! It s ti ll s en d s s hi v ers u p my sp in e. 'Angelic Doctor' Truth In the fo u rteen th c en tu ry , the ' An geli c Do c to r' w as c an o ni s ed fo r hi s great c o n tri b u ti o n to the d efen c e o f tru th an d Sai n t T ho mas A qu i n as bec ame a k i nd o f go d i n the c hu rc h. T here ev en is a famo u s p ain ti n g by Zu rbaran c alled ' T he A p o theo s is o f St T ho mas A q u i n as' whi c h s ho w s T ho mas , res p len d en t o n a c lo u d i n heav en i n tho s e fri ght en i n g Do mi n i c an In qu i s i to ri al ro bes , w i th p o p es an d s c ho lars at hi s feet . A n d b elo w o n ea rth , o th e r p o p es an d c ard i n als lo o k u p an d p ray to hi m i n ad mi rati o n . J o hn XX II s ai d that to d eny A qu in as w as tan tamo u n t to heres y . Later, i n 18 79, Po p e Leo X III p ro c lai med tha t T ho mi s t A ri s to teli an d o c tri n e s hou ld be ac c ep ted as ' the
40 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN o ffi c i al d o c tri n e o f the c hu rc h' . Exporting the Virus Si n c e A qui n as i mbed d ed A ris to tle' s lo gi c i n to the Vati c an ' s ed u c ati on s ys tem i t has bec o me the mai n thi n k in g s o ftw are o f W es tern c i v i li zati o n , w herev er i t has been exp o rted . Si n c e then , ' T he T ru th' has b een c arri ed to all p arts o f the w o rld w i th mi s s io n ary zeal. In fac t, W es te rn ed u c ati o n may be med i ev al E u ro p e' s mo s t s uc c ess fu l exp o rt. A u s trali a i s a go o d examp le . A ltho u gh A u s trali a i s geo g rap hi c ally i n So u th E as t A s i a, i t has c u ltu rally b een i n E u ro pe fo r the p as t 2 0 0 y ears . A t that ti me, alo n g w i th rabbi ts , the W es te rn ed u c ati o n sy s tem w as i mp o rted i n to A u s trali a. Si n c e W o rld W ar II , ho w ev e r, A u s t rali a has bec o me les s E u ro c en tri c an d mo re E u ro - A si an . Au s trali a i s n o w o n e of the w o rld ' s mo s t s u cc es s fu l mu lti- c u ltu ral s o c i eti es . A c c o rd in gly , ' u ni q u e ri ghtn es s ' has bec o me a les s u s efu l c o gni ti ve as s et to A u s trali an s than ' to leran c e an d p lu rali ty ' . T o d ay , A us s i e k i ds are les s in teres ted i n d efen di n g a med i ev al E u ro p ean tru th an d are mo r e i n teres ted i n d es i gn i n g n ew A u s si e tru ths that a re u s efu l an d re lev an t to li fe i n the T hi rd Mi llen n i u m.
41 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A nyo ne who c o ns ci o u s ly a nd wa ntonly a tta c ks kno wn tru th , who a rm s hi m s e lf wi th fa ls e ho o d i n hi s s p e e c h, hi s wri ti ng s , o r hi s c o nd u c t i n o rd e r to a t tra c t a nd wi n o v e r le s s lea rne d m e n a nd to s ha p e the i ne xpe ri e nc ed a nd i m p res s i o na b le m i nd s o f the yo u ng to hi s o wn wa y o f thi n ki ng , ta ke s a d v a nta g e o f the i ne xp e ri e nc e a nd i nno c e nc e o f o the rs a nd e ng a g es i n a n a lto g e the r d e s p i ca b le b u s i ne ss . ~ Po p e J o hn X X III ( A d Pe tri Ca the d ra m ) I a m a wa re tha t whe n e v e n the b ri g hte s t m i nd i n o u r wo rld ha s b e e n tra i ne d u p fro m c hi ld ho o d i n a s u p e rs ti ti o n o f a ny ki nd , i t wi ll ne v e r b e p o ss i b le fo r tha t m i nd , i n i ts m a tu ri ty , to e xa m i ne s inc e re ly, d i s p as s i o na te ly, a nd co ns c ie nti o u s ly a ny e v i d e nc e o r a ny c i rcu m s ta nc e whi c h s ha ll s e e m to c as t a d o u b t u p o n the v a li d i ty o f tha t s u p e rs ti ti o n. ~ Mark T w ai n , A meri c an thi n k er an d hu mo ri s t.
W hen thi n k in g ab o u t thi n k in g, there are tw o c o n tras ti n g ap p ro ac hes w e c an bear i n mi n d : A u tho ri tari an an d So v erei gn . T he A u tho ri tari an ap p ro ac h is all abo u t s o meo n e els e d o i n g y o u r thi n ki ng fo r y o u . T hat' s w here T H E Y s ay : Do w hat y o u are to ld ! T ru s t u s . W e k n o w w hat i s bes t fo r y o u . W e are the c ho s en o n es . W e are ri ght an d y o u are w ro n g . Y o u w o u ld n ' t u n d ers tan d . Do n o t qu es ti o n o u r au th o ri ty . W hen w e w an t y o u r o p i n i o n w e'll gi v e i t to y o u . A n d s o on . T he So v erei gn ap p ro ac h i s al l abo u t y o u d o i n g y o u r o w n thi n k in g fo r y o u rs elf. T hat' s w here Y OU s ay : W hy ? W hy s ho u ld I d o as y o u s ay ? W here d o y o u get y o u r au tho ri ty ? W hy i s this s o ? W hy ? W hy? W hy ? W hat hav e y ou n o t to ld me? W hat bi ts hav e y o u lef t o u t? W ha t p ro o f d o y o u hav e to o ffe r? I' ll thi n k abo u t y o u r p ro p o s i ti on and I' ll let y o u k n o w w hat I hav e d ec i d ed . I rej ec t y o u r c lai m to au tho ri ty o v er my mi n d . I abho r y o u r attemp t to bu lly me. I as s ert my i n d i vi d u al s o v erei gn ty as a thi n k er. A n d s o on .
42 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN On Sovereign Thinkers, Religions, Belief Systems and PTV It i s i mp o rtan t to emp has i ze he re tha t i t i s the ri gh t o f a s o v erei gn thi n k er to thi n k w hat s /he li k es an d to beli ev e w hat s /he w i s hes as lo n g as they d o n o t p rev en t o ther s o v erei gn thi n k ers fro m d o i n g the s ame. A thi n k er res p ec ts the ri ght o f i n d i v id u als to beli ev e i n an y o f the w i d e vari ety o f hu man beli ef s y s tems . T hi s reli gi o -d i v ers i ty is a tes ti mo ny to the ri c hn es s and i magi n ati o n o f hu man thi n ki n g. In A u s trali a, fo r examp le , the re are 2 7 0 d is ti n c t reli gi o u s gro u p s . Man y p eo p le d eri v e ben efi ts fro m beli ev i n g i n U F Os , an gels , go d s an d go d d es s es , s u p reme bei n gs , tri n i ti es , earthly i nc arn ati o n s o r heav en ly rei n c arn ati on s , s tars , fo rtu n e- telle rs , d re ams , s c i en ti fi c di sc o v eri es , mi rac les , s n ak e- han d li n g and s o o n . On e res p ec ts thes e b eli ev ers i n the w ay Vo ltai re fo u n d he c o u ld res p ec t o thers w i tho u t hav i n g to a gre e w i th t hem. W hat a thi n k er d o es n o t res p ec t bu t fea rs , i s PT V. F o r examp le, o n e res p ec ts the s o v erei gn ri ght o f a Chri s ti an to beli ev e i n Jes u s o r a Mu s li m to b eli ev e i n A llah o r an A thei s t to beli ev e in n o thin g. On e d o es n ot res p ec t an au tho ri tari an Chri s ti an o r Mu s li m o r A thei s t i n fec ted w i th PT V w ho feels that thei r beli ef i s ' T he T ru th' and o thers s ho u ld be mad e to ' to e the lin e o r els e' ! A tru th may be ri ght en o u gh fo r the p ers o n w ho u s es i t bu t n o t ri ght en o u gh to fo rc e an o ther p ers o n to u s e i t. In the p as t few c hap ters w e' v e been lo o k i n g at s o me o f the c o ns equ en ces o f the au tho ri tari an ap p ro ac h to thi n k i n g p ro c eed i n g fro m the i d eas o f Pl ato , A ri s to tle an d A q u in as . B u t the ri c hn es s o f hu man thi n k i n g has p ro d u c ed o ther alte rn at i v es an d n o w w e c an exami n e the i d eas o f s o me w ho hav e gi v en thei r s u p p ort to the s o v erei gn ap p ro ac h to thi n k i n g. T here a re man y , o f c o u rs e , b u t le t' s meet o n e o f my p ers o n al he ro es . T hi s man , li k e T ho mas A qu i n as , w as als o a mo n k . H e w as o n ly a p eas an t German mo n k y et he d efi ed the gre ates t au tho ri tari an p o w er i n hi s to ry .
43 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
The Sovereign Thinker " It i s no t s a fe to ac t a g ai ns t y o u r o wn c o ns c i e nc e" . So s ai d Marti n Lu ther an d w i th tho s e w o rd s began t he w o r ld ' s bi gges t mo v emen t aw ay fro m au tho ri t ari an i s m to w ard s i n d i vi d u al s o v erei gn ty o f thin k i n g. Lu ther' s reb elli o n ag ai n s t the au tho ri ty o f the Po p e p ro v i d ed the t ri gge r th at s et o ff a
c hai n
of
ev en ts
w hic h
w en t
on
lo n g
after
he
d i ed .
His
c hallen ge
to
au tho ri tari an i s m led o n to the s p li ttin g o f the Chu rc h, the d es tru c ti o n o f the Po p e' s temp o ral p o w er , the b u rs ti n g o f the Chu rc h' s mo n o p o ly on T he T ru th an d a gr eate r freed o m o f p eo p le to q u es ti o n thin gs w i tho u t au to mati c ally bei n g treated as hereti c s . T ho s e o f u s w ho c heri s h p ers o n al freed o m o w e a lo t to Lu ther. W hat k i n d o f man w o u ld d efy a p o p e? Marti n Lu ther w as bo rn i n 148 3 i nto a p eas an t min in g fami ly in German y . A t fo u rteen he s ho w ed s u ffi c i en t p ro mis e to be p rep a red fo r u n i v ers i ty . B y then hi s father had ri s en to be man a ger o f a g r o u p o f s melti n g w o rk s an d c o u ld affo r d fo r hi s s o n Marti n to read Law . So Mar ti n w en t to Ge rman y ' s to p U n iv ers i ty o f E rfu rt an d gr ad u ated i n La w , s ec o n d i n hi s c las s . E v ery o n e k n ew that he had a p ro mi s i n g law c areer ahead o f hi m. B u t n o , Marti n c han ged his mi n d an d o n e d ay he s u dd en ly d ec id ed to j o in an A u gu s ti ni an mo n as tery an d c han ged hi s d i rec ti o n fro m Law to T heo lo gy . H e began to ab s o rb the p red es ti n ati o n id eas o f Sain t Au gu s ti n e that men are s i nn ers ( Ori gi n al Sin ) an d are therefo re p red es ti n ed to w hatev er Go d has i n s to re fo r them. Su c h a p o i n t- o f- vi ew red uc es the ro le the Chu rc h p lay s in med i ati n g a p ers o n ' s s alv ati o n . A t that ti me, Ro me c lai med that i t, an d i t alo n e, had the o n ly ti ck et to s alv ati o n . If y o u w an ted to get to H eav en then y o u bo u ght y o u r ti c k et f ro m i ts r ep res en tati v es o n the o n ly fli g hts s c hed u led to get the r e. " Y o u fly w i th u s . Y o u bu y o u r ti c k et o r y o u d o n ' t go to H eav en at all! T hat' s i t. T ak e i t o r leav e i t . Y o u ' re i n o r y o u ' re o u t" .
44 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
The Scheme T he Po p e, the Ro man Cu ri a an d c leri c s feather ed thei r n es ts ( amas si n g hu ge fo rtu n es ) by s elli n g to the T ru e B eli ev ers ti c k ets to H eav en i n the fo rm o f i n d u lgen c es . T hi s is ho w they p u lled i t o ff. In a ll th ei r H o ly A u tho ri ty , t he p o p es an d c lergy w o u ld d raw u p lo n g li s ts o f ac ti v i ti es relati n g to ev e ry d ay hu man behav i o u r an d p o si ti o n them as 's i ns '. So , ev e ry d ay w hen y o u c o mmi tted yo u r ' s i ns ' y o u attrac ted d ebi ts p o i n ts that p rev en ted y o u getti n g i n to H eav en . T hen , c lev er ly , Ro me d rew u p a c ata lo gu e o f i n d u lgen c es . In d u lgen c es w ere c red i t p o i n ts y o u c o u ld c o llec t to w i p e o u t the d ebi t p o i n ts y o u had in y o u r ac co u n t fro m y o u r d ai ly ' s in s ' . A nd , i f y o u c o llec te d en o u gh c red i t p o i n ts , w ell, the C hu rc h c o u ld get y o u i n to H eav en . Rec en tly , o n a ho li d ay i n B ali , I c am e ac ro s s thi s extr ac t w hi c h has a s i m i lar v i ew o n i n du lgen c es i n a v ery amu s in g bo o k by A n tho ny B o u rd ai n c alled K i tc he n Co nfi d e nti a l. H e w ri tes : " T he c ru s ad ers o f y o re, i t i s s ai d , u s ed to s to p o ff at the lo c al c hu rc h o r mo n as tery befo re head i n g o ff to w a r; w here they w ere a llo w ed to p u rc has e i n d u lgen c es . T hi s w as s o rt o f li k e a s ec u red p re- p ai d c red i t c ard fro m hea v en , I i magi n e, an d n ego ti ati o n s p ro bably w en t s o methi n g li k e thi s ... ' B les s me, father, fo r I am abo u t to s i n . I p lan on rap in g, p i llagi n g an d d i s emb o w elli n g my w ay ac ro s s So u thern E u ro p e an d No rth A f ri c a, t ak i n g the Lo rd ' s n ame i n v ain , c o mmi tti n g s o do my w i th all an d s u nd ry , lo o ti n g the ho ly p lac es o f Is lam, k i lli n g w o men an d c hi ld ren an d an i mals an d leav i n g them i n s mo k i n g heap s ... as w el l, o f c o u rs e, a s getti n g u p to the u s u al s o ld i erly hi j i n k s o f c as u al ey e- go u gi n gs , d i s memberm en t, bea r- bai ti n g an d ars o n . Gi v en thi s s i n fu l agen d a, p ad re, ho w mu c h i s thi s go n n a c o s t me? ' ' T hat' ll be a n ew ro o f fo r the v es t ry , my s o n , p erhap s a few c arp ets f ro m d o w n there . I u n d ers tan d they mak e lo v ely c arp et w here y o u ' ll be go i n ' ... an d shall w e s ay fi fteen p er c en t o ff the to p , as a ti the? ' ' Deal.' ' Go i n p eac e, my s o n .' "
45 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Collecting Heaven Points T hi s w as a bri lli an t s c heme! T hro u gh i n d u lgen c es , Ro me had in v en ted a k i n d o f H o ly Cu rren c y o f i ts o w n . T hes e w ere H eav en Po i n ts w hi c h members need ed to c o llec t to p as s thro u gh the Pea rly T u rn s ti le i n to the ' Members ' On ly ' enc lo s u re i n Parad i s e. J u s t li k e w i n n i n g F ly B u y po i n ts to get a w eek en d at C ro w n Cas i n o . T hi s bec ame the w o rld ' s fi rs t lo y alty mark eti n g o r frequ en t fly e r p ro gra m an d has s u bs equ en tly
b u i lt
T he
Vati c an
i n to
mo s t
p o w erfu l,
mu lti - n ati o n al,
p ri v ate
en terp ri s e i n hu man his to ry . A s a member, ho w d i d y o u c o llec t the c red i t p o i n ts ? W hy , y ou bo u ght them, o f c o u rs e. T he C atalo gu e o f In d u lgen c e s li s ted matc hi n g H eav en Po i n ts fo r ev en the w i c k ed es t c ri me. Mu rd er had i ts p ri c e- tag an d c o u ld be abs o lv ed fo r 2 0 c r o w n s . An as s as si n ati o n c o u ld b e abs o lv ed fo r 3 0 0 li v es . B u t mo s tly , i t w as j us t the hu mdru m ev ery d ay hu man ac ti vi ti es like go s s i p , s mo k i n g, mas tu rbati o n o r telli n g li e s w hi c h w ere p ro s c ri bed as si ns an d attrac t ed o n go i n g d ebi t p o in ts . Pay Your Money, Collect Your Points T he ' In d u lgen c e Sc heme' w i th i ts Catalo gu e o f In d u lgen c es mean t that me mbers had to mak e regu lar p u rc has es o f H eav en Po i n ts . T hes e c red i t p o in ts ( kn o w n as San c ti fy in g Grac e) w e re the c u r ren c y y o u n eed ed to s av e to bu y y o u r p erman en t c o n d o i n Parad i s e j u s t li k e y o u n eed to s av e y o u r A u ss i e d o llars i f y o u w an t to bu y a c o n d o in Su rfer' s Parad i s e. " Step ri ght u p fo lk s . P ay y o u r mo n ey . Co ll ec t y o u r p o i n ts . Step ri ght u p s i n n ers ! Get y o u r H eav en Po i n ts here. H o w man y d o y o u w an t? H o w mu c h mo n ey hav e y ou go t? Do n ' t p u s h, there' s p len ty fo r ev ery o n e" . A s a p ro d u c t, A mw ay ' s 's p eci al s o ap p o w d er' trai ls a v ery lo n g w ay behi n d the ' s an c ti fyi n g grac e' o f Vati c an In c .
46 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN "Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely" B ro ther Ma rti n w as alread y d i s s atisfi ed w i th the Chu rc h' s c lai m to bein g Go d ' s exc lu s i v e ' trav el agen t' an d s o o n his v is i t to Ro me he w as d eep ly d ep res s ed and rev o lted u p o n s eei n g the s p o i ls o f the i n d u lgen c e s c heme that had been c o llec ted fro m th e fai thfu l an d d i s p lay ed in the d ec ad en c e an d o p u lenc e o f the c o u r t o f Po p e Leo X . T o d ay w e are u s ed to mo d ern p o p es w ho li v e i n a mu c h mo re to le ran t an d mu lti c u ltu ral w o rld . A lo t has c han ged s inc e a fo u rteen th c en tu ry J o hn X X II s ai d that to d en y A qu in as w as tan tamo u n t to heres y . Co u ld y o u ev er i magi n e a tw en ti eth c en tu ry J o hn XX III s ay i n g s u c h a thin g? T he p ap ac y i s an extremely d i ffi c u lt j o b y et Pap al p res ti ge i s n o w at an all ti me hi gh. Mo s t mo d ern p o p es ap p ear to hav e been men o f go o d w i ll w ho s ee m to hav e tri ed v ery ha rd to ba lan c e the en o r m o u s bu rd en o f thei r o ffi c e w i th the e xi gen c i es o f a free s o c i ety . T hat they hav e d o n e s o wi th s uc h p o p u lar s uc ces s is an extrao rd i n ary examp le o f mo d ern l ea d ers hi p . F o r examp le:
J o hn XX III, s ai d " I am n o t in falli ble" an d c alled Vati c an II to d emo n s trate i t.
Pau l V I s ho w ed grea t c o mp as s i o n to c lergy o p p o s i n g c eli bac y releas i n g them fro m thei r v o w s .
J o hn Pau l I w an ted to c lean - u p the Vati c an ban k fo r w hi c h s o me, li k e i n v es ti gati v e j o u rn alis t, Dav i d Gallo p , s ay he w as mu rd ered .
J o hn Pau l II w as w o un d ed an d v ery n early ass as s in ated fo r help i n g Ro n ald Reagan to d efea t the ' ev i l' Ru s s i an E mp i re.
T o d ay ' s p o p es are p o p u lar s up ers tars w ho d raw hu ge c ro w d s w herev er they go . B u t thi s w as n o t alw ay s s o . In the p as t, w hy d i d s o many men , o n s ec u rin g the p ap ac y , bec o me c o rru p t? Man y hav e w ri tten ab o u t the extreme s o f p ap al c o rru p ti o n thro u gho u t hi s to ry . Lo rd A c to n w ro te o n the p ap ac y that ' p o w er c o rru p ts an d abs o lu te p o w er c o rru p ts abs o lu tely ' an d i t may exp lain the lo ng hi s to ry o f the p ap acy ' s li bi d o d o min an d i , i ts
47 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN i n s ati able lu s t fo r p o w er. Lu ther' s p o p e w as o n e o f the mo s t in famo u s . H e w as the y o u n ges t c ard in al ev er . Gi v en a Red H at fo r hi s thi rteen th b i rthd ay he bec ame p o p e w hen he w as 3 8 . It i s rec o rd ed that as the tri p le ti ara hi t h i s head , Po p e Leo X tu rn ed to his i llegi ti mate c o u s in , Gi u li o d e' Med i ci , an d exc lai med , " No w I c an real ly en j o y my s elf" . And he did! Leo to o k p ap al greed to n ew hei ghts that tri v i ali ze the w o rs t exc es s es o f the 198 0 ' s . In s tead o f gi v i n g ev ery thi n g up fo r Chri s t, Leo grabb ed ev ery thi n g he c o u ld , i n Chri s t' s n ame. H i s to ry rec o rd s the fo l lo w i n g:
Leo had 68 3 c o u rti ers o n hi s p ay ro ll, an o rc hes tra , a th eat re an d a men ageri e o f w i ld an i mals i n c lu di n g a W hi te E lep han t that w o u ld bo w to Leo thr ee ti mes .
Leo gav e B ac c han ali an ban qu ets o f 65 c o u rs es featu ri n g s u c h d eli c aci es as p eac o c k' to n gu es , n i ghti n gales fly i n g o u t o f p i es and n ak ed bo ys j u mp in g o u t o f p u d di n gs .
Defy i n g c an o n law , Leo p lan n ed hu n tin g tri p s fo r w eek s o n en d . H i s Ro man bro thels , w i th 7,0 0 0 regi s tered p ro s ti tu tes in a p o p u lati on o f 50 ,0 0 0 s ti ll d i d n ' t bri n g in en o u gh i n c o me fo r Po p e Leo .
H e w as a gamb le r an d bi g s p en d er bo rro w i n g v as t s u ms fro m ban k ers at 40 % i n teres t.
A ltho u gh s i mo n y - the buy i n g an d s elli n g o f s ac red thi n gs - w as a c ri me, Leo i n v en ted 2 ,150 p ap al o ffi c es an d p o s i ti on s and au c ti on ed them o ff. Card i n al' s Red H ats w en t fo r aro u n d 3 0 ,0 0 0 du c ats . A nd s o o n . The 'St Peters' Scam B u t i t w as Leo ' s u lti mate ac t o f o bs cen e greed an d blas p hemy that fi n ally pu s hed o u r hero Lu th er i n to ac ti o n . In 1 51 7 Po p e Leo X , i n c aho o ts w i th Pri n c e A lbert H o hen zo llern , p u lled a maj o r s c am o n the lo n g- s u fferi n g Ge rman p eo p le. Leo o ffe red to s el l A lbe rt th e See o f Mai n z an d the P ri mac y o f Ge rman y fo r 3 0 ,0 0 0 d u c ats . B u t, s i n c e A lb ert d i d n ' t hav e the mo n ey they c o n s p i red to rai s e th e c as h by s elli n g i n du lgen c es to the German p eo p le s ayi n g the mo n ey w as go in g i n to a bu i ld i n g fu nd fo r St Pe ter' s i n Ro me.
48 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Luther's Pamphlets Lu ther fo u gh t bac k w i th a n ew w eapo n . Lu c k w as on Lu ther' s s id e. Gu ten berg had o n ly rec en tly i n v en ted the p ri n ti n g p res s an d Lu ther n o t o n ly o ffi ci ally s u bmi tted hi s argu men ts i n Lati n to ec c les i as ti cal au tho ri ti es bu t a ls o w ro te t hem i n hi s n ati v e German to n gu e an d p u bli s hed hi s p amp hlets fo r gen er al d i s tri bu ti o n to the German p eo p le. T hi s gen eral d i s tri b u ti o n w as a maj o r n ew d ev elo p men t the i mp o rtan c e o f w hi c h c an n o t be o v er emp has i zed . In o n e o f hi s p amp hlets he d es c ri bed Leo ' s pap ac y as : ' mo re c o rru p t than an y B aby lo n o r So d o m ev er w as . .. It i s a d i s tres s i n g an d terri bl e thi n g to s ee the H ead o f Chri s ten d om, w ho bo as ts o f bei n g the Vi c ar o f Chri s t an d s u c c ess o r to St Peter, li v i n g in a w o rld ly p o mp that n o K in g o r E mp ero r can equ al; s o that i n hi m w ho c alls hi ms elf mo s t ho ly an d mos t s pi ri tu al there i s mo re w o rld li n es s than i n the w o rld i ts elf' . Di s tri bu ti o n o f Lu ther' s p amp hlets to the gen eral p u bli c bro k e the Chu rc h' s mo n o p o ly
o n i n fo rmati o n
an d
his argu men ts
d i rec tly
c hall en ged
th e Po p e' s
au tho ri ty . T he p eo p le an d the lo c al G erman p ri n c es had en o u gh! T hey s to o d behi n d Lu ther
an d
p ro tec ted
hi m
fro m
the
w rath
of
Po p e
Leo
w ho ,
of
c o u rs e,
exc o mmu n i c ated hi m. W hen Lu ther rec ei v ed hi s c o p y o f the Po p e' s B u ll o f E xc o mmu n ic ati o n , he s i mp ly b u rn t i t i n d efi anc e, s ay i n g, " T he d ie i s c as t. I d e s p i se the fu ry a nd fa v o u r o f Ro m e . I wi ll ha v e no re c o nc i lia ti o n wi th the p o p e fo r a ll e te rni ty." Sovereign Thinker H e w as d eep ly flaw ed as an an ti- Semi te an d d i d a great d eal o f ha rm to h i s J ew is h brethe ren . i n sp i te o f that, I s ti ll feel thes e w o rd s abo v e are en o u gh to mak e Marti n Lu ther o n e o f t he g reat es t s o v erei gn t hi n k ers i n his to ry an d his examp le o f d efi an c e c an be fo llo w ed . U s i n g the n ew tec hn o lo gy o f the p rinti n g p res s to s p read his id eas , Lu ther bec ame the fi rs t thi n k er ev e r to b ri n g hi s arg u men t to the gen e ral p u bli c . H i s exa mp le, s o o n fo llo w ed by o thers li k e Calv i n , began the u n rav elli n g o f the au tho ri ty o f Ro me that led to the Re fo rma ti o n .
49 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Inventor of the Media If Gu ten ber g w as the i n v en to r o f the p ri n tin g p res s , p erhap s Marti n Lu ther c an be c o n si d ered the i n v en to r o f the med ia, fre e s p eec h an d the ri ght fo r i n d iv i d u als to thi n k fo r thems elv es . Modern Martins T o my mi n d , there ar e man y mo d ern d ay " Marti n Lu the rs " w ho are w i lli n g to d e fy the p o p e. F o r examp le , the re are the hi ghly p u bli c is ed Mad o nn a' s and Sin ead ' s o f the w o rld . B u t there a re als o , li k e B ro ther Ma rti n , the c ler gy o f the c hu rc h. T here are the m an y n u n s an d p ri es ts li k e the A u s trali an p ri es t, F athe r Pau l Co l li n s , w ho has d efi ed the p o p e i n hi s exp os e o n mo d ern d ay ' Pap al Po w er' w hi c h i s the n ame o f hi s bo o k w herei n he s ay s , " Ju s t as the mo d el o f the abs o lu te mo n arc h o r d i c tato r p lac es the ru le r n o t o n ly abo v e the s t ate an d i ts law s bu t abo v e s o c i ety i ts elf, s o t he p ap ali s t in terp retati o n s o f p ri mac y an d in falli bi li ty [ mak e] the Po p e i n to s o me ty p e o f s o lo gu ru an d i n termed i ary betw ee n Go d an d the c hu rc h." F o r thes e an d o ther w o rd s , F ather C o lli n s has alread y s u ffered at the han d s o f the Vati c an ' s au tho ri tari an i n qu is i to rs an d hi s Au s trali an Co n s ti tu ti on al ri ghts may hav e been i llega lly c o n trav en ed . The Internet Perhap s the In te rn et i s the n ex t b i gges t le ap fo r s o v e rei gn thi n k ers s i n c e the p ri n ti n g p res s . Perhap s the w w w i s bec o mi n g the n ew med i u m that w i ll p ro v i d e a fres h ho p e fo r i n d i v i d u als w ho w i s h to thi n k fo r thems elv es an d w ho , li k e B ro the r Marti n , w i s h to d e fy the au tho ri ta ri an i s m that s ti ll e xi s ts i n man y of to d ay ' s i n s ti tu ti on s i n Bi g Go v ern men t, B i g R eli gi o n an d B i g B us in es s .
50 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
If we a ll wo rke d o n the a ss u m p ti o n tha t wha t i s ac c e p ted as tru e i s rea lly tru e , the re wo u ld b e li ttle ho p e o f a d va nc e. ~ Orvi lle Wri g ht I fo rm e rly tho u g ht t ha t whe n a te nd e nc y to p ro d u c e the two s e xe s i n e q u a l nu m b e rs wa s a d v a nta ge o us to the s p e c ie s , i t wo u ld fo llo w fro m na tu ra l s e le c ti o n, b u t I no w s e e the who le p ro b le m i s s o i ntri c a te tha t i t i s s a fe r to le a v e i ts s o lu ti o n to the fu tu re . ~ C ha r le s D a rwi n It i s a lm o s t u nb e lie v a b le ho w m u c h the a tm o s p he re c ha nge d as a c o ns eq u e nc e o f the p u b li c a ti o n, i n 18 5 9, o f T he O ri g i n o f Sp e c i e s . O u r who le o u tlo o k, o u r p i c tu re o f the u ni v e rs e , ha s c ha ng e d , a s ne v e r b e fo re . T he Da rwi ni a n re v o lu ti o n i s s ti ll p ro c e ed i ng . B u t no w we a re a ls o i n the m i d s t o f a c o u nte r- rev o lu ti o n, a s tro ng re a c ti o n a g ai ns t s c i e nce a nd a ga i ns t ra ti o na li ty. I fe e l tha t i t i s ne c e s s a ry to ta ke s i d es o n thi s i s s ue . My p o s i ti o n, v e ry b ri e fly , i s thi s . I am o n the si d e o f sc i e nc e a nd o f ra ti o na li ty, b u t I a m a g a i ns t tho s e e xag g e ra te d c la i m s fo r s c ie nc e tha t ha v e s o me ti m e s b ee n, ri g htly, d e no u nc e d a s ' sc i e nti s m ' . I a m o n the s i d e o f the s e a rc h fo r tru th, a nd o f i nte lle c tu a l d a ri ng i n the s e a rc h fo r t ru th; b u t I a m a g a i ns t i nte l le c tu a l a rro g a nc e , a nd e s p e ci a lly a g a i ns t the m i s c o nce i v e d c la i m tha t we ha v e the tru t h i n o u r p o c ke ts , o r tha t we c a n a p p ro ac h certa i nty. I t i s i m p o rta nt to re a li ze tha t s c ie nc e d o e s no t m a ke a ss e rti o ns a b o u t u ltim a te q ue s ti o ns ab o u t the ri dd le s o f e xi s te nc e , o r a b o u t Ma n' s ta s k i n thi s wo rld . ~ K a rl Po p p e r
T he T ru th d o es n o t exi s t i n s c i en c e. T here A RE tru ths i n s c i en c e bu t there i s n o s u c h thin g as on e AB SOLU T E tru th. T here are o n ly tru ths that ar e mo re l i k ely than o ther t ru ths . Sc i en c e i s un c ertai n . Y o u c an n o t p ro v e an y thi n g i n s c i en c e ( i n the abs o lu te s en s e) bec au s e s c i enc e i s b as ed o n evi d en c e. A n d , as ti me p as s es , there i s alw ay s mo re an d mo re ev i d en c e. In s c i en c e, at an y p arti c u lar ti me , t he balan c e o f ev i d en c e s u pp o rts o n e p o i n t o f v i ew o r ' tru th' as bei n g mo r e li k ely than an y o ther ' t ru th' . B u t, as hi s to ry has
51 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s ho w n , n ew gen erati o n s o f s c i en ti s ts s o o n fi nd n ew ev id en c e, hav e n ew id eas and d es i gn n ew p arad i gms - n ew w ays o f lo o k i n g at the w o rld . T hi s p hen o men on i s s o w ell res p ec ted by s c i en tis ts that, as Darw i n s ai d i n the qu o te abo v e, they c an re ly o n i t hap p en in g. T hree g en erati o n s late r, Si r Ro n ald F i s her, th e gen eti c i s t an d father o f mo d ern s tati s ti c s , s o lv ed the p ro blem that Darw i n had d eli berately p ro c ras ti n ated . So , s c i en c e then u p d ates i ts elf by di sp lac i n g the p rev i o u s tru th w i th the n ew ' mo re li k ely ' tru th. T hi s i s the s c i en ti fi c p ro c es s - the s earc h fo r mo re li k ely t ru ths - tha t c o n ti nu es an d c on ti nu es o n in to the fu tu re. T hi s u n c ertai n ty o f s c i en c e ac co u n ts fo r a lo t o f i ts p ro g res s . Replacing Old Truths With New Truths A s men ti o n ed earli er, th e p rev ai li n g tru th befo r e Gali leo w as A ri s to tle' s vi ew that the E arth w as the c en tre o f the u n i v er s e. W i th hi s teles c o p e that he i n v en ted Gali leo w as able to p ro d u c e ev i d enc e that t he earth w as n o t the c en tre bu t w as i n o rbi t aro u n d the s u n . So , s c i en c e u p d ates i ts elf an d rep l ac es A ri s to tle' s tr u th w i th Gali leo ' s n ew ' s u n tru th' . A n o ther mo re r ec en t examp le i s th at o f c o s mo lo gi s t Geo r ge Smo o t . H e an d hi s COB E s atelli te team rec ei v ed w o rld w i d e rec o gn i ti o n fo r p ro v i d in g ev i d enc e o f the ' w ri n k les i n ti me' that n o w p ro v e the bi g ban g theo ry to be a fac t. So s ci enc e i s n o w u p d ati n g i ts elf. Co mp eti n g tru ths are n o w gi v i n g w ay to thi s n ew ' mo re li k ely tru th' bec aus e o f the w ei ght o f ev i d en c e p ro v id ed b y the COB E s atelli te. W e n o w s ee sc i en ti s ts li k e Dav i d Sp ergal , the p ro p o n en t o f a c o mp eti n g theo ry ( the tex tu res v ers i o n o f to p o lo gi c al d efec t theo ry ) d ec lari n g af ter the rele as e o f the COB E ev i d en c e " W e' re d ead." E v en n o ted p hy s ic is t Step hen H aw k in g w as w i lli n g to ad mi t the COB E d i s c ov ery " w as the mo s t i mp o rtan t o f the c en tu ry , p erhap s o f al l ti me" . T h at to d a y ' s en ti re u n i v ers e has gro w n o u t o f a p arti c le , s maller than a p ro to n , as the res u lt o f a bi g ban g 15 b i lli o n y ears a go , i s n o lo n g er a theo ry . I t' s a n ew s c i en ti fi c tru th. W atc h thi s s p ac e!
52 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Another Truth Discovered! It has o ften b een s ai d that E in s tei n ' s ac c o mp li s hmen t is the greates t feat o f thi n k i n g ev er p erfo rmed by a hu man brai n . It' s a ls o s ai d that ' tw o h ead s a re bet ter than o n e' . If that i s s o , then p erhap s the gre ates t fea t o f thi n k i n g ev er p erfo rmed by an y tw o hu man brai ns w as in 1953 w hen tw o y o u n g sc i en tis ts , F ran c i s Cri c k fro m E n glan d an d J ames W ats o n fro m A meri c a, to gethe r c rac k ed the c o d e o f c o d es an d fo r w hi c h they j o i n tly rec ei v ed the No bel P ri ze. Du ri n g the w ar , af ter a G erman bo mb blew u p hi s p hy s i cs labo rato ry , a y o u n g p hy s ic is t j o in ed the Ro y al Nav y . A fter the w ar , F ran c i s Cri c k , c han ged to bi o lo gy . H e w as aro u n d 3 0 . Cri c k w as an athei s t. H e w an ted to exp o s e the ' my s teri es ' o f the i llu s i o n o f v i tali s m. H e later s ai d , " My o wn m o ti v e s I ne v e r ha d a ny d ou b t a b ou t; I wa s v e ry c le a r i n m y m i nd . I c ho s e wha t we no w c a l l m o le c u la r b i o lo g y, tho u g h the te rm wa s n' t c o m m o n the n, c e rta i nly I d i d n' t kn o w i t - b u t I wo u ld ha v e sa i d the bo rd e rli ne b e twe e n the li v i ng a nd the no n li v i ng . T ha t wa s the p hra s e I ha d i n m y m ind ." H o rac e F ree lan d J u d s o n 's exc ellen t c o mp rehen s i v e hi s to ry , T he E i g hth Da y o f Cre a ti o n ( Pen gu i n , Lo n d o n . 1979) , q u o tes Cri c k i n hi s ap p li c ati on fo r hi s res earc h gran t as hav i n g w ri t ten : T he p arti c u lar fi eld w hi c h exc i tes my i n teres t i s the d i v is i o n betw een the li vi n g and the no n li v in g, as ty pi fi ed by , s ay , p ro tei n s, v i ru s es , bac teri a, an d the s tru c tu re o f c hro m o s o mes . T he ev en tu al go al, w hi c h i s s o mew hat remo te , i s the d es c ri p tio n o f thes e ac ti v i ti es i n terms o f thei r s tru c ture i e the s p ati al d i s tri bu ti o n o f thei r c o n s ti tu en t ato ms , i n s o far as thi s may p ro v e p o s si ble. T hi s mi ght be c alled the c hemi c al p hy s i c s o f bi o lo gy . H e w o n hi s gran t fo r res ea rc h a t Cambri d ge U n i v ers i ty ' s famo u s Cav en d i sh Labo rato ry . In 1 944 , a s ho rt b o o k c al led W ha t i s Li fe ? w as pu bli s hed by the famo u s p hy s ic is t, E rw i n Sc hro di n ger. In i t, Sc hro d i n ger, a fo u n d er o f qu an tu m mec han i c s , s p ec u lated o n the p hy s ic al b as i s o f the gen e, i ts a to mi c an d mo lec u lar s tru c tu re. A s a res u lt o f read i n g thi s b o o k , J a m es W ats o n o n c e w ro te, “I b e c a m e p o la ri s ed to wa rd s fi nd i ng o u t the s e c re t o f the g e ne .” J ames W ats o n w as a y o u n g In di an a U n i v ers i ty bi o lo gy p os tgrad u ate. H e w as als o a member o f a gro u p o f A meri c an res earc h s c i en tis ts w ho gathered eac h s ummer at
53 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Co ld Sp ri n g H arb o r o n Lo n g Is land , an ho u r o u t o f New Y o rk . As hi s w o rk p ro gres s ed , W ats o n bec ame c o n v i n c ed that i f he w an ted to fi n d the s t ru c t u re o f the gen e then he had to learn X - ray d i ffrac ti o n tec hn i qu es s o he s ai led to En glan d to s tu d y there. Crick and Watson In Oc to b er 195 1, Cri c k an d W ats o n met at Cambri d ge. C ri c k , 3 5, w as j us t a res earc h s tu d en t an d W ats on , 2 3 , j u s t a v is i to r. T hey i n s tan tly hi t i t o ff an d bec ame i n tellec tu al mo u n tai n - c li mbers , eac h help i n g the o ther u p an d u p . T hey c o u ld be s een ev ery w here i n an imated c o n v ers ati o n , hav i n g tea, i n ha llw ay s , i n lab o rato ri es , i n the lo c al p u b - s o ev en tu ally they w ere gi v en a ro o m to w o rk i n to gethe r s o as n o t to d i s tu rb the res t o f the res ea rc hers . Say s Cri c k , " W e m u s t hav e go t the rep u tati o n by that ti me o f rat her ta lk i n g to gethe r a lo t." W ats o n and Cri c k laun c hed tw o s ep arate attac k s , i n p arallel, o n the d i s c o very o f the s tru c tu re o f DNA . T he fi rs t en d ed in d is as ter. T he s ec o n d w as a s u c c ess bey o nd an y thi n g they had hop ed fo r. T he p ro j ec t requ i red an en o rmo us amo u n t o f i n tellec tu al effo rt an d res earc h , i n v olv i n g man y c ri tic al c o n tri bu ti o ns by a n u mber o f o ther res earc he rs . F i n ally , Cri c k an d W ats o n c rac k ed t he gen eti c c o d e. T hey p u bli s hed thei r i d eas i n the fi rs t o f th ree arti c les i n Na tu re , o n 2 5 A p ri l 19 53 . It w as a th ree- p age a rti c le en ti tled Mo lec u la r St ru c tu re o f N u c lei c A ci d s . T he arti c le i n c lu d ed the fi rs t p u bli s hed di agram o f the mo lec u lar s tru c tu re o f t hei r, n o w famo u s d o u ble heli x , ( w hi c h lo o k s a bi t li k e a lad d er y o u mi ght fi n d i n Es c her' s c lo s et) . What is life? T he u n i v ers al s y s tem o f all li fe o n th i s p lan et i s bas ed on a fu n d amen tal c o d e an d that c o d e w as bro k en by F ran c is Cri ck an d J ames W ats o n i n 1953 . Si n c e thes e men u n rav elled the mo lec u lar s tru c tu re o f the gen e o u r w o rld h as u n dergo n e a c o n ti nu i n g
an d
exp lo di n g
s eri es
of
rev o lu ti o n ary
i n s i ghts .
T hes e
s c i en ti fi c
d ev elo p men ts s ho w no s i gn o f s lo w ing d o w n an d n o thin g c an ev er be the s ame. Pri o r to 19 53 o n e c o u ld s ti ll, c red i bly , ho ld o n to the be li ef tha t li fe i ts elf w as u lti mately a my s teri o u s thi n g. On c e c o u ld s ti ll, as a thi n k er, s p ec u late a bo u t the
54 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN o ri gi n s an d ' mys teri es ' o f li fe. T o d o s o to d ay , i t may be ar gu ed , i s an ad mi s s i on o f i gn o ran c e, lazi n es s o r bo th. Digital Genes W e n o w k n ow that gen es are d i g i tal. T hey ar e lo n g s tri n gs o f p u r e d i gi tal i n fo rmati o n . Li k e CDs an d c o mp u ters , the c o d e o f li f e - al l li fe - i s mi ghty d i gi tal i n i ts i n tern al s tru c tu re. W he reas the b i n ary c o d e o f c o mp u ters has tw o s ymbo ls , i n li fe the c o d e i s q u atern ary w i th fo u r s y mbo ls . Otherw i s e they ' re d i gi tal ly th e s ame. W hat, then , i s the es s en ti al d i fferen ce betw een the mac hi n e c o d e o f a c o mp u ter an d that o f y o u r g en es ? T he an s w er i s : n on e! B u i ld in g o n Cri c k an d W ats o n , the famo u s Oxfo rd Da rw i n i s t, Ri c hard Daw k i n s , bes t- s elli n g au tho r o f " T he S elfi s h G en e" , has exp lai n ed that " li fe res u lts fro m t he n o n - ran d o m s u rv i v al o f ran d o mly v ary i n g rep li c ato rs " . A n d thes e rep li c ato rs , th es e gen es , a re d i gi tal . Ou r g en eti c c o d e i s s o d i gital to the c o re that y o u c o u ld en c o d e, w i th w o r d - fo r- w o rd ac c u rac y , the w ho le o f th e B i ble i n tho s e p arts o f the hu man g en o me that are at p res en t fi lled w i th j u n k DNA . In Ri v e r O u t o f E d e n, Daw k i n s i llu strates th e s tro n g d i gi tal n atu re o f g en es w i th c harac teri s ti c c lari ty an d w i t: " T he fo llo w i n g s c i enc e- fi c ti on p lo t is feas i ble, gi v en a tec hn o lo gy that d i ffers fro m to d ay ' s o n ly in bein g a li ttle s p eed ed u p . Pro fes s o r J i m Cri c k s o n has been k i d n ap p ed by an ev i l fo rei gn p o w er an d fo rc ed to w o rk i n i ts bi o lo gi c al- w arfar e lab s . T o s av e c iv i li s ati on i t i s v i tally i mpo rtan t that he s ho u ld c o mmuni c ate s o me to p - s ec ret i n fo rmati o n to the o u ts i d e w o rld , bu t all n o rma l c han n els o f c o mmu n ic ati o n are d en i ed hi m. E xc ep t o n e. " T he DNA c o d e c on si s ts o f s i xty - fo ur tri p let " c o d o n s ," en o u gh fo r a c o mp lete u p p er- an d lo w er- c as e E n gli s h alp habet p lu s ten n u merals , a s p ac e c harac ter an d a fu ll s to p o r p eri o d . Pro fes s o r Cri c k s o n tak es a vi ru len t i n flu en za vi ru s o ff the lab o rato ry s helf an d en gi n eers i n to i ts gen o me the c o mp lete text o f hi s mes s age to the o u ts i d e w o rld , i n p erf ec tly fo rmed E n gli s h s en ten c es . H e rep eats hi s mes s age o v er an d o v er agai n i n the en gi n eered gen o me, ad d i n g an eas i ly rec o gn i s able " flag" s equ en c e-- s ay , the fi rs t ten p ri me n u mbers . H e then in fec ts hi ms elf w i th the v i ru s an d s n eezes in a ro o m fu ll o f p eo p le. " A w av e o f flu s w eep s the w o rld , an d med i c al labs i n d is tan t lan d s s et to w o rk to s equ en c e i ts gen o me in an attempt to d es i gn a v ac c in e. It s o o n bec o mes ap p aren t that the re i s a s tran ge rep eated p attern i n the gen o me. A le rted by the p ri me n u mb ers - w hic h c an n o t hav e ari s en sp o n tan eo us ly - s o mebo dy tumbles to the i d ea o f emp lo y i n g c o d e- break i n g tec hn i qu es . F ro m there i t w o u ld be s ho rt w o rk to r ead the fu l l E n gli s h text o f Pro fes s o r Cri c k s o n ' s mess age,
55 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s n eezed aro u n d the w o rld ."
The Human Genome Project In J u n e 2 0 0 0 at a W hi te H o u s e c er e mo n y Pres i d en t Cli n to n p ro c lai med , " T o d a y we ha v e lea rne d the la ngu a ge i n whi c h Go d c re a te d li fe " as he d ec lared the mu lti bi lli o n i n tern ati o n al rac e to map o u r gen eti c mak e- u p to hav e be en w o n . T he en ti re map o f the hu man gen o me s ho w s a s tri n g o f 3 bi lli o n letters - - 750 meg aby tes o f d i gi ti zed i n fo rmati o n -- that w o u ld fi t o n a s i n gle DVD. Dec o d i n g the hu man gen o me- - the text o f li fe- - i s an o ther great c o n s equ en ce o f Cri c k an d W ats o n 's w o rk . It has been c o mp ared w i th the i n v en ti o n o f the w heel an d lan d i n g o n the mo o n . So , i f li fe i s d i gi tal an d kn o w able the ' my s tery o f my s teri es ' has ev ap o rated . W hat effec t d o es that hav e o n us as s o v erei gn thi n k ers . In w hat w ay has the feat o f W ats o n an d Cri c k help ed to free u s fro m au tho ri tari an i s m? In w hat w a y has the w o rk o f thes e tw o s ci en ti s ts ad d ed a qu an tu m leap to o u r freed o m as s o v erei gn thi n k ers ? Knowledge and Power On e o f the themes o f thi s trai n i n g i s the c o n n ec ti on betw een k n o w led ge an d p o w er. K n o w led ge i s p o w er an d thi n k i n g i s the s o u rc e o f k n o w led ge. T hi n k i n g i s als o the s o u rc e o f p o w er. Li k e Lu ther' s u s e o f the med i a, t h e gen eti c rev e lati o n o f C ri c k an d W ats o n is an o ther hu ge v i c to ry fo r k n o w led ge o v er au tho ri ty . A thi n k er n o lo n ger n eed s a ' p ri es t o f the k n o w led ge' wi th s p eci al my s ti c al p o w ers to exp lai n ' the mean i n g o f li fe' . It i s n o w read i ly exp li c able an d eas i ly u n d ers tan d able by the in d i vi d u al w i tho u t an y n eed fo r an i n term ed i ary w ho re tai n s s p ec i al ' s up ern atu ral p o w ers ' fo r hi ms elf. T o the s o v erei gn thi n k er, thi s i s a hu ge d i v id en d o f p ers on al freed o m. No p o w erbas e li k es to s u r ren d er i ts p o w er. I t w o u ld be n ai v e to thi n k s o . H o w ev er the o ld s u p ern atu ral p o w erb as es , s ti l l o p erati n g i n to d ay ' s w o rld , hav e lo s t mo s t o f thei r temp o ral p o w er an d w hat li t tle remai n s i s rap i d ly d i si n tegrati n g at an as to n i s hin g rate o f ac c ele rati o n .
56 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
It s o me w ay s i t i s i ro n i c ho w the un certai n tru ths o f s c i en c e hav e s o o v ertak en the c ertai n ty o f T he T ru th. E v en the hi ghes t c lai ms o f oc c u lt c ertai n ty s eem thi n and p u eri le c o mp ared to the d emo n s trable ac hi ev emen ts o f s c i enc e. A Su p ern atu ral A s s u mp ti o n o r a Sc i enti fi c Demo n s trati o n Perhap s the u lti mate c lai m o f o c c u lt c ertai n ty w as i n 1950 . A ro u n d the s ame ti me that C ri c k an d W ats o n w ere head i n g fo r C ambri d ge , a my s ti c al me tho d o lo gy w as p ro d u c in g a fres h d i s c o v ery i n Ro me. T here has o n ly been on e in falli ble c lai m ev er mad e by a p o p e s i nc e Pi u s IX p ro c lai med the d o c tri n e o f p ap al i nfalli bi li ty i n 18 70 . An Itali an p ri es t, E u gen i o Pac elli as Pi u s X II, s u d d en ly , i n 1950 , as s erted hi s d o c tri n e o f T he A s su mp ti o n . Sp eak i n g ex c athed ra an d c lai mi n g i n falli bi li ty he d ec i d ed that Ma ry w as p hy s i c ally as s u med in to heav en . H e p ro fes s ed that n o t o n ly w as Mary ' s p hy si c al bo dy ac tu ally tak en i n to heav en bu t als o that thi s c lai m w as the s u p reme s tatemen t o f c ertai n ty that o n ly a Su p reme Po n ti ff c o u ld ma k e. Instant auto-excommunication option H e ev en ad d ed that hi s rec on d i te d i s c ov ery w as s o c ertai n a ' fac t' that i f an y Catho li c s ev er w i s hed to au to mati c ally exc o mmu ni c ate thems elv es fro m the c hu rc h, they o n ly had to w i lfu lly d ou bt hi s d ec larati o n an d they w ere o u t. F i n i to . In hi s an athema, h e s ai d : " If a nyo ne , whi c h Go d fo rb i d , s ho u ld d a re wi lfu lly to d e ny o r c a ll i n d o u b t tha t whi c h W e ha v e d e fi ne d , le t hi m kno w tha t he ha s fa lle n a wa y c o m p le te ly fro m the d i v i ne a nd Ca tho li c fa i th" Leav i n g as i d e the i mp erti n en c e o f th i s as s erti o n an d the to tal lac k o f an y ev i d en c e to s u p p o rt i t, Pi u s X II' s aero n au ti c al i n v en ti o n i s relati v ely tame c o mp a red w i th tho s e o f s c i en ti s ts i n the fi eld . B y c o n tras t, fo r e xamp le, a falli bl e, u n c ert ai n Sw i s s s c i en tis t, Dan i el B ern o u lli , d i sc o v ered the p ri n ci p le o f the aero fo i l that to d ay en ab les a p o p e to fly a ro u n d the w o r l d i n a 747, f as ter than a bu l let , alo n g w i th the en ti re Co lle ge o f Ca rd i n als ! T hro w i n a mo v i e, a reas o n able me al an d s o me F ren c h Champ agn e an d i t beats ri d i n g aro u n d o n a c lo ud an yd ay . A ls o , there a re n o th reats o f exc o mm u n i c ati on
57 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN i n v o lv ed in in tern ati o n al ai r trav e l, j u s t the o c c as i o n al lo s s o f baggage. The End of the Mystical Millennium Mo re an d mo r e b r ai n u s ers are tu rn i n g to s c i en c e fo r an s w ers to qu es ti o n s that w e re o n c e the exc lu s i v e d o mai n o f the s u p ern atu ral p o w erbas es . In A u s trali a, t he lat es t Go v ern men t c en s u s has c on fi rmed thi s ac c elerati n g rej ec ti o n o f r eli gi o n s , s ec ts an d c u lts . A s w e leav e the My s ti c al Mi llen n i um, the s u p erfi c i al, c hi ld i s h my tho lo gi es o f the tru th- merc han ts an d med i ev al magi c i an s are bei n g left behi n d . T he i n formati o n ri c h rev elati o n s o f s c i en c e are emp o w eri n g mo re t hi n k ers than ev er befo re to c ho o s e s o v erei gn ty o v er au tho ri ty . 1953 i s i mp o rtan t bec au s e i t w as the d efi n i tiv e en d o f the Mys ti c al Mi llen n iu m. It w as the las t o f the bi g ' my s teri es ' to be exp lai n ed . T ho u gh there may a lw ay s be man y in teres ti n g qu es ti o ns to be asked an d ans w ered , after Cri c k an d Wats o n , n o thi n k er n eed ev er d eleg ate her o r h i s au tho ri ty to a s u p ern atu ral m agi c i an , ev er agai n . I f s he o r he CH OO SE S to d o s o fo r s o me o t her reas o n , t hat i s thei r ri ght an d p ri v i lege. The Greatest Thinkers F ran c i s
Cri ck
and
J ames
W ats o n
are
tw o
of
hi s to ry 's
greates t
i ntellec tu al
s u p ers tars . Nev er hav e tw o thi n k er s exp lai n ed s o mu c h. T hei r d i s c o v ery o f the d i gi tal gen e has c lea red aw ay man y v ei ls o f my s tery . Man y o ther s c i en ti s ts hav e s in c e bui lt o n Cri c k an d W ats o n 's o ri gi n al id eas an d mo re w o rk w i ll be d o n e i n the fu tu re. B u t, as a c o n tri bu ti o n to the fr eed o m o f i n d iv i du al thi n k ers , Cri c k an d W atso n ' s ac hi ev emen t d w arfs tho s e o f the ' tru th hac k ers ' , A ri s to tle an d A q u i n as , an d p ro v i d es a maj o r blo w to PT V.
58 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
So far w e hav e lo o k ed at PT V , ho w i t aro s e an d ho w i t s p read v i a the med i ev al c hu rc h i n to the W es tern ed u c ati on sys tem. W e s aw ho w this tru th- d ri v en ed u c ati o n s y s tem w i th i ts emp has i s o n ' the s ear c h fo r c e rtai n ty ' w as exp o rt ed to A u s t rali a an d aro u n d the w o rld , an d , ho w y o u r o w n brai n may hav e bec o me i n fec ted . The Effects of PTV If thi s i s s o , ho w d o es PT V w o rk to i n hi bi t y o u r abi li ti es as a so v erei gn thi n k er. W ell, as a c o gn i ti v e d i s eas e, PT V i n y o u r brai n c an p ro d u c e a n u mber o f d e leteri o u s effec ts . Le t' s lo o k at j u s t fo u r man i fes tati o n s o f PT V:
B rai n Vai n ( o pi ni o n p rid e an d c on c ei t) Ri ghteo u s an d Si ghtles s ( c o ns equ en c e bli n d n ess ) Sp ac e Glu tto n ( o u tp u t- man i a) Lazy Cri ti c ( mi s tak e- p ho bi a) Brain Vain A brai n v ai n thi n k er i s o n e w ho is s ufferi n g f ro m o p i n i o n p ri d e. T hi s PT V- i n fec ted brai n u s er i s u n able to s ee a bett er w ay o f lo o k i n g at thi n gs . B ec au s e the brai n v ai n thi n k er i s s o p ro u d o f her o r hi s o wn o p i ni o n they fin d i t d i ffi cu lt to d o an y o ther k i n d o f thi nk i n g b u t to d efen d i t. T he mo re i n tel li gen t th e br ai n v ai n thi n k er, the mo re t hey may s u ffer fro m thi s k i nd o f c o gn i ti v e c o n c ei t. Very b ri ght thi n k ers w ho are PT V- i n fec ted may be on ly us i n g thei r brai n p o w er to d efen d thei r o p i n i on . T hey are u n able to es c ap e fro m thei r v i ew p o in t to lo o k fo r a mu c h b ette r o n e. Righteous and Sightless T he ri ghteo u s brai n i s bli n d to c on s equ en c es . PT V may hav e s o i n c ap ac i tated a T ru e B eli ev er that he i s u n able to s ee the r es u lts o f hi s ac ti o n s . In the beli ef t ha t they ar e " mo rally ri gh t" an y ac ti o n i s j us ti fi ed by the Ri gh teo u s an d Si ghtles s , rega rd les s o f w hat fo llo w s . T hi s i s a v ery d an gero u s c o n di ti o n an d s o o ften fatal.
59 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Mi lli o n s hav e ru s hed head lo n g i n to d eath bec au s e ' Go d i s o n ou r s i d e' . Mi lli o n s hav e been k i lled b ec au s e they a re ' i n fi d els ' , ' J ew s ' , ' Catho li c s ' o r ' Pro tes t an ts ' . " Iam- ri ght- an d - y o u - are- w ro n g" is the hallma rk o f the Ri g hteo u s an d Si ghtles s c o n d i ti o n . In 199 4, J o hn P au l I I u r ged al l Ro ma n Catho li c Card i n als to re flec t o n thi s as p ec t o f the Chu rc h' s hi s to ry . H e w ro te to t he m as k i n g them to s ei ze the u n i qu e be gi n n in g o f the n ew mi llen n i u m to rec o gn i s e the " d ark s i d e o f i ts hi s to ry " . H e as k ed: " H o w c an on e remai n s i len t abo u t the man y fo rms o f v i o len c e p erp etrat ed i n the n ame o f the fai th- - w ars o f re li gi o n , t ri bu n als o f the In qu i s i ti on an d o ther fo rms o f v i o lati o n s o f the ri ghts o f p ers o n s ." Space Glutton In a meeti n g, the s p ac e glu tto n alw a y s tak es u p c on si d erably mo re than hi s o r her fai r s hare o f ai r ti me. Sp ac e g lu tto n s may s u ffer f ro m o u tp u t man i a, the i n abi li ty to s hu t- u p . Gatheri n g i n p u t b y li s ten i n g to the o p i ni o ns o f o thers i s an i mp o rtan t c o gn i ti v e s k i ll w hi c h i s c ri pp led i n the s p ac e glu tto n . PT V may al lo w the thi n k er to w reak s u c h en thu si as m fo r her o w n i d eas that s he i s qu i te u n able to li s ten to o thers . In bu s i n es s , mu c h c reati v i ty and pro d u c ti v i ty is lo s t in meeti n gs d u e to tho s e s u fferi n g fro m thi s c o n d i ti o n . T hi s co n d i ti on i s d is as tro u s fo r tho s e i n s ales o r i n man agemen t. Lazy Critic Lazy c ri ti c s s u ffer fro m mi s tak e- p ho bi a, the mo rbi d fear o f ev er mak i n g a mi s tak e. T he PT V- i n fec ted b rai n has an av ers i o n to ev er bei n g w ro n g. It c o mes fro m o u r med i ev al habi t o f lo o k i n g at the w o rl d thro u gh the c o n c ep t o f " ri g ht" an d " w ro n g" ( n o t s hared as mu c h b y o ther c u ltu res li k e the J ap an es e) . W hen a s o v erei gn thi n k er i s abo u t to try s o methi n g n ew , he n ev er really k n o w s w hat w i ll hap p en . T here i s alw ay s ri s k and u n c ertai n ty . T hi s ri sk i s en ou gh to k eep the mi s tak e- p ho bi ac hi di n g i n i n erti a. A s an effec ti v e di s gu is e the mis tak e- p ho bi ac o ften as s u mes the ro le o f ' the c ri ti c ' .
60 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T ak i n g p o t- s ho ts fro m the rela ti v e s afety o f hi s bu n k er o f relu c tan c e, the l azy c ri ti c s i mp ly w ai ts fo r an o ther thi n k er to m ak e a mi s tak e an d then the w hi n gei n g begi n s . T hes e are a few o f the c o gn i ti v e c o n d i ti o ns c au s ed by PT V, there are ma n y o thers . T he p u rp o s e o f the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g is to help brai n u s ers d eal w i th thes e c o n d i ti o n s by d esi gn i n g an d o fferi n g to o ls they c an u s e. Si n c e 1979, SOT has d ev elo p ed a n u mber o f to o ls an d s trat egi es , fo r examp le:
' thi n k in g c ap s ' , ' b rai n s o ftw are' an d ' memep lexes ' . The Brain Software T he SOT brai n s o ftw are i s p ro v i d ed in Part T w o o f thi s trai n i n g w hi c h begi n s n ext w eek an d i s fo r y o u to u s e at s c ho o l, at w o rk , at ho me an d at p lay . SOT B rai n So ftw are c o n s i s ts o f fo u r s o ftw are p ac k ages fo r y o u r brai n . T hes e s o ftw are p ac k ages c o n tai n 15 mi n d -to o ls . T hes e mi n d - to o ls c an be u s ed by the brai n u s er i n an ev er- w i d eni n g rep erto i re o f c o mbi n ati on s to p ro d uc e a v i rtu ally u n li mi ted nu mb er o f effec ts . T he n eu ro - s o ftw are i s exp res s ed i n a fo u r- p art c o d e: SDNT CVST OB V S QRH PRR . E ac h ac ro n y m s tan d s fo r a s p ec i fi c p iec e o f b rai n s o ftw are w hi c h w i ll be d ealt w i th i n the fo llo w i n g c hap ters . On c e i t i s p ro grammed i n to y o u r brai n , the n eu ro w are h elp s to n eu trali ze o r by - p as s PT V by gi v i n g y o u , the b rai n u s er, a s i mp le w ay to in c reas e y o u r aw aren es s o f the thi n k i n g s trategi es that a re av ai labl e to y o u i n any s i tu ati on that c o mes y ou r w ay .
61 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Let’s summarise what we’ve covered so far … The Truth T he i d ea that t here i s an o b j ec ti v e tr u th, w as i n v en ted by Plato . St ro n g d efen c e o f T he T ru th d i mi n i s hes the thi n k er' s abi li ty to es c ap e fro m hi s v i ew p o i n t to fi n d a mu c h b etter o n e. T hi s c o n d i ti o n i s c alled PT V, Pl ato T ru th Vi ru s . A ri s to tle i mbed d ed PT V i n hi s s y llo g i s m. T hi s w as p i ck ed u p by T ho mis t d o c tri n e an d bec ame the bas i s o f lo gi c . W es te rn ed u c ati o n has mad e a go d o u t o f l o gi c an d the ' s earc h fo r c e rtai n ty ' . T he W es tern ed u c ati o n s y s tem w as s et u p by the med i ev al Chu rc h a n d s p read thro u gho u t E u ro p e an d exp o rted to o ther p ar ts o f the w o r ld . E v en to d ay , c hi ld ren are s en t to s c ho o l, thei r y o u n g brai ns p ro grammed w i th the lo gi c o p erati n g s y s tem, an d then they ' re gi v en the i mp res s i on that all they h av e to d o i n li fe i s " to get th e ri ght an s w er" o r " tel l the tru th" . On ly Mi c ro s o ft' s glo bal exp o rt o f B i ll Gates ' DOS has ev er ri v alled the Vati c an ' s glo bal e xp o rt o f T ho m as A qu i n as ' PT V. PT V i s u bi qu i to u s . Man i fes tati o ns c an be an n o yi n g li k e i n Sp ac e Glu tto n s an d B o res o r fa tal li k e i n B u lli es an d Ri ghte o u s an d Si ghtles s thi n k ers . Ov er 2 6 mi lli o n hu man s hav e b een d es tro y ed las t c en tu ry d i rec tly d u e to PT V. Unfair Conclusion? It i s o n ly w i th the u n fai r ad v an tage o f hi n d s i ght that o n e i s able to lo o k b a c k o n the ev o lu ti o n o f o u r t hi n k i n g hab i ts an d c o n si d er the c o n s equ en c es that they may hav e p ro d u c ed . Di d Plato ev er rea li s e w hat mi ght hap p en as a c on s equ en c e o f the i deas that emerg ed fro m tho s e B ac c han ali an d i nn er p arti es he atten d ed o n tho s e ho t A then i an
62 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s u mmer n i ghts ? Di d Sai n t T ho mas A qu in as ev er an ti c ip ate ho w ri go ro u s ly lat er p o p es w o u ld p ro s ec u te hi s i d eas and mak e them the c o re d o c tri n e o f the g rea tes t ed u c ati o n en terp ri s e i n hi s to ry ? T o be fai r , I d o n ' t s ee ho w t hey c o u ld . Pl ato an d T ho mas w e re n o t v i llai n s . I i magi n e they w ere j u s t d oi n g w hat i nteres ted them mo s t at th e ti me an d ho p i n g fo r a mo d es t amo u n t o f s u c c ess . Co u ld B i ll Gates ev er hav e k n o w n he w o u ld bec o me the ri c hes t bu si n ess man i n the w o rld w hen he fi rs t d ev elo p ed DOS? In hi s bo o k he s ay s he on c e remark ed to Pau l A llen that a mi lli o n d o llars w as a hu ge amo u n t o f mo n ey , an d he c o uld n ev er i magi n e hav i n g mo re than that . H mmm ; - )
63 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T he p as t tw o w eek s w ere d ev o ted to exp lo ri n g T he Pro blem: PT V an d s ome o f i ts c o n s equ en c es . No w w e c o me to T he So lu ti o n : the n ew s o ftw are fo r y o u r br ai n . T he d es i gn mod el fo r the mi n d to o ls p res en ted in thi s trai n i n g i s w hat I hav e c alled c o gn eti c s . Y o u d o n' t hav e to w o rry abo u t the n ame bu t i f y ou d on ' t c o me u p w i th a fan c y n ame i n s c i en c e, n o bo dy tak es yo u s eri o u s ly . Co gn eti c s c o mes fro m c o gn i tiv e c y bern eti c s . Co gn i ti v e means to d o wi th ho w the brai n s ec retes thi n k i n g, ho w i t ' mi nd s' . Cy bern eti c s has to d o w i th ' feed bac k ' . Co gn eti c s b rai n s o ftw are, o r n eu ro w are, ar e hi ghe r o rd er e xec u ti v e p att ern s that y o u c an us e to d eli b erately :
1. tak e c o n tro l o f y o u r at ten ti o n , an d 2. man i p u late y o u r o w n p erc ep ti on . On c e p ro grammed i n to y o u r brai n , the brai n s o ftw are gi v es y ou , the brai n u s er, a s i mp le w ay to i n c reas e y o u r aw aren e s s o f the thi n k i n g s trate gi es that are av ai lable to y o u i n a si tu ati o n . F o r examp le, s u p p o s e y o u are d eali n g w i th a p ro blem s i tu ati o n and y o u are c u rren tly aw are o f o n ly 3 s trategi es y o u c an u s e - Strategy A , Strate gy B o r Strate gy C. F o r y o u then , y o u r i n telli gen t b ehav i o u r i s li mi ted to a c ho i c e from tho s e 3 s trategi es . B u t w hat i f y o u c o u ld d eli b era tely ma k e y o u rs elf aw a re o f 6 o r 9 o r 12 s t rat egi es y o u c o u ld u s e in that s i tu ati o n ? Obvi o u s ly y o u w ou ld be able to c ho o s e an even hi gher lev el o f i n telli g en t b ehav i o u r d u e to y o u r i n c reas ed o p ti on s . Problems and Opportunities B rai n p o w er o r c o gn eti c s i s thi s d eli berate u s e an d ap p li c ati o n o f thi n k in g s o ftw are. In c o gn eti c s , y o u c an c ho os e fro m a ran ge o f c o gn i ti v e s trategi es to s o lv e an y
64 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN p ro blem that c o n fro n ts y o u o r to exp l o re an y o p p o rtu n i ty y o u d esi re. A p ro blem i s a si tu ati o n w hi c h may requ i re a s o lu ti o n , a w ay o u t, an o p ti on , a c u re o r a n ew ap p ro ac h. A n o pp o rtu n i ty i s a s i tu ati on that may n eed to be exp lo red , a p lan tha t n e ed s to be w o rk ed o u t, an i d ea that n eed s to be d ev elo p ed , a p o s s i bi li ty that n eed s tes ti n g. Y o u r p ro b lems o r o p p o rtu n i ti es are o ften p ers o n al, bu s i n es s , fami ly , rec reati o n al, ac ad emi c , s c i en ti fi c , p hy si c al, o r p hi lo s o p hi c al. W hen w e as k bu s i n es s p eop le abo u t thei r p ro blem /o p p o rtu n i ty areas th ey n early alw ay s s ay : c areer o r p u rp o s e i n life, ti me an d s tres s , getti n g a be tte r balan c e betw een p ro fes s i o n al an d p ers o n al li fe, mo n ey i s su es , bri n gi n g mo re c reati v i ty and flexi b i li ty i n to thei r c o mp an y . H ere are s o me o f the s i tu ati o n s SOT members hav e w o rk ed o n d u ri n g thei r Sp eed T hi n k in g Clas s trai n i n g: OPPOR TU N ITIES: to bu y s o me lan d ; to get a better j o b; to i mp ro v e k n ow led ge o f So u th E as t As i a; to learn ac ti n g; to play the p i an o agai n ; to gro w thei r bus i n ess ; to go b ac k to s c ho o l, to r ai s e thei r i n c o me, to gi v e u p s mo k i n g, to i mp ro v e th ei r go lf . PR OB LEMS: to p ay mo rtg age; to c o p e w i th a d i ffi c u lt bo s s ; to s av e my marri a ge; to c ho o s e betw een ac ad emi c c o u rs es ; to o v erc o me f ear o f u s i n g the tele p ho n e i n s elli n g; to s p eak i n p u bli c; to mak e new fri en d s ; to lo s e w ei ght. Intelligent Behaviour Equals Strategies and Options If y o u w i s h to o rd er tak e o u t fo o d but y o u o n ly hav e a pi zza men u then y ou r c ho i c e i s li mi ted to p i zza. B u t i f y o u hav e men u s fro m 10 d i fferen t res tau ran ts s u c h as s u s hi , health fo o d , Sp an i s h, s eafo o d , T hai , T ex Mex, F ren c h an d Pi zza etc then y o u c an eat tw i c e as w ell. T he k ey is to k eep y o u rs elf aw are o f a bro ad er men u o f o p ti o n s . T he b rai n s o ftw are - SDNT CVST OB V S QRH PRR - ( i n tro d u c ed in the n ext c hap ter) w i ll k eep y o u aw are o f s trat egi c o p ti o n s y o u c an u s e i n si tu ati o n s that c o n fro n t y o u . T hi s trai n in g w i ll exp lai n thes e s trategi es an d y o u r in c reas ed s ki lls w i ll gi v e y o u a
65 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s i mp le w ay to rai s e y o u r Game In t elli gen c e by at le as t 10 0 % an d mi n i mi s e the effec ts o f PT V. T he fo u r- p art b rai n s o ftw are p ac k age p ro v i d es y o u r brai n w i th 15 mi n d - to ols . T hes e mi n d - to o ls c an b e u s ed b y the brai n u s er i n an ev er- w i d en i n g rep erto i re o f c o mb i n ati on s to p ro d uc e a v i rtu all y u n li mi ted n u mber o f effec ts . J u s t as the c arp en ter c an u s e a d o zen o r s o to o ls to p erfo rm a w i d e ran ge o f effec ts , so c an the brai n u s er. T hi s i s the c o d e o f the SOT b rai n s o ftw are:
SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T
C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS
QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H
PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R
SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T
C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS
QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H
PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R
66 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T here a re w ay o v e r 2 0 0 mi lli o n PC u s ers w o rld w i d e. T o d ay ' s PCs are mo re th an 2 gi gaby tes w here a by te i s j u s t a s i n gle s to rage u n i t o f i n fo rmati o n ( at ei gh t bi ts ) o r abo u t o n e p ri n ted c harac ter. 2 gi gs i s 2 mi lli o n k i lo by tes o r 2 bi lli o n by tes. So , 2 0 0 mi lli o n PCs mu lti p li ed b y 2 bi lli on by tes i s W o w! that' s a lo t o f p ers o n al c o mp u ter p o w er. H o w man y n ec k top us ers are there? T here are p res en tly o v er 6 bi lli o n n ec kto p u s ers o n p lan et earth. T hi s n u mber i s i ncreas i n g at the rate o f 3 n ec k to p u sers ev ery s ec o n d o r 1.7 mi lli o n ev ery w eek . In y o u r brai n a b y te is , s ay , the s tren gth o f a s y n aps e bu t y ou r n ec k to p has rather mo re than 2 bi lli o n by tes o r s yn ap ses . It i s a v as t n etw o rk o f abo u t 10 0 bi lli o n n eu ro n s ( q ui te p o ss i bly ev en ten ti mes as man y ) and eac h o n e o f y o u r n eu ro n s has u p to 50 ,0 0 0 c o nn ec tin g w i res ( d en d ri tes ) w i th s yn ap s es . 10 0 bi lli o n n eu ro n s mu lti p li ed by 50 ,0 0 0 sy n ap s es mu lti p li ed 6 bi lli o n n ec k to ps eq u als .. . w hew ! that' s a lo t o f brai n p o w er o n the p lan et. Pro fes s o r J ac o b Sc hw artz o f the Co u r an t In s ti tu te o f Mathemati c al Sc i en c es at New Y o rk U n i v ers i ty p u t s o me fi gu res to gether to gi v e s o me i d ea o f the c ap ac i ty o f y o u r brai n . H e s ay s that ro u gh q u an ti tati v e gu es s es lead u s to es ti mate that the lo n gterm memo ry av ai labl e to the b rai n i s abo u t 10 ,0 0 0 tri lli o n by tes an d that the c o mp u tin g rate n eed ed to emu la te t he en ti re b rai n o n a n eu ro n - by -n euro n bas i s may be as hi gh as 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 tri lli o n ari thmeti c o p erati o n s p er s ec o n d . Dr Sc hw artz go es o n to s ay that " i t i s i nte re s ti ng to c o m p a re the se e xc ee d i ng ly c oa rse es ti m a te s wi th c o rre s p o nd i ng fi g u re s fo r the la rg e s t s u p e rc o m p u te r s ys te ms li ke ly to b e d e v e lo pe d o v e r the ne xt d e c ad e . T he se wi ll p ro b a b ly no t a tta i n s p e e d s i n e xc es s o f 1 tri lli o n a ri thm e ti c o p e ra ti o ns p e r s e c o nd whi c h i s a b o u t o ne - m i lli o nth o f t he c o m p u ta ti o n ra te tha t we ha v e es ti ma te d fo r yo u r b ra i n" . Y o u and I, w i th o u r hu man b rai ns are s o p rep o s tero u s ly ov er en d o w ed w i th thi n ki n g
67 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN hard w are that i t' s almo s t i mp o s s i ble to c o mp rehen d . B u t let' s try . W hat i f y o u w ere the maj o r s hareho ld er o f the w o r ld ' s mo s t i n telli gen t en te rp ri s e, a n etw o rk o f ten bi lli o n c o mp u ters li n ked to gether as p arall el p ro c es s o rs , p ro d u c in g a v as t i n tellec tu al o u tp u t o f glo b a l mes s agi n g? W ell, y o u are! Units of Intellect T ak e a c lo s er lo o k . T he ato ms o f y o u r brai n a re c al led n erv e c e lls o r n eu ro n s . E ac h n eu ro n i s y o u r fu n d amen tal i n tellec tu al u n i t - an i n fo rmati o n - p ro c ess i n g s y s tem. T he bas i c p ro d u c t o f thes e u n i ts i s: mes s agi n g. Neu ro n s are p erf ec tly d es i gn ed mes s agi n g s y s tems . T hey hav e tw o en d s : a rec ei v i n g en d an d a tran s mi tti n g en d ( o r an i n pu t en d an d an o u tp u t en d ) . A t the rec ei v i n g en d eac h o f y o u r n eu ro n s has a c o nv en i en t tree- li k e s y s tem o f d en d ri tes - i np u t w i res - w hi c h c an rec ei v e i n fo rmati o n fro m o th er n eu ro n s . A n eu ro n may rec ei v e mes s ages i n fro m tho u s an d s o f o ther n eu ro n s an d may, i n tu rn , s en d i ts mes s ages o u t to tho u s an d s o f o ther n eu ro n s . Messages In and Messages Out Su p p o s e w e c all a mes s age i n , a MI . A n d , a mes s age o u t, a M O. So w e hav e MIs an d MOs . A n eu ro n rec ei v es MIs ( mes s ages in) fro m o ther n eu ro n s . It th en s en d s a MO, a bri ef elec t ri c al p u ls e las ti n g abo u t a tho u s an d th o f a s ec o nd alo n g i ts o u tp u t w i re, the axo n . A xo n s are li k e ' tele gr ap h w i res ' that tr an s mi t elec tri c al s i gn als al o n g thei r o w n len gth. A t the en d o f i ts w i re the axo n ' s elec tri c al s i gn al i s tran s fo rmed i n to a c hemi c al o u tp u t - a n eu ro tran s mi tter. A n eu ro tran s mi tter i s a p ac k age o f c h emi c al i n fo rmati o n w hi c h has an effe c t o n the n eu ro n that rec ei v es i t in mu c h the same w ay that a fax o r an emai l i s a p ac k age o f i n fo rmati o n w hi c h has an effec t o n yo u w hen y o u rec ei v e i t. T he w ay thi s c hemi c al p ac k age effec ts the n eu ro n rec ei v i n g i t i s by c au si n g a c han ge i n i ts elec tro c hemi c al ac ti v i ty .
68 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
To Send or Not To Send, That's the Decision J u s t as y o u may o r may n o t res p o n d to an emai l o r fa x y o u rec ei v e, y o u r n eu ro n behav es the s ame w ay . So meti mes a neu ro n res p o nd s to a MI. So meti mes i t d o es n' t. W hen a p arti c u lar c ell s en d s o u t i ts o w n MO s i gn al i t' s bec au s e i t has rec ei v ed en o u gh MIs fro m o ther c e lls to exc ee d a thres ho ld amo u n t. T hu s eac h o f y o u r n erv e c ells ac ts as a ti n y d ec is i o n u ni t. If the i n c o min g mes s agi n g i s abo v e a c ertai n lev el, i t res p o n ds wi th a MO. I f n o t, i t s tay s s i len t. If y o ur n eu ro n d o es res p on d to i ts i n c o mi n g mess ages w e s ay i t i s exci ted , i f i t s tay s s i len t w e s ay i t i s in hi bi ted . Y o u hav e mo re than a tri l li o n n euro n s - ti ny mo lec u lar c o mp u ters . Li k e o ther c o mp u ters they hav e a bro ad s elec ti o n o f MOs that th ey c an s en d o u t. E ach o f y o u r n eu ro n s ac ts as a un i t o f c o n tro l rec ei v i n g MIs an d s en di n g MOs w ithi n the d i s tri bu ted n etw o rk y o u c all y o u r brai n . E ac h o f thes e u ni ts i s p ro ces s i n g i ts i n p u ts /o u tp u ts at the s ame ti me as a re al l the o ther u n i ts , s o they ac hi ev e ' p arallel c o mp u tati o n ' . Y o u r brai n i s the u lti mate p ara llel p ro c es s o r! Its bi lli o n s o f p arallel p ro c es s i n g u n i ts are c o ns tan tly tak i n g i n i n fo rmati o n MIs . T hes e mes s ages are p ro c e s s ed and c han ged . T hen n ew in fo rmati o n MOs are s en t o u t all o v er the glo bal n etw o rk . Y o u r brai n i s the s up reme i n telli gen t en terp ri s e. A n d gu es s w hat, y o u are t he maj o r s hareho ld er .
69 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
BRAIN SOFTWARE: SDNT Search Engine
SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK
STA R T " T a ki ng a ne w s te p , u tte ri ng a ne w wo rd , i s wha t p e o p le fe a r m os t." ~ F yo do r Do s t oe vs k y What is starting? It c an b e v ery d i ffi c u lt to s tart thi n gs . On c e y o u get s tarted there i s mo me n tu m and feed bac k bu t getti n g s tarted c an be d iffi c u lt. Mo s t rac es are lo s t n o t at the fi n i s hi n g li n e bu t at the s ta rti n g b lo c k s . W hy ? B ec au s e mo s t p eo p le n ev er ev en en ter the rac e! T hey j us t n ev er get s tarted . W as n ' t i t Lao - T zu w ho p o in ted o u t that all j o u rn eys begi n w i th o n e s tep .
70 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN The Start of the Sale = Customer Attention W hat i s the s tart o f the s ale? T he s tart o f the s ale i s Cu s to mer A tten ti on . B efo re a c u s to mer c an s ay YE S o r NO thei r atten ti o n mus t be o n y o u r o ffer. F red H erman , au tho r o f K ISS: K eep It Si mp le Salesman u s ed to s ay , " F i rs t, y o u 'v e go t to get the c u s to mer' s atten ti o n " . Y et, mo s t o f the ti me the v as t maj ori ty o f c us to mers ' atten ti o n i s n o t fo c u s ed o n y o u r o ffer at a ll. W hen ev er, at an y p arti c u lar mo men t , th e c u s to mer' s att en ti o n i s n o t o n y o u r o ffer then the re c an be n o ho p e o f a s ale. The Check Move T o man age c u s to mer att en ti o n I d es ign ed a n ew u n i t o f meas u remen t. In my bo o k Ne wSe ll, w hi c h bec ame a b es t- s eller i n A u s trali a, I d es i gn ed a n ew u n i t o f meas u remen t w hi c h I c alled - the Chec k ! mo v e. A Chec k! mo v e ( tak en fro m the game o f c hes s ) i s s i mp ly a c us to mer c o n tac t o f an y k i nd an d is rep res en ted by the s y mbo l: C ! F o r y ears i t' s been a co mmo n beli ef in s elli n g that mo s t s ales w ere lo s t at the c lo s e. In o ther w o rd s , s ales p eo p le w ere mi s s in g s ales bec au s e they w ere n o t ' c lo s i n g' them. Ou r res earc h s ho w ed that thi s i s a gran d i llu s i o n . T he w ho le i s s u e o f ' c lo s i n g the s ale' i s a n o ns en s e and I hav e o ffered a rew a rd o f $ 10 0 ,0 0 0 to the fi rs t p ers o n w ho c an p ro v e the s ales p ers o n c lo s es the s ale. F A C T:
T he d ec is i on to b u y i s an elec tro - c hemi c al ev en t i n the brai n o f the c u s to mer an d the s ales p ers o n d o es NOT c o n tro l that ev en t.
F A C T: 99% o f s ales ar e n o t mi s s ed at the c lo s e at a ll bu t a t the s ta rt . F A C T: It' s the fai lu re to s tart the s ale - to c o n tac t a c us to mer by p hon e, by s n ai l mai l, by emai l, by fax o r i n p ers o n - that i s the s o u rc e o f mo s t lo s t bu s i n es s . F A C T: 99% o f C! mo v es hav e n ev er y et been mad e. No ti n g thei r C! mo v es ( c us to mer c o n tac ts ) help s s alesp eo p le k eep a meas u remen t o f ho w mu c h en ergy th ey are p u tti n g o u t i n to the ma rk etp lac e. F o c u s i n g o n thei r C! mo v es help s them:
1. to rai s e thei r en e rgy lev el an d av o i d w as ti n g ti me 71 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
2. to s to p thei r o b s es si o n w i th ' the c lo se' an d all the arc hai c man i pu lati o n tac ti c s that c u s to mers hate an d w hi c h hav e gi v en the s el li n g p ro fes s i o n s u c h a bad i mage. F o c u s in g o n the s tart - C! - rather than the ' c lo s e' , red u c es the rej ecti o n and d i s app o in tmen t s ales p eo p le feel w hi c h s o effec ts thei r en ergy lev els . C! al l o w s them to i n i ti ate man y mo re c u s to mer c o n tac ts . T hi s , o f c ou rs e, alw ay s lead s to better s ales res u lts bec au s e the o n ly mo v e that c an tu rn a p ro s p ec ti v e c u s to mer i n to a c li en t i s CH E CK ! w hi c h is en o u gh to ma k e i t the mo s t i mp o rtan t mo v e i n bu s i n es s . A s W o o d y A llen s ai d , “ 8 0 % o f s u cc es s is s ho w i n g u p .” N OTE: F o r tho s e w ho a re i n teres t ed i n my w o rk in the area o f ' s elli n g a n d a n ew k i n d o f s ales trai n i n g' p leas e s ee in fo rmati o n i n the PS s ec ti on belo w o r go to http : //w w w .n ew s ellc o ac hi n g.c o m MBO or MBS? H o w to s tart? Mo s t p lans are fu ll o f d etai ls o n how to get to the fi ni s hin g li n e bu t c o n tai n li ttle o r n o thi n g abo u t how to get to the s ta rti n g blo c k s . Y et n o thi n g hap p en s un ti l s o meo n e ST A RT S s o methi n g. F o r man y y ears i n bu s i n ess w e hav e had MB O o r Man a gemen t B y Ob j ec ti v es . Perhap s w e als o n eed MB S o r Man ag emen t B y Starti n g. Man y man agemen t gu ru s w ri te bo o ks abo u t " Go al- Setti n g" . May be they s ho u ld als o w ri te bo o k s ab o u t " Star t- Getti n g" s i n c e, mo s t o f the ti me, mo s t p eo p le n ev er get s tarted . T o Start i s the fu n d amen tal c re ati v e ac t. T o c han ge a s w i tc h fro m th e OF F p o s i ti on to the ON p o s i ti o n i s to s tart s o m ethi n g an d mean s s o methi n g has n o w been c reated . I t has b een s aid that the mo s t i mp o rtan t sk i ll i n w ri ti n g a boo k i s s i tti n g d o w n at the k ey b o ard - getti n g s tar te d .
Strategic Act Strate gy i s abo u t c o n tro l. If y o u are i n c o n tro l y o u are i n a s trategi c p o s i ti o n , i f y o u
72 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN are o u t o f c o n tro l, y o u aren ' t. Sta rt i n g i s a s trate gi c ac t b ec au s e w e c a n c o n tro l s tarti n g bu t w e c an n o t c o n tro l fi n i s hin g. On c e w e s tart, man y o ther fac to rs c o me i n to p lay : o ther p eo p les reac ti o n s , the w eather , c o n s eq u en c es an d the u n exp ec ted . T hes e may p rev en t u s fro m f i n is hi n g. B u t i f w e ar e go o d at s ta rti n g th en w e c an alw ay s s tart ag ai n , an d agai n , a n d agai n . It may b e tha t fi n i s hi n g is s i mp ly the rep eti ti v e ac t o f s tar ti n g, an d s tart i n g agai n , an d s tarti n g agai n , u n ti l w e d ec lare t hat w e hav e " fi n i s hed " . So me p eo p le are go o d at s tarti n g. Ot hers are go o d at the fo llo w - u p . So me are go o d at b o th. W hat are y o u b etter at? D o y o u s ee s tarti n g as a s k i ll? H ow c an y o u i mp ro v e y o u r s tarti n g abi li ty ? Is i t wo rth i t? W hat w o u ld be a better s k i ll to d ev elo p than s tarti n g? H o w d o y o u s tart to s tart? T o s tart o r n o t to s tart? T o fli p t he s w i tc h o r n o t to f li p the s w i tc h? T o s tart i s to be! I s ta rt th ere fo re I am . H e w ho hes i tates to s tart i s lo s t. St art b efo re y o u leap . etc . Where to start? A n y w here i s a go o d p lac e to s tart. Si r Y ehu d i Men u hi n s tarted p lay i n g the v i o li n at ho me w hen he w as fo u r . H o me i s a go o d p lac e to s ta rt. H e mad e hi s p r o fes s i o n al d ebu t, w hen he w as s ev en , i n San F ran c i sc o . San F ran c i sc o i s a go o d p lac e to s tart . In 1962 he s tarted a b o ard i n g s c hoo l fo r mu s i c ally talen ted c hi ld ren , at Sto k e d ' A b ern o n , n ear Lo n d o n . B o ard in g s cho o l i s a go o d p lac e to s tart . Si r Y eh u d i 's s o n J eremy mad e hi s d ebu t as a p i ani s t, i n Gs taad , in 1965. Da re I s ay i t - Gstaad i s a go o d p lac e to s tart! Is there a bes t p lac e to s tart? W hy ? Is there a w o rs t p lac e to s tart? W hy ? Why start things? W hen y o u s tart y o u b e gi n to o v erc o m e i n erti a. In erti a i s the en emy o f s ta r ti n g w i th i ts lac k o f feed bac k . On c e y o u es c ap e fro m th e s p ell o f i n er ti a y o u begi n to ge t feed bac k . F eed b ac k i s the fo o d o f d e c i s i on - maki n g an d the fo o d o f d es i gn. Y o u c an as s es s feed bac k an d reac t to y o u r as s es s men t. Do I li k e i t? Do I n o t li k e i t? Do I w an t mo re? Do I w an t les s ? W e are mu c h bette r at reac ti n g th an at p ro ac ti n g . B y c reati n g feed bac k i t gi v es u s s o methi n g to reac t to an d s o w e c an mak e a d ec i s i on and p ro c eed . A s i mple w ay to
73 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN c reate fe ed bac k i s to s tart s o methi n g ... an y thi n g. When to Start? T here i s real ly o n ly o n e ti me to s tart an d that ti me i s the mo men t c all ed .. . No w ! W e n eed to c rea te as man y No w ! mo men t s fo r s ta rti n g as p o s s i ble. J u s t s u p p o se a No w ! mo men t i s o n e s ec on d . In o ther w o rd s , let' s d efi n e the ti me i t tak es to s tart s o methi n g as o n e s ec on d . H ere are s o me examp les : H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to p i c k up the telep ho n e? On e s ec o n d . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to p res s ' s end ' o n an emai l? On e s ec o nd . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to s tart to get u p an d go fo r a w alk . On e s ec o n d . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to s tart a Y aho o s earc h o n the n et. On e s ec o n d . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to s ay " No " ? One s ec o n d . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to s tart y o u r la p to p ? On e s ec on d . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to s tart to c o n t ac t a c u s to mer. On e s ec o n d . T here a re an u n li mi ted n u mber o f thi n gs y o u c an s tart to d o i n t he qu i te c o mfo rtable s p ac e o f o n e s ec o n d . H ow man y No w ! mo men ts are there i n a d ay ? I' ll s av e y o u the tro u b le o f th e maths . It' s 8 6,40 0 . U n fo rtu n ately w e w as te mo s t o f o u r No w ! mo men ts bec au s e w e s qu an d er mo s t o f o u r ti me i mmo bi li s ed by in erti a bec au s e o f o u r W es tern fear o f mak i n g " mi s tak es " . Mistake-phobia Mi s tak e- p ho bi a is the mo rbi d fear o f mak i n g a mi s tak e. It' s an av ers i o n to ev er bei n g w ro n g. It c o mes fro m o u r med iev al habi t o f lo o k i n g at the w o rld thro u gh the c o n c ep t o f " ri ght" an d "w ro n g" ( n o t shared by o ther c u ltu res li k e the J ap an es e) . Co mp ared
to
the
J ap an es e
our
mi s tak e- p ho bi a
c aus es
us
to
lo s e
c o u n tless
o p p o rtu n i ti es o n a d ai ly b as i s i n W es tern c o u n tri es li k e A u s trali a, B ri t ai n , F ran c e an d A meri c a an d may b e o n e o f the bi gges t s i n gle blo c k s to o u r i n c reas ed p ro d u c ti v i ty an d p o ten ti al ec o n o mi c su c c es s . Have a go! On e w ay to c u re mi s tak e- p ho bi a i s to ac c elerate o u r w i lli n gn es s to hav e a go , to get s tarted an d get bu s y . W hen y o u hav e a go , o n e o f tw o thi n gs hap p en s:
74 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
1. Y o u mak e a mi s tak e, o r 2. Y o u mak e an u n - mi s tak e. T o the b rai n u s er, bo th thes e ty p es o f feed bac k are u s efu l. If y o u a re n o t afr ai d o f mi s tak es , i f y o u are n o t a mi s tak e- p ho bi ac , then y o u s i mp ly as s es s the feed b ac k an d s tart agai n . I f i t w as a mi s tak e y ou try s o methin g d i fferen t. If i t w as an u n - mi s tak e then y o u c an k eep go i n g. T hes e are li k e lo o p s tha t c an be c alled :
1. IF ( mi s tak e) T H E N ( s tart agai n ) E LSE ( p ro c eed ) , o r 2. IF ( u n - mi s tak e) TH E N ( p ro c eed ) . B o th thes e o u tc o mes a re u s efu l res u l ts o f s tar ti n g, t hey j u s t hav e d i ffe ren t v alu es . In erti a may hav e n o v alu e at all . T hi s i s ho w w e hav e tau ght c o mp u ter s to be i n telli gen t. T hey k eep d o i n g so methi n g. A n y thin g. T hey k eep bus y go in g thro u gh the lo o p s an d learn in g. T hi s is ho w w e learn ed as c hi ld ren u n ti l w e w ere ta u ght to d r ead mak i n g a mi s tak e. If c o mp u ters w ere as afr ai d o f mak i n g mi s tak es as w e are then th ey w o u ld tak e as lo n g as u s to learn . B u t th ey d o n ' t. Co mp u ters are n o t afrai d o f mi s tak es an d are rap i d ly c atc hi n g up . T o d ay 's c ars hav e mo re c o mp u ti n g p o w er than the w hole w o rld had 40 y ears ago . T hey are bec o mi n g les s ' c o mp u ter- as s i s ted c ars ' and mo re li k e ' d ri v eable c o mp u ters ' Where w i ll c o mp u ters b e i n the n ext 40 y ears ? In the n ext 40 0 y ears ?
Lazy Critic Lazy c ri ti c s s u ffer fro m mi s tak e- p ho bi a. T he PT V- i n fec ted brai n w i ll tu rn the mo s t amazi n g c o gn i ti v e s o mers au lts to avo i d bein g ' w ro n g' . W hen a brai nu s er tri es to c reate s o methi n g, s /he n ev er real ly k n o w s w hat w i ll hap p en . T here i s alw ay s ri s k an d u n c ertai n ty . Ri sk i s en o u gh to k eep the mi s tak e- p ho bi ac hid i n g in i n erti a. B u t,
remembe r,
n o thi n g
hap p en s
u n ti l
s o meo n e
ST A RT S
s o methin g.
So ren
75 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN K i erk egaard s ai d , " T o d are is to lo s e o n e' s fo o ti n g mo men tari ly . T o n o t dare i s to lo s e o n es elf." Do y o u p refe r th e s t arte r o r the c ri ti c ? H o w d o y o u feel abo u t mi s tak es ? A re y o u c o mfo rtab l e w i th t hem? Or d o y o u fea r mi s tak es ? Can y o u tak e a ri s k ? Starting by Asking T o as k i s o n e w ay to s tart. M rs . R o bert Le e K i d d s tarted s o methi n g s i mp ly by w alk i n g in to the o ffi c e o f the San F ran c i sc o E xamin er o n May 2 , 1962 and p lac in g her ad v erti s emen t w hi c h as k ed fo r th e fo llo w i n g: " I d o n ' t w an t my hu s ban d to d i e i n the gas c hambe r fo r a c ri me he d i d n o t c o mmi t. I w i ll there fo re o f fer my s erv i c es fo r 1 0 y ears as a c o o k , mai d o r ho u s ek eeper to an y lead i n g atto rn ey w ho w i ll d efen d hi m an d bri n g abo u t hi s v in d ic ati o n ." H er hu s b an d had been tri ed an d c o nv i c ted o f the mu rd er o f a 71- y ear- o ld an ti qu es d ealer , A lb ert Clark e . M r. K i d d ' s blo o d y fi n gerp ri n ts had been fo u nd o n the mu rd er w eap o n , an o rn ate s w o rd . B u t M rs . K i d d had i ns i s ted her hu s ban d w as ho me w i th her o n the n i ght o f the c ri me. On e o f San F ran c i s c o' s mos t emi n ent atto rn ey ' s , Vi n c en t H alli n an res p on d ed and p ro v ed i n c o u rt that the s w o rd w as n o t the mu rd er w eap o n afte r a ll. Su bs equ en tly bo th hu s ban d an d w i fe w en t free . H al li n an grac i o u s ly refu s ed to tak e u p M rs . K i d d ' s o ffer o f 10 y ears s erv i c e. A s k an d rec ei v e! As k in g i s o n e w ay o f s tarti n g. Ask and Receive E v ery d ay , tho u s an ds o f p eo p le s tart s o methi n g by p u tti n g thei r ad i n the p ap er as k i n g fo r s o methi n g eg a jo b , a ho u se, a v o te, a s ale, a fri en d etc . B y as k in g, there are li te ral ly an u n li mi ted n u mber o f w ay s o f getti n g s tarted . W hen d i d y o u las t p u t an ad i n the p ap er? W hat hap p en ed ? W hat o the r w ay s c an y o u as k ? W hat d id y o u as k fo r y es terd ay ? W hat w i ll y o u as k fo r to d ay ? W hat w i ll y o u as k fo r to mo rro w ? Getting Started T he hard es t p ar t abo u t getti n g s ta rte d i s ... g etti n g s ta rted ! T hi s i s a c i rcu lar t rap that i s di ffi c u lt to get o u t o f an d i s the c au s e o f a lo t o f i n erti a. T he w ay I get s tarted i s to w ri te d o w n a li s t o f 10 thi n gs I c an d o to get s tarted , then I j u s t c ho o s e
76 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN the o n es I li k e. A s the German thi n k er, J o han n W o lfg an g v o n Go ethe, s ai d : " U nti l o ne i s c o m m i tte d , the re is hes i ta nc y, the c ha nc e to d ra w b ac k, a lwa ys i ne ffe c ti v e ne s s . Co nc e rni ng a ll a c ts o f i ni ti a ti v e a nd c re a ti o n, the re is o ne e le m e nta ry tru th the i g no ra nc e o f whi c h ki lls c o u ntle s s i d ea s a nd sp le nd i d p la ns : tha t the m o m e nt o ne d e fi ni tely c o m m i ts o nes e lf, the n p ro v i d e nc e m o v e s to o . A ll s o rts o f thi ng s o cc u r to he lp o ne tha t wo u ld ne v e r o the rwi se ha ve o c c u rred . A who le s trea m o f e ve nts i s s ue s fro m the de c is i o n, ra i s i ng in o ne ' s fa v o u r a ll m a nne r o f u nfo re s e e n i nc i d e nts , m e e ti ng s a nd m a te ri a l as s is ta nc e whi c h no m a n c o u ld ha v e d re a m e d wo u ld ha v e c o me hi s wa y. W ha te v e r yo u c a n d o o r d re a m yo u c a n, b e g i n i t. B o l d ne s s ha s ge ni u s , p o we r a nd m a g i c i n i t. B e g i n i t no w."
77 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
DO W hat i s d oi n g? No id ea i s o f any real v alu e u n ti l i t gets u s ed . If an id ea nev er gets u s ed , w hy ev en k no w abo u t i t? T here' s a hu ge gap betw een k n o w i n g an d d o i n g. I h av e c al led thi s g ap - T he Imp o s s i ble B arri er - an d w ri tten a t le n gth abo u t thi s i n New Sel l. T h e re as o n fo r thi s i s b ec au s e, s o o ften , k n o w in g s o methin g p rev en ts d o i n g i t. W e hav e s o methi n g rep eated to u s an d w e s ay " Y es , I alread y k n o w that! " an d we tu rn o u r att en ti o n aw ay . Y et i t i s the rep eti ti o n o f thi n gs w e alr ead y k n o w that g ets u s c lo s er to d o i n g i t. I t has b een s ai d that to o o ften th e k n o w ers are n o t the d o ers an d the d o ers are n o t the k n o w ers . On c e w e mo v e f ro m tho u ght i n to ac ti o n w e i mmed i ately c reat e fe ed bac k . Ou r ac ti o n s hav e c o n s equ en c es an d i t i s thes e c o n s equ enc es that en able u s to ev alu ate the effec ti v en es s o f o u r b ehav i o u r. T hi n k in g i s n o t an es c ap e fro m ac ti o n i t i s the s i mp ly the bas is fo r i t. W hen i n d o u bt, d o s o methi n g. A n y thi n g. The Quest - Seek and Ye Shall Find Y o u may alread y hav e n o tic ed that the rec u rri n g themes ru n n i n g tho u gh all thi s c o gn eti c s trai n in g abo u t hu man in fo rmati o n - han d lin g i s E SCA PE an d MOVE ME NT . T o the thi n k er, a c reati v e ap p ro ac h to li fe mean s a qu es ti o n in g ap p ro ac h. Qu es ti n g, w as the k i n d o f ad v en tu rou s mo d us o p eran di o f the k n i ght o f c hi v alry . W hether the " i mp o s s i ble d ream" , the c ru s ad e, o r the s earc h fo r th e H o ly Grai l, t he tru e k n i ght w en t o u t s eek i n g c hallen ges an d embrac i n g p ro blems . H e w as a k ni ght, a man o f ac ti o n , a d o er, d o i n g w hat k n i ghts d o . T o d ay ' s k ni ghts are n o d i ff eren t. W h ether a m an o r w o man , th e k n i ght o f to d ay has the s ame s p i ri t o f q u es ti n g o n ly the w eap o n s are d i fferen t. In c y beri a, the k ey bo ard i s mi ghti er than the s w o rd .
78 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T o d ay ' s cy berk n i ghts , li k e thei r an c i en t bro thers , are the grea t qu es ter s o f the i n fo rmati o n age. T hey u s e s earc h en g i n es rather than s i ege en gi n es . T hey d o n ' t u s e c hai n mai l b u t they d o us e emai l. T hey s u rf c y beri a on thei r lap to p in s tead o f s ai li n g to Ou tremer o n thei r w ars hi ps . B u t, they ' re o u t there, an d thi s i s j u s t the begi n n i n g. Questions are the Answer " I wa s a ki d tha t was a lwa ys a s ki ng , ' W hy, why, why? ' I thi nk I' m e v e n wo rs e no w. It c o ns ta n tly c ha lle ng e s m e to fi nd o u t m o re , s o I i m p ro v e a nd c o nti nu e to i m p ro v e ." ~ Ian T ho rp e, A u s trali a ’s gre ates t Oly mp i c c hampi o n and s po rts thi n k er. T he s k i lled thi n k er, the thi n k er o f ac t i o n , i s a s ki lled qu es ti o n er. W ho ? W hat? W hen ? W here? H o w ? W hy ? W hy ? W hy ? T he o n ly s i lly qu es tio n i s the qu es ti o n y o u d o n ' t as k . B u t w hat i s a qu es ti o n ? A cc o rd i n g to Roc helle My ers , w ho ru n s the n o w - famo u s Stamfo rd U n i v ers i ty Grad u ate Sc ho o l o f Man agem en t c o u rs e, Cre a ti v i ty i n B u s i ne ss , qu es ti o ns are the fo llo w i n g:
a qu es ti o n is an o p eni n g to c reati o n
a qu es ti o n is an u ns ettled an d u n s ettli n g i s su e
a qu es ti o n is an i nv i tati o n to c reati v i ty
a qu es ti o n is a begi n n in g o f ad v en tu re
a qu es ti o n is a s ed u c tiv e fo rep lay
a q u es ti o n p o k es an d p ro ds that w hi c h has n o t y et been p o k ed an d p ro d d ed
a qu es ti o n is a p o i n t o f d ep artu re
a qu es ti o n w an ts a p lay mate
Questions Help You Do If y o u c an d ev elo p y o u r q u es ti o n i n g s k i lls y o u w i ll i mmed i ately begi n t o exp an d y o u r o p ti on s , y ou w i ll hav e mo re altern ati v es , y o u wi ll gen erate ext ra p o s si bi li ti es , y o u w i ll hav e mo re c ho i c es . A ll thes e thi n gs w i ll lead y o u i n to ac ti on , to D O thi n gs . Y o u r n ew qu es ti on i n g sk i lls w i ll en able y o u to bec o me les s o f a k n o w er and mo re o f a d o er. Y o u w i ll an n o y au tho ri ti es an d as to u nd y o u r fri en ds . T hi s alo n e, c an be a go o d en o u gh reas o n to as k mo re qu es ti o n s .
79 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Do it bad! My fri en d , L es li e B u c k lan d , w as Pr es i d en t o f Cari bi n er In c . i n New Y o rk , t he w o rld ' s larg es t p ro d u c er o f bu s i n es s meeti n gs . Les li e o ften u s ed to s ay , " If s o methi n g i s w o rth d oi n g i t' s w o rth d o i n g bad ly ." W hy ? Do es n' t thi s s eem a c o n trad i c ti o n fo r a man th at w as k n o w n i n tern ati o n ally fo r s etti n g the s ta n d ard s o f qu ali ty i n b us i n es s meeti n gs ? Cari bi n er c an go i n to a ho te l bal lro o m an y w here i n the w o rld , tu rn i t i n to a c i rc u s o r a thea tre i n 2 4 ho u rs , s tage , fo r o n e p erfo rman c e o n ly , th e bu s i n es s equ iv alen t o f a B ro ad w ay s ho w - o ri gin al mu s ic , dan c ers , ac to rs , fi rew o rk s etc - an d then s tri k e the s et leav i n g i t as they fo u n d i t 24 ho u rs later . T hey s tage mu lti - mi lli o n d o llar p ro d u c ti o ns all o v er the w o rld fo r c o mp an i es li k e IB M, Mc Do n ald ' s , an d Merc ed es B en z w here qu ali ty i s the abs o lu te key . Y et Les o ften s ay s " If s o methin g i s w o rth d o i n g i t' s w o rth d o in g bad ly " . W hy ? Bad Can Lead to Good T hi s i s the p arad o x o f ac ti o n , o f dec i s i on - mak in g, o f getti n g thi n gs d o n e. T he mi s tak e- p ho bi acs are s o af rai d o f a d o i n g s o methi n g bad ly they ge t n o thi n g d o n e at all! " Ou r d o u bts " , s ai d W i lli am Shak es p eare, " are t rai to rs an d mak e u s lo s e the go o d w e o ft mi ght w i n b y feari n g to a t temp t." Very o ften the re' s n o " ri ght w ay " to d o thi n gs . Les , an d o ther p eo p le o f a c ti o n , li k e trau ma s u rgeo n s o r as tro n au ts , k n o w that o n e has to get s tarted an d d o s omethi n g, get the p ro c es s mo v i n g. E v en i f y o u mak e a mis tak e o r d o i t bad ly , get go i n g. Y o u c an alw ay s c han ge thi n gs , mak e ad j u s tmen ts an d c o rrec ti o n s . Y o u c an mak e i t w o rk an d mak e i t w o rk w ell , bu t fi rs t y o u hav e to ge t i t u p an d ru n n ing. B ad c an alw ay s be c han ged to go o d . Si tti n g bac k an d w ai tin g fo r p erfec ti o n o ften mean s i n erti a an d fai lu re.
Using Questions F o r an exp eri men t ( th at i s , to t ry o u t an d s ee w hat h ap p en s ) try as k i n g qu es ti o n s
80 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN li k e thes e:
H o w d o es thi s co mp any mak e a p ro fi t? W hen y o u s wi m, ho w d o y o u breathe? W hy d o es thi s s ho p c lo s e at 6p m? Can I w o rk lo n ge r ho u rs ? W hy w as my req u es t refu s ed ? Can I hav e a mo n ey - bac k gu aran tee? W hy n o t? W hy s ho u ld n' t I b e w i th s o meo n e I en j o y ? W hat' s s o go o d ab o u t alw ay s bei n g bus y ? W hat are my s k i lls ? W hat i s y o u r au tho ri ty ? W hy ? W hat i s mi s si n g here? W hat els e? H o w are bo ard membe rs s elec ted ? W hat d etermi n es the n u mber o f d i rec to rs o n the bo ard ? H o w w as thi s d eci s io n mad e? W hy ? W hy i s this ru le n ec es s ary ? Can i t be i mp ro v ed ? A m I n eed ed here?
81 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
NOTICE A s men ti on ed b efo re, c o gn eti c s c o mes fro m the w o rd s ' c o gn i ti v e cy bern eti c s ' . Co gn i ti v e, o f c o u rs e, mean s to d o w i th ' thi n k in g' an d cy bern eti c s means to d o w i th ' feed bac k ' . In o the r w o rd s , c o gn eti c s i s thi n k in g bas ed o n feed bac k . T he re as o n y o u thi n k is s o that y o u c an n o ti c e the feed bac k c reated by y o u r thin k in g and ac ti o n . T hi s feed b ac k then bec o mes the s ti mu lu s fo r fu rthe r thi n k i n g. T hi n k i n g ... F eed bac k ... T hi n k i n g etc . Objectivity T he bas i s o f all s c i enc e is o b s erv ati on an d meas u remen t - n o ti c in g thi n gs. A c lev er brai n u s er i s a c lev er n o ti c er an d a c le v er n o ti c er i s o bj ec ti v e. T he s k i ll o f n o ti c i n g i s o bj ec ti v i ty . Detac hmen t i s als o i mp o rtan t i n n o ti c i n g thi n gs . W i th d etac hmen t y o u c an hav e a b ro ad er , c lea rer v i ew o f th e s i tu ati o n . F o r examp le , w hen p o u ri n g a gl as s o f c hamp agn e y o u n o ti c e feed bac k . Y o u n o ti c e w hen the c hamp agn e lev el i s n eari n g the to p o f the gl as s an d s o y ou begi n to s to p p o u ri n g the w i n e. If y o u d i dn ' t n o tic e thi s then y ou mi ght c o n ti n u e p ou ri n g the w i n e an d the w ho le s y s tem ru n s ou t o f c o n tro l. In fac t, n o ti c i n g thi n gs i s the bas is of c o n tro lli n g thi n gs . T hi s c hamp agn e s i tu ati o n i s an examp le o f a " feed bac k s y s tem" . No ti c i n g an d meas u ri n g fe ed bac k i n s y s tems i n o rd er to c o n tro l tho s e s ys tems is w hat c y bern eti c s i s all abo u t. No t i c i n g the feed bac k c reated by y o u r thi n ki n g, i n o rd er to c o n tro l i t, i s w hat c o gn i ti v e c y bern eti c s o r c o gn eti c s i s all abo u t. Cybernetics Du ri n g
W W II,
Mas s ac hu s etts
D r.
No rb ert
In s ti tu te
of
W ei n er
( Pro fes s o r
T ec hn olo gy )
i n v en ted
of
Math emati c s
c y bern eti cs ,
as
at a
MIT bo d y
of
mathemati c s to he lp an ti - ai rc raft tec hn o lo gy an d als o to he lp o u r u n d ers t an d i n g o f men tal ac ts v i a fo rmal s y s tems an aly s i s .
82 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T he mai n p ro b lem w i th an ai rp lan e as a ta rge t w as tha t i t mo v ed . Cy bern eti c s w o rk ed by n o ti ci n g the "d egree o f mi s s " betw een an ac k - ack s hell and the ai rp lan e targ et an d feed i n g bac k that i n fo rmati o n to the w eap o n s o that an immed i ate ad j u s tmen t c o u ld be mad e an d then firi n g an o ther s hell . T hi s lo o p w o u ld b e q u ic k ly rep eated man y ti mes allo w i n g the w eap o n to "ed u c atei ts elf" an d c lo s e i n o n i ts target . T h i s gav e the w eap o n i ts c harac te ri s ti c ac k - ac k ac k - ac k - ack - ac k - ac k fi ri n g s equ enc e. F i re feed bac k fi re feed bac k fi re f ee d bac k fi re feed bac k fi re feed bac k fi re feed bac k e tc etc u n ti l i t c lo s ed in o n i ts target. Feedback Loops A s w i th man y o ther ad v an c es , thi s k i n d o f tec hn o lo gy has been lar gely d ev elo p ed by mi li tary s c i en tis ts . Mi s si les w o rk the s ame w ay , w i ggli n g to thei r tar get by u si n g heat s en s o rs to lo c ate the ta rge t' s en gi n e an d n o ti ci n g the feed bac k i n o rd er to mak e a ru d d er o r ro c k et ad j u s tmen t. No ti c i n g the feed bac k i s the c en tral ac ti v i ty that al lo w s the mi s s i le to reac h i ts go al. T he Pat ri o t mi s s i les u s ed in the fi rs t w ar i n Iraq s ho w ed ho w thi s tec hn o lo gy had been d ev elo p ed to s u c h an ex trao rd i n ary d eg ree by the U SA ' s Sta r W a rs p r o j ec t. T he Patri o t' s ab i li ty to c atc h Sc u d mis si les i n the ai r is ro u ghly equ i v alent to y o u d ri v i n g alo n g at 10 0 k p h an d p lu c ki ng a s i n gle blad e o f gras s , p rev i o u s ly p ai n ted red , as y o u go by . T hi s ki n d o f ad v an c ed Star W ars c y bern eti c tec hn o lo gy may be us ed i n the fu tu re to s hi eld p lan et E arth fro m meteo rs w hi c h are an i n c reas i n g w o rry to s c i en tis ts . Meteo rs remai n j u s t as s eri o u s a threat to li fe o n the p lan et to d ay as the y w ere to o u r J u ras s i c an c es to rs . Cy bern eti c s i s all abo u t s erv o - mec ha n i s ms , go al- s eek i n g behav i o u r, feed b ac k lo o p s , p o s i ti v e and n egati v e feed b ac k s y s tems , s elf- s tabi li zi n g s y s tems , ho meo s tas i s and the c o n tro l o f s y s tems , an d ho w they mi ght ap p ly to bi o lo gi c al o r mec han i c al s y s tems . T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K IN G . . . F E ED B A C K . . . T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K IN G . . . F E ED B A C K . . . T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K IN G . . . F E ED B A C K . . .
83 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K I N G
Edward de Bono A ltho u gh p o p u larly k n o wn fo r hi s i nven ti o n o f the term lateral thi n k i n g, n o w i n the Oxfo rd Di c ti o n ary , E d w ard d e B o n o ' s mo s t i n teres ti n g i d ea i s that w ri tten u p i n his 1967 bo o k T he Mec han i s m o f Mi n d . De B o n o fo llo w s on fro m MIT Pro fes s o r No rbert W i en er' s i d ea that the brai n mu s t be an in fo rmati o n - p ro c ess in g mac hi ne an d the w ay i t " min d s" s ho u ld be cap able o f bei n g exp res s ed i n in fo rmati o n al ter ms . The Brain as a Body System Dr de Bono, was Professor of Investigative Medicine at Cambridge in England. He was an expert in body systems. In The Mechanism of Mind, which he wrote over thirty years ago, Edward de Bono builds a model of how the brain, as an organ of the body, is very likely to operate as mind. T hi s mo d el s ho w s ho w the brai n s y s tem, by o p erati n g alo n g th e li n es o f o ther bo d y s y s tems li k e the li v er s y s tem o r lu n g s y s tem c an p ro d u c e a mi n d , a bi o lo gi c al s y s tem to p ro c es s i n fo rmati o n . B y s ho w i n g ho w the brai n o p erates as a s elfo rgan i zi n g, p atte rn i n g s y s tem d e B o no s aw the n eed to p ro mo te l ate ral t hi n k i n g as a c o mp en s ati on mec hani s m fo r s o me of the li mi tati o n s o f the brai n /mi n d pattern i n g s y s tem. Cognetics Co gn i ti v e c y bern eti c s - c o gn eti cs - is abo u t the p rac ti c al ap p li c ati o n o f c ybern eti c s i n c o gni ti v e sc i enc e w hi c h i s the s ci en c e o f i n fo rmati o n p ro c es si n g, i n animals an d mac hi n es . In the W es tern w o rld w e a re hi s to ri c ally mo re c o n c ern ed w i th j u d gemen t than w i th mo v emen t. W e a re mo r e c o n c ern ed w i th " ri ghtn es s " than w i th effec ti v en es s . Other c u ltu res , li k e J ap an , are mo re c o n c er n ed w i th the PROCE SS than the res u l t. T hi s o ften gi v es them a b i g ad v an tage o v er u s . E ffec ti v en es s is reac hi n g an altern ati n g
balan c e
betw een
tho u g ht- bas ed
ac ti o n
an d
ac ti o n- bas ed
tho u ght.
T hi n k in g F eed b ac k T hin k in g F eed bac k T hi nk i n g F eed bac k T hi nk i n g F eed bac k T hi n k in g etc .
84 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A s an exp eri men t try po u ri n g a glass o f w in e wi tho u t getti n g an y feed bac k , w i th y o u r ey es c lo s ed ? W hat hap p en ed ? H o w els e c an y o u get feed bac k ev en w i th y o u r ey es c lo s ed ? Who was a Noticer? Geo rge Gallu p fo u n d ed the Gallu p Po ll at P ri n c eto n , New J ers ey , w hi c h bec ame the w o rld ' s fi rs t sy s tem to o bj ec ti v ely an d sc i en ti fi c ally meas u re - that is , to n o ti c e p u bli c and c us to mer o p i ni o n . H e w as als o the i n v en to r o f mark et res ea rc h an d the u lti mate s av i o u r o f the c u s to mer . T he v ery exi s ten c e o f the Ga llu p Po l l has c han ged fo rev er the fu tu re o f t h e hu man rac e. T h e Ga llu p Po l l mak es i t i n c rea s i n gly d i ffi c u lt fo r i n d i vi d u als to c lai m " I- amri ght" , to c lai m they alo n e "k n o w what' s bes t" fo r the p u bli c n o w that ac c u rate s c i en ti fi c meas u remen t o f the p u bli c /c u s to mer v i ew p o in t i s p o s si ble. E xamp le: Th e f i rs t a nd o nly re p re se nt a t ive s u rve y o f Ba g hda d re s i de nt s ' vi e ws a bo u t t he wa r, o cc u p a ti o n, a nd t he i r fu t u re . In p o s si bly the mo s t c hallen gi n g p ro j ec t in Gallu p ' s hi s to ry , 1,178 p eo p le i n Iraq' s c ap i tal w ere in terv i ew ed i n A u gu s t 2 0 0 3 w i th res earc hers c o nd u c tin g hou r- lo n g, i n - p ers on in terv i ew s on all man n er o f to p i c s cu rren tly affec ti n g B a ghd ad i s . The vo i c es o f B a g hda d's ci t i ze ns ha ve no t be e n he a rd - - u nt i l no w. Gallu p ' s mi s s i on i s to rep o rt the o p i n i o ns o f B aghd ad ' s c i ti zen s to d ay - - an d to mo rro w .
T h e 2 0 0 3 Gallu p Po ll o f B ag hd ad w i ll p ro v i d e
ben c hmark fi n di n gs that en able lead ers to gau ge ho w d ip lo mati c p o li c i es an d c u ltu ral i n flu en c es are affec ti n g B ag h d ad i s ' vi ew s . Power to the People, Power to the Customer A s i n v en to r o f ma rk et res earc h an d t he Gal lu p Po l l, Pro fes s o r Geo rge Gal l u p has s o emp o w ered the p u b li c v i ew p o i n t that I beli ev e hi s i n v en ti on may be the gre ates t ac t o f d emo c rac y ev er p erfo rmed b y an y sc i en ti s t. His
res earc h
c o v ered
the
fi eld s
o f:
H ealth;
Reli gi o n ;
Po li ti c s ;
J ou rn ali s m;
A d v erti s in g; E n tertai n men t; B u s in ess ; E d u c ati on an d H u man T hin k in g. It c an be s ai d that n o o ther p ers o n in his to ry has ev er had the o p p o rtu n i ty to n oti c e an d rec o rd the v i ew s o f s o man y hu man s o n s o man y as p ec ts o f thei r exi s ten ce, an d i n
85 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s o man y p arts o f thei r w o rld ! Teaching Thinking A les s er k n o wn si d e o f Dr Gallu p w as hi s in teres t i n hu mans an d the fac tors w hi c h i n flu en c e thei r o p i ni o ns , atti tu d es , thi n k in g an d as pi rati o n s . H e to ld me " teac hi n g p eo p le to thi n k fo r thems elv es w as th e mo s t i mp o rtan t thi n g i n the w o rld t o d o ." B o rn in J effers o n , Io w a, i n 190 0 , he atten d ed the U n i v ers i ty o f Io w a and s p en t ten y ears as a teac her the re an d at Drak e , No rthw es tern , an d Co lu mbi a u n i v ers i ti es . H e had a s tro n g i n teres t i n ed u c ati o n an d w hat c o u ld be d on e to i mp ro v e i t. H e had mo re than ten ho n o rary Do c to rat e D egrees f ro m c o lle ges an d u n i v ers i ti es aro u n d the w o rld . Geo r ge d i ed at hi s Sw i tzerl an d ho me i n 198 4. Notice the CVS A s my men to r, Pro fes s o r Ga llu p help ed w i th the d es i gn o f c o gn eti c s by imp res s i n g u p o n me the n eed to meas u re o r n o ti c e the C VS ( Cu r ren t Vi ew o f the Si tu at i o n ) as a bas i s fo r mo v i n g to the B VS ( B etter Vi ew o f the Si tu ati o n ) . W e w i ll exp lo re thi s fu rthe r i n c o mi n g c hap ters . Dr Ga llu p ' s w o rk , alo n g w i th that o f W ei n er, d e B o n o an d o thers , s tan d s as o n e o f the fi rs t g rea t examp les o f the p rac t i c al ap p li c ati o n o f the n ew fi eld o f c o gn i ti v e s c i enc e. Your Own Gallup Poll Question It c an c o s t aro u n d $U S2 0 ,00 0 to hav e a Gallu p Po ll c o n d uc ted o n ju s t on e qu es ti o n . If y o u c o u ld hav e a Gallu p Po ll c o n du c ted , w hat o n e qu es ti on w o u ld y o u as k ? W hy w o u ld y o u as k this q u es ti on ?
How to Notice Things T he mai n p o i n t abo u t n o tic i n g i s this: try to n o ti c e tho s e thin gs that y o u hav e NOT Y E T n o ti c ed . It' s eas y to n o ti c e the i n fo rmati o n th at s u p p o rts o u r CVS, o u r Cu rren t Vi ew o f the Si tu ati o n . It' s d i ffi c u lt to n o ti c e the i n fo rmati o n that fa lls o u ts i d e o u r CV S an d s o that' s exac tly w hy an d w here w e mu s t mak e a d eli bera te att emp t to n o ti c e thi n gs .
86 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Opposite Direction Su p p o s e y o u ' re lo o k i n g no rth. On c e y o u bec o me aw are o f the fac t , o n c e y o u n o ti c e i t, then y o u c an d eli berately c ho o s e to lo o k s o u th. Lo o k i n g i n the o pp o s i te d i rec ti o n i s o n e p lac e to n o ti c e thi n gs . T ry lo o k i n g i n d i rec ti o ns that y o u ar e n o t y e t lo o k i n g i n . W here are y o u lo o k i n g n o w ? W here c o u ld y o u be lo o k i n g n ow ? Mistakes Mi s tak es are a u s efu l thi n g to n o ti ce. Mi s tak e- p ho bi ac s are s o afrai d o f mi s tak es that they c an ' t bea r to n o ti c e them. T hey c an ' t s ee that a mi s tak e i s an o pp o rtu n i ty to mak e an app ro p ri ate ad j u s tment. T hey c an ' t c op e wi th mi s tak es . Mi s tak ep ho bi ac s are alw ay s " ri ght" . "Nothing is more dangerous than the certainty that one is right." writes Franois Jacob, winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, "Nothing is potentially so destructive as the obsession with a truth one considers absolute. All crimes in history have been the result of fanaticism of one type or another. All massacres have been carried out in the name of virtue, of true religion, of legitimate nationalism, of proper policy, of right ideology: in short, in the name of the fight against somebody else's truth." ~ The Logic of Life, Penguin 1989. It' s i mp o rtan t to b e abl e to n o ti c e mi s tak es i n o rd er to be able to c o rr ec t t hem an d mo v e o n . ( OK , mo v e o n .) T o d o thi s ef fec ti v ely o n e n eed s to be o bj ec ti v e ra t her th an d es tru c ti v e, to be c reati v e rathe r tha n j u d gemen tal. T ry n o ti c i n g mis tak es that y o u hav e n o t y et n o tic ed . Co rrec t them an d mo v e o n . " F ai lu re i s on ly the o pp o rtu n i ty to mo re i n telli gen tly be gi n agai n ," s ai d H en ry F o rd .
Future Consequences F u tu re c o n s equ en c es c an be the mo s t d i ffi c u lt thi n gs to n o ti c e es pec i ally i n ad v an c e, w hi c h i s o n e o f the b es t ti mes to n o ti c e them . T hi s i s a bi t o f a p arad o x. H o w c an w e n o ti c e a c o n s eq u en c e that has n o t y et hap p en ed ? H o w c an w e n o ti c e the fu tu re? A c tu ally w e d o i t ev e ry ti me w e ri d e a s k atebo a rd , ap p ly mak e- u p o r u s e a c hai n s aw . B y n o tic i n g po ten ti al c o n s equ enc es w e c an av oi d them i n ad v an c e, i f w e w i s h. T he mo s t d i ffi c u lt c o n s equ enc es to n oti c e i n ad v an c e are the lo n g- ter m o n es . If I d o
87 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s u c h- and - su c h w hat w i ll hap p en in ten y ears ? In tw en ty y ears ? A s the man y p o ss i b le fu tu res hu rtle to w ard s u s at an ev er- i n c reas i n g rat e w e w i ll hav e to g et bet ter an d bette r at n o t i c i n g lo n g- term c o n s equ enc es s o that w e c an c ho o s e the fu tu res w e w an t to be i n . Last Chance to Choose a Safe Future W e are c u rren tly d es tro y i n g the w o rld ' s fo res ts at the rate o f an ac re p er sec o n d . In ten y ears , mo s t o f the ea rth' s o xy ge n p ro d u ci n g fo res ts w i ll be go n e i f w e d o n ' t n o ti c e the lo n g- term c o n s equ en c es and mak e s o me bi g c han ges . W e hav e alread y d es tro y ed three- qu arte rs o f A u s trali a' s tro p i c al rai n fo res ts an d abo u t tw o - thi rd s o f the res t o f o u r f o res ts . W e hav e mad e a ho le i n o u r p ro tec ti v e o zo n e lay er al read y the s i ze o f Mo u n t E v eres t. Can ad i an sc i en tis t Dav i d Su zu k i , Pro fes s o r o f Gen eti c s at the U n i v ers i ty o f B ri ti s h Co lu mbi a, s ay s " W e are t he l as t gen e rati o n w ho w i ll hav e an y s ay o n the fu tu re o f o u r p lan et, b ec au s e after o u r li feti me i t w i ll all be go n e." If w e are to mak e the n ec es s ary ad j us tmen ts to o u r c u rren t behav i o u r, to en s u re a s afe fu tu re , w e w i ll hav e to get mu c h be tte r at n o ti c in g the fu tu re c o n s equ en c es o f o u r c u rren t behav i o u r. T ry n o ti c i n g fu tu re c o n s equ en c es that y o u hav e n o t y et n o ti c ed .
Why notice things? W hat w o u ld hap p en i f y o u d id n ' t n o ti c e thi n gs ? U su ally w hen w e d o n ' t n o ti c e s o methi n g w e mak e a mi s tak e . W hen w e d o n ' t n o ti c e the mi s tak e, w e mak e an o ther mi s tak e. A n d s o on . H o w ev er w hen we d o n o ti c e the mis tak e, then w e c an ad ap t o r ad j u s t i n s o me w ay an d then p ro c eed . ST A RT - DO - NOT ICE - TH INK - SDNT SDNT . Input Y o u hav e tw o ears an d o n e mou th so u s e them in that p ro p o rti o n - s o the s ay i n g go es . A n d y es , ears are c ertai n ly go o d fo r i n pu t, fo r n o ti c in g. E y es co me i n hand y . T he to n gu e an d the n o s e w o rk w ell togethe r. A n d , an ass o rtmen t o f fi n gers an d to es p lay thei r p art . W e d o hav e aro u n d fi v e i n p u t s en s es , w e are to ld , an d the s e are a ll u s efu l fo r n o ti c in g. Ou r exp eri en c e, pattern s bu i lt u p ov er the y ears , c an help u s to
88 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN n o ti c e thi n gs and , o f c o u rs e, they c an als o hi n d er u s in n o ti ci n g thi n gs . Habits of Noticing W e c an u s e rep eti ti o n to d ev elo p s p ec i al habi ts o f n o ti c i n g. In a ro o m, a c arp en ter hab i tu ally n o ti c es w o o d en thi n gs an d ho w p o o rly they are mad e. A bu s i n es s man n o ti c es bu s in es s o pp o rtu n i ti es i n a si tu ati o n . A law y er n o tic es lo o p ho les , a s o ld i er n o ti c es ... w hat d o es a s o ld i er n o ti c e? Skill and Training A c tu ally , the fi rs t ti me I w as fo rmally tau ght to exp an d my n o ti c in g s ki lls w as i n my army i n fan try trai n i n g. In tho s e Vi et n am d ay s , w e w ere tau ght ho w to n o ti c e thi n gs i n the j u n gle that w e had n ' t y et n o ti c ed . Shap e, s hi n e, s i lho u ette, s i ze, s o u n d ( I s ti ll remembe r) . T hro u gh p r ac ti c e d ri lls an d fi eld exe rc i s es w e w ere tau ght to n o ti c e bo o by trap s , thi n w i res , p an j i p i ts an d the o ther hi d d en d eli ghts o f j un gle w arfa re n o t n o ti c eable to the u n trai n ed ci vi li an ey e. W e w ere tau ght to exp an d o u r ran ge o f v i s i on fro m aro u n d 90 d egrees to 18 0 d egrees . W e w e re t au ght to n o ti c e thi n gs at n i ght - n i ght v i s i on .
H o w man y i n pu t p o rts d o es y o u r n ec k to p hav e? H o w w el l d o y o u n o ti c e thi n gs ? H o w w ell c o u ld y o u n o ti c e thin gs ? W hat d i d y o u d o to d ay to i n c reas e y ou r n o ti c in g s k i lls ? W hat w i ll y o u d o to mo r ro w to i n c reas e y o u r n o ti c i n g s ki lls ? Do es i t matt er? W hy ? Distractions So meti mes w e d o n ' t n o ti c e thi n gs bec au s e w e bec o me d i s trac ted . M agi c i an s u s e thi s p ri n c ip le s o y ou w o n ' t n o ti c e ho w they d o thei r magi c tri c k . B u t s o meti mes w e bec o me d i s trac ted fo r o the r re as o n s . T en w ay s y ou c an d eal w i th d is trac ti o n s :
1.
Y i eld to them then s en d them o n thei r w ay
2.
B reathe them o u t - rel ax, tak e a d eep breath an d s lo w ly exhale i magi n i n g the d i s trac ti o n to be leav i ng y o u r bo d y as y o u breathe o u t.
89 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
3.
Ign o re t he d i s trac ti o n
4.
Co n c en trate o n emp tyi n g y o u r min d , ei ther w i th a bro o m o r remo v i n g the d i s trac ti o n w i th a v ac u u m c lean er.
5.
Say NO to the d i s trac ti o n .
6.
Say Y E S to the d i s trac ti o n an d let i t bec o me the n ew fo c u s o f y o u r atten ti o n .
7.
Vi s u ali s e y o u r min d lik e a blac k bo ard w here the d i s trac ti o n is c halk ed . No w , w i p e i t c lean .
8.
Imagi n e c o llec ti n g u p an y d i s trac ti o n s i n y ou r han d , c ru mp le th em an d then thro w them aw ay .
9.
Imagi n e to s s i n g the di s trac ti o n i n to a fas t- flo w i n g s tream an d let them b e c ar ri ed o ff.
10.
If n ec es s ary , y o u c an try s ev eral c o mbi n ati o ns o f thes e s u gges ti o n s .
90 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
What is thinking? T hi s qu es ti on c o u ld k eep a ro o m fu ll o f p hi lo s o p hers hap p y fo r a hu n d red y ears . B u t i n the Sc ho o l o f T hi nk i n g w e are no t c o n c ern ed w i th thin k in g as c on temp lati o n , p hi lo s o p hi c al d is c us s i on o r ac ad emi c d es c ri p ti on , w e are c o n c ern ed wi th thi n k i n g as an op erati n g s k i ll - the k in d o f thin k i n g that gets thi n gs d o n e. T he d efin i ti o n w e u s e i s: T hi n ki n g i s the s ki ll o f u s i n g in telli gen c e to ge t thi n gs d o n e. Thinking vs Doing? T o man y p eo p le T H INK ING i s the o p p o s i te o f DOI NG. T hey s et t hes e tw o ac ti v i ti es u p as mu tu ally exc lu si v e o pp o si tes in thei r mi n d . Wi th p rac ti c e, ho w ev er, y o u c an d ev elo p y o u r abi li ty to u s e thi n ki n g as a s k i ll, j u s t li k e y o u c an d ev elo p c o o k i n g, go lf, l ead ers hi p , p ai n ti n g, ac ti n g o r ai k i d o . A ll hu man sk i lls c an be learn ed o r d ev elo p ed . Pau l Mac Cre ad y , i n v en to r o f the Go ssamer A lbatro s s an d the father o f man - p o w ered fli ght o n c e w ro te to me f ro m Cali fo rn i a: " W hen fi rs t w atc hi n g a Sc ho o l o f T hi n k in g c las s i n ac ti on , I w as am azed that s o methi n g s o s i mp le and s o mu c h fun c o u ld be s o qu ic k and effec ti v e in d ev elo p i n g a p ers o n 's " thin k in g mu sc le" . W e all, as i n d i vi d u als an d as c aretak e rs o f o u r p rec i o u s earth, n eed thes e thi n k i n g sk i lls " . Dr Mac C read y ' s metap ho r o f thi n k ing as a ' mu s c le' i s a go o d o n e. It' s better th an the o ld - fas hi o n ed id ea o f thi n ki n g as a ' gi ft' . If thi n k i n g i s o n ly a gi ft, th ere' s n o t mu c h y o u c an d o ab o u t i t. B u t, i f i t' s mo re li k e a mu s c le then there' s a lo t y o u c an d o to d ev elo p y o u r thi n k in g p o w er. T hat' s w hy w e lo o k at thi n k i n g as a s k i ll. W e w an t to he lp y o u en han c e y o u r s k i ll an d d ev elo p y o u r in tellec tu al c ap i tal. T he go al i s to reac h an altern ati n g balan c e betw een tho u ght- bas ed ac ti o n an d ac ti o n - bas ed tho u ght.
91 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Thought-Based Action:THINK-START-DO. T ho u ght- bas ed ac ti o n i s the ki n d o f ac ti o n that' s bas ed o n thi n ki n g. F o r examp le, y o u are read i n g a magazi n e an d y o u read abo u t a s to ry s et i n the Greek i s lan d o f Patmo s . Y o u s tar t to thi n k ab o u t the Greek i s lan d s an d d ec id e y o u w an t to ac tu ally go ther e. Y o u fi gu re o u t a p lan , y o u fi nd o u t abo u t c o s ts fo r fares etc , y o u s et a d ate an d y o u fi n ally go an d v i s i t Patmo s an d the Greek i s lan d s . Y o u tho u ght s o methi n g o u t, go t s tarted an d then d i d i t - t ho u ght- ba s ed ac ti o n : T H INK - ST A RT- DO. T hi s i s ho w I c ame to v i s i t Patmo s i n the s u mmer o f ' 8 4. Action-Based Thought: DO-NOTICE-THINK. A c ti o n- bas ed tho u ght i s the k i nd o f thi n k in g that' s bas ed o n ac ti on . F o r examp le, a c u s to mer w alk s i n to a s to re an d the s ales p ers o n s ay s " Can I help yo u ? " . T he c u s to mer then s ay s , " No than k s , j u s t lo o k i n g" then p i ro u ettes an d w alk s o u t o f the s to re. Mo s t s a les p eo p le k eep mak i n g the s ame mi s tak e d ay - afte r- d ay , w eek - afterw eek , y ear- aft er- y ear . B u t the thi n k i n g s ales p ers o n mi ght say to hers elf s o methi n g li k e thi s " W hen ev er a c u s to mer w alk s i n to a s to re an d I as k i f I c an help them I n o ti c e that u s u al ly d ri v es them bac k o u t o f the s to r e. May be I c an thi n k o f s o me o ther thi n g I c o u l d d o that w o u ld n o t hav e that eff ec t. W hat c o u ld I d o i n s tead ? " A c ti on - bas ed thou ght: DONOT ICE - T H INK . The Alternating Balance T he s k i lled thi n k er c an alt ern ate a balan c e betw een tho u ght- bas ed ac ti o n an d ac ti o n - bas ed tho u ght, betw een T H IN K - ST A RT - DO an d DO- NOT ICE - T H IN K . T hi s is w hat c o gn eti c s i s all abo u t - ac ti o n bas ed o n n o ti c in g feed bac k , an d feed b ac k b as ed o n n o ti ci n g ac ti on - SDNT = ST A RT -DO- NOT ICE - T H INK c o n ti n u i n g in a co n ti n u ou s s eri es o f lo o ps o r a k i nd o f c o gn eti c s s p i ral o n i n to the fu tu re, exp lo ri n g the c o gn o s , the v as t u n i v ers e o f p o s si b le tho u ghts .
92 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
The Cognetics Spiral
START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK Spiralling on into the cognos
St a rt D o N o t i c e Thi nk , o r i ts tri gger c o d e SD N T, i s a p o w erfu l s earc h en gi n e fo r y o u r n ec k to p that w i ll en ab le the b rai n u s er to ap p ro ac h an y s i tu ati o n , an y p ro blem, an y op p o rtu n i ty w i th c o n fi d en c e. T o be d o u bly n egati v e, there i s n o si tu ati o n that c an ' t be man aged b y SD N T:
1. F i rs t y o u St a rt . T hi s i s lik e s w i tc hi n g the n ec k to p fro m OF F to O N 2. T hen y o u D o ... s o methi n g .. . an y thi ng 3. T hen y o u No t ic e the feed bac k fro m y o u r ac ti o ns , c arefu lly an d o bj ec ti v ely
4. T hen y o u Thi nk . W hat hap p en ed ? W hat w ere t he c o n s equ en c es ? W hat d i d I li k e abo u t them? W hat d i d n ' t I li k e abo u t them?
5. T hen rep eat 1 - 5 . T hi s is exp lo ri n g, an d o ff y o u go agai n SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT ... on into the future, surfing the cognos.
93 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
What if ...? Thinking On e o f the mo s t famo u s u s ers o f the " w hat i f ...? " ty p e o f thi n k i n g w as a y o u n g thi n k er, a lad o f s i xteen , c alled A lb ert E i n s tei n . A t that age A lb ert w ro te to hi s u n c le w o n d erin g w hat he w o u ld s ee i f he w as s i tti n g o n a li ght beam. B y the ti me he w as tw en ty - s i x, i n 190 5, he had s o lv ed th at p ro b lem an d c han ged fo rev er the law s o f p hy s i c s an d the w ay fu tu re gen era ti o n s w o u ld u n d ers tan d the w o rld . T hi s " w hat i f ...? " thi n k i n g he c alled a ged an k en o r ' tho u ght exp eri men t' . On e o f the gr eat t hi n k er' s mo s t qu o ted s ay i n gs is , " Imagi n ati o n i s mo re i mp o rtan t than k n o w led ge." Sc i en c e ac kn o w led ges
E i ns tei n 's
tho u ght exp e ri men ts
as
amo n g the
gre ates t
tri u mp hs ev er p ro d u c ed by a hu man brai n . H i s thi nk in g feats mad e hi m famo u s , n o t j u s t in the sc i en ti fi c c o mmu n i ty , but amo n gs t the p u bli c at large. H e, i n effec t, bec ame s c i enc e' s fi rs t s up ers tar! U n ti l he d i ed in 1955 he w as alw ay s at the c en tre o f mu c h p u bli c i ty an d pu bli c in teres t. A t fi rs t he w as the ec c en tri c , the ge n i u s w ho n ev er w o re s o c k s . T hen he bec ame a lead i n g p ac i fi s t an d op p on en t o f rea rmamen t w ho s e t rad i ti o n al ed u c ati o n left hi m w i th a li felo n g s u s p i ci o n o f all fo rms o f au tho ri ty . A s the Nazi s s p read ac ro s s E u ro p e he ad v i s ed Pres i d en t Ro o s ev elt that i t w o u ld be p o s si ble to mak e an ato m b o mb. H o w ev er, w hen the bo mbs w ere ac tu all y u s ed on J ap an he i mmed i ately s o u ght the es tabli s hmen t o f a w o rld au tho ri ty th at w o u ld c o n tro l thes e w eap o n s . T o d ay , p o s ters o f A lb ert E i n s tei n are bes t s ellers . It' s en c o u ragi n g to k n o w that thes e p o s ters o f the s c i en ti s t, hu man i tari an , i n v en to r, No bel p ri ze w i n n er an d thi n k er, are s tu c k o n the w alls o f man y a teen ager' s bed ro o m alo n g w i th thei r o the r hero es o f ro c k , mo v i es an d s p o rt. Hardware and Software Li k e E i n s tein , w e al l hav e s o me p ret t y aw es o me hard w a re i n o u r tw i n - hemi s p heri c , n ec k to p c o mpu ter. Ou r p ro b lem , ho w ev er, i s th at w e ar e v ery s ho r t o n s o ft w are. T he trad i ti o n al w es tern ap p ro ac h to thin ki n g i s si mp ly reac ti v e, lo gi c al j u d gemen t - the s lap p in g o n o f the " ri ght" an d " w ro n g" labels .
94 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T hi s has alw ay s led to extrav agan t, d es tru c ti v e c las hes thro u gho u t hi s to ry an d i s ho p eles s ly i n ad equ ate fo r d es i gn i n g a s afe fu tu re i n a rap i d ly c han gi n g w o rld . In thi s trai n i n g y o u c an go bey o n d y ou r exi s ti n g lo gi c s o ftw are w i th n ew s o ftw are c alled c o gn eti c s . Logic and Cognetics If y o u w o u ld li k e to ge t a " fee l" fo r th e d i fferen c e betw een lo gi c an d c o gn eti c s ( bo th o f w hi c h are s o ftw are s y s tems d es i gned to han d le i n fo rmati o n i n the brai n) y o u c an try the fo llo w i n g s i mp le exerc i s e: E X E RCISE : T here fo llo w s tw o s ets o f w o rd s w hic h help d es c ri be the p ro c ess i n v o lv ed in eac h brai n s o ftw are - lo gi c o r c o gn eti c s . Relax fo r a mo men t a n d tak e a n i c e d eep breath, t hen rep eat the w o r d s i n c api tals s lo w ly an d ev en ly o v er an d o v er u n ti l y o u get the " feel" fo r the w ay ea c h s o ftw are han d le i ts i n fo rmati o n . Do i t fi rs t fo r lo gi c ( rep eat a b o u t 10 t i mes ) :
RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG
95 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Do i t n o w fo r c o gn eti c s ( rep eat abo u t 10 ti mes ) :
START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK
Y o u may hav e n o ti c ed that lo gi c u s es a k i n d o f labeli n g o r " mai l- s o rti n g" ap p ro ac h to d eali n g w i th i n fo rmati o n . Lo gi c r e ac ts to i n fo rmati o n u s i n g j ud gemen t bas ed o n hi s to ri c al exp eri en c e. It fi ts , i t' s ri ght; i t d o es n ' t fi t, i t' s w r o n g etc . T hi s is , o f c o u rs e, v ery u s efu l i n a s ec o n d ary w ay an d fo r lo o k i n g bac k at s tati c , theo reti c al , s i tu ati o n s . B y i ts elf, ho w ev er, i t' s to tal ly i n ad equ ate fo r d eali n g w i th mo s t flu i d , fo rw ard - lo o k i n g s i tu ati o ns i n real li fe. W i th c o gn eti c s , y o u may hav e n o tic ed a qu i te d i fferen t, o p en - en d ed , s p i ralli n g effec t as mo v emen t i s c reated ( ST A RT ... DO) an d then feed bac k i s ev alu ated ( NOT ICE . .. T H I NK ) an d fu rther mo v emen t, w i th ad j u s tmen ts bas ed o n the feed bac k i s then c o n tin u ed . Thinking is Movement T here i s n o " ri ght" w ay to thi n k . T he k ey to thi n ki n g is mo v emen t. Mo v emen t thro u gh
the
c o gn o s ,
mo v emen t
th ro u gh
thi n k - s p ac e,
mo v emen t
thro u gh
the
i d eo s p here, mo v emen t thro u gh the u n i v ers e o f p o s s i ble tho u ghts .
W hether y o u mo v e o u t o r i n o r u p o r d o w n , s i d ew ay s , bac k w ard s o r u ps id e- d o w n rev ers e p i k es , i t d o esn ' t matter. W he ther y o u tak e great l eap s , u s e s tep pi ng- s to n es ,
96 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN ran d o m p ro v o c ati o n s , lateral t hi n k i n g, fli p - a- c o i n , o r fan tas ti c i mages , i t al l w o rk s . W hether y o u u s e i n tu i ti o n , alp ha- v is u ali s ati o ns , T M, taro t c a rd s , I- Chi n g, ru n es , p ray er, au to - s u gges ti o n , c o gn eti c s , hy p o theti c als , s c i en ti fi c metho d , p ro fes s i o n al c o u n s elli n g, n et s u rfi n g o r " as k the o rac le" - i t all ad d s u p to mo v emen t. T he es s en ti al k ey i n thi nk i n g i s mo vemen t - es c ap e fro m y o u r CVS . On c e y o u hav e mo v emen t, y o u get feed b ac k and , as w e hav e s een , i t's this no ti c in g feed bac k w hi ch i s the es s en ti al i n gred i en t fo r fu rther thi n k i n g, w hi c h is to s ay , s u rfi n g the c o gn o s . Thought Experiment: A T ho u ght E xp eri men t i s an exp erimen t y o u c arry o u t i n y ou r brai n , u s i n g o n ly thi n k i n g - y o u r i magi n ati o n . F o r exa mp le, y o u c o u ld i magi n e w hat w o u ld hap p en i f c i garettes w ere s qu are an d n o t ro u n d . Y o u thin k i t thro u gh an d i magi n e the c o n s equ en c es and p o ss i b i li ti es an d outc o mes .
SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK
97 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
The Universal Brain Software - CVSTOBVS A fter lo o k i n g a t SD NT w e n o w tu rn t o CVST OB VS. T hi s u n i v ers al brai n s o ftw are i s the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g’s #1 k ey to better thi n k i n g. CVST OB VS i s a p o w erfu l p erc ep ti o n s wi tc h. It allo w s the brai n u s er to thi n k o u ts i d e the s qu are. CVSTOBVS - Cognetics Operating System
CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION
" I w o u ld lo v e to hav e a man ag emen t t eam that rea lly u n d ers to o d the CVST OB VS equ ati o n . It' s the v alu e ad d ed ro le i n the man agemen t p ro c es s ." ~ J a c k We lc h, C hai r m a n. Ge ne ra l Ele c t ric The Cognetics Operating System T he Co gn eti c s Op erati n g Sy s tem is the Sc ho o l o f T hi n ki n g' s p remi u m s o ftw are p res en ted to y o u in thi s trai n i n g and i s rep res en ted by the c o d e: CVSTOB VS. It' s als o the mo s t p o w erfu l an d i s n ec es s ari ly s o .
CVST OB VS i s a u n i v ers al b rai n s o ftw are. It w o rk s w ell i n bo th an i mal an d mac hi n e
98 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN brai n s . Y o u c an teac h CVST OB VS thi n k in g to y o u r c at, y o u r p u pp y , y ou r to d d ler o r y o u r lap to p . In hu man s , fo r examp le, i t en abl es the brai n u s er to u p grad e fro m lo gi c , th e exi s ti n g p ri mary thi n k in g s o ftw are, an d to allo w lo gi c to tak e i ts us efu l p lac e as a s ec o n d ary s o ftw are p ac k age. T he CVST OB VS s w i tc h en ab les y o u to c han ge c o gn i ti v e p attern s ... o n c o mman d . From CVS to BVS; or CVS2BVS. CVS2 B VS i s als o y o u r mai n an ti d o te to PT V, the P lato T ru th Vi ru s . It i s bas ed o n the U n i v ers al Law o f T hi n k i n g. Beyond Logic 50 0 y ears ago Co lu mb u s s et s ai l. T he T alav e ra Co mmi s s i o n rep o rted to Qu een Is abella o n Co lu mb u s ' i d ea - to reac h J ap an in the E as t by s ai li n g W es t an d to d i s c ov er o ther lan d s en ro u te - that the ad v en tu re w as " u nc ertai n an d i mpo s s i ble to an y ed u c ated p ers on ." T hey to ld the qu een that the p ro p o s ed v o y age w o u ld tak e three y ears . E v en i f the s hi p s c o u ld retu rn , w hi c h w as hi ghly u n li k ely , the c o mmis s i on rep o rted i t w o u ld be a w as ted exp ed i ti o n , " fo r Go d w o u ld s u rely n o t hav e allo w ed an y un in habi ted lan d o f real v alu e to b e c o n c ealed f ro m H i s p eo p le fo r s o man y c en tu ri es ." T he exp erts s c o rn ed his p ro j ec t. B u t Co lu mbu s d id s et s ai l. T hi rty - three d ay s later he d i s c o v ered half th e w o rld ! I hav e a lw ay s tho u ght th at Co lu mbu s w as a v ery c lev er brai n u s er.
Unique rightness B as ed s o lely o n thei r ac c u mu lated exp eri en c e, the exp er ts p o i n ted o u t that the A d mi ral' s mis si o n w as hard ly a lo gi c al o n e bec aus e hi s mathemati c s w ere w ro n g. So i f hi s mathemati c s w ere w ro n g th eref o re Co lu mbu s w as w ro n g. T hey w er e c o n v i nc ed
99 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN o f the s o u n d n ess o f thei r lo gi c . Y et i f all o u r thi n k i n g an d ac ti o ns w ere bas ed o n ly o n the " u n i qu e ri ghtn ess " o f o u r o w n exp eri en c e, then p ro gres s w o u ld be s lo w o r i mp os si ble. T here c o u ld be n o ro o m fo r
i n s i ght,
q u an tu m
leap s ,
o uts i d e- the- s qu are- thi n ki n g,
or
the
E u rek a
p hen o men o n . T here c o u ld b e no ro o m fo r hu mo u r. T he re c o u ld be n o ro o m fo r hu mi li ty . So meti mes exp erts u s e thei r exp e ri en c e n o t to exp lo re the fu tu re, bu t merely to p ro tec t the p as t. Man y an exp er t arri v es at a s i tu ati o n an d fo rms a n i n s tan t j u d gemen t. T hi s i s bas ed on hi s un i qu e bac k gro u n d , hi s p ers o n al exp ec tati o n s , hi s v alu es , hi s mo o d , hi s agen d a an d o ther fac to rs . H e s ees thin gs in a c ertai n w ay an d mak es a sn ap j u d gemen t bas ed o n his c u rren t p erc ep ti o n s . If he i s u s i n g lo gi c as hi s mai n c o gn i ti v e o p erati n g s ys tem, t he exp ert o ften u s es hi s exp erti s e, n o t as a bas i s to exp lo re t he s i tu ati o n , bu t mere ly to bac k u p an d s u pp o rt hi s s n ap j u d gemen t, an d , to k eep hi ms elf ' ri ght' . It s eems that the mo re exp ert thi n k ers are, the bett er they are abl e to d efen d thei r p o i n t- o f-v i ew s o they get trap p ed i n i t by thei r o wn exp erti s e. T hey c an no t es c ap e thei r CVS , thei r Cu rren t Vi ew o f the S i tu ati o n . No w I k n o w thi s n ev er happ en s to y ou , d ear brai n u s er, ( w i n k ! ) bu t y o u 'v e p ro bably s een o ther p eo p le fall i n to thi s ho le . A n d , i t' s a v ery d an gero u s o n e to fall i n to . T he thi n k er, the c l ev er b rai n u s er, mi ght tak e a d i fferen t ap p ro ac h to a p r o p o s i ti on p res en ted to hi m o r he r. She w o u l d u s e her exp eri en c e, w he ther thi n o r qu i te fo rmi d able, to p ro v i d e an i n fo rm ati o n bas i s fo r exp lo ri n g the i d ea. Sh e m ay n o ti c e w hat s he thi n k s i s go o d ab o u t i t, an d w hat s he thi n k s i s bad abo u t i t. T hen , s he may d eli berately s et o u t to n o ti c e ho w i t c o u ld be i mp ro v ed , p erhap s to lead to an ev en better i d ea , a B ette r Vi ew o f the Si tu a ti o n . T o help y o u d o thi s w e u s e a li tt le s w i tc h c alled C VS- T O- B VS. T h e s w i tc h i s s i mp ly a n eu ro w are d ev i c e fo r p ro g rammi n g c o gn eti c s i n to yo u r s ho rt term me mo ry . It tak es j u s t o n e s ec o n d to u s e thi s sw i tc h, to s ay CVS- T O- B VS. If y o u w i l l p rac ti c e
100 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN thi s s w i tc h fo r ten d ay s i t w i ll bec ome a habi t an d bec o me a p erman en t p i ec e o f n eu ro w are i n y o u r n ec k to p . A fter ten d ay s , y o u ' ll hav e i t fo rev er . The Law of Cognetics T he Law o f Co gn eti c s i s a u n i v ers al law o f thi n k i n g. It i s s tated as fo llo w s : t he C u r re nt Vi e w o f t he Si t u a t io n c a n ne ve r be e qu a l t o t he B e t t e r Vi e w o f t he Si t u a ti o n J u s t thi nk abo u t that fo r ten s ec o n ds. See i f i t mak es an y s ens e to y o u and w hether y o u c an emb rac e the law o r w heth er y o u c an' t. Say i t to y o u rs elf o u t lo u d an d s ee ho w y o u reac t to i t: t he C u r re nt Vi e w o f t he Si t u at i o n (C VS) c a n ne ve r be e qu a l t o t he B et t e r Vi e w of t he Si t u a ti o n (B VS) Do y o u hav e an y tro u b le w i th thi s law ? T hi s i s really the mo s t i mp o rtan t law fo r thi n k i n g. T he mo re y o u c an bri n g c o nv i c ti o n i n to thi s , the mo re i t' ll w o rk f o r y o u . T o s i mp li fy this y o u s i mp ly s ay : C VS c a n ne ve r be e qu a l t o B VS C VS ≠ B VS
Antidote to PTV T hi s un i v ers al law o f thi n k in g - C VS ≠ B VS - i s a s tro n g an ti d o te to PT V an d I w i ll s ho w y o u ho w to exp lo i t i t an d p u t i t to u s e i n the n ex t c hap ter . A s I c o n ti n u e to d es i gn w ays to n eu trali s e PT V I p r efe r to u s e the to o ls o f s c i en c e. W hy ? W hat i s i t that mak es s ci en ce s o u n i qu e? W hat i s i t that s ep arates the s c i en ti fi c ap p ro ac h to matt ers f ro m o ther n o n - s c i en ti fic ap p ro ac hes ? T he a n s w er i s : tes ti n g an d meas u ri n g. It' s o n ly by p u tti n g a theo ry up again s t tes tin g an d measu ri n g that w e c an mo v e i t fro m s c i en c e fi c ti o n to w ard s sc i ence fac t. I s ay to w ard s bec au s e w e c an n ev er ac tu ally p ro v e an y thi n g i n sc i en c e i n an abs o lu te s en s e.
101 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W hat w e s ay i s that aft er t es ti n g an d meas u remen t o f th e ev i d en c e, the ' b alan c e o f ev i d en c e' as i t n o w s tan ds w ou ld in dic ate that s u c h- an d- s uc h a theo ry s eems v ali d . It' s a ' mo re li k ely tru th' . T hi s alw ay s gets u p d ated at a later s ta ge by o ther s c i en tis ts as tes tin g an d meas u ri n g p ro c ed u res i mp ro v e an d as n ew theo ri es , n ew ' mo re li k ely tru ths ' , a re p u t fo rw a rd . Not Testing and Measuring = Faith T he abs en c e o f tes ti n g an d meas u ri n g i s : fai th. W hen w e are i n a n o n -s c i en ti fi c mo d e w e c an u s e fai th as a w ay o f c o mi n g to a p o i n t- o f- v i ew . T here a re m an y thi n gs i n hu man c u ltu re that d o n ' t len d thems elv es v ery w ell to tes ti n g an d measu ri n g an d s o me p eo p le s ti ll get v alu e o u t o f b eli ev i n g i n them. F o r examp le t here exi s ts a my ri ad o f my ths an d legen d s , fo lk lo re, s u p ers ti ti o n s and fo rtu n e- telli n g p lu s a ri c h c o llec ti o n o f metap hy s i c al beli efs . T hes e hav e p ro v i d ed a grea t d eal o f i n teres t to mi lli o n s o f p eo p le ev en tho u gh muc h o f thes e areas elu d e an y fo rm o f o bj ec ti v e tes ti n g o r meas u remen t. F o r examp le , n o - o n e has ev er bee n able to tes t o r meas u re the exi s ten c e o f ' Gu ard i an A n gels ' . So thi s i s an u n sci en ti fi c beli ef that c an be s i mp ly ac c ep ted o n fai th i f o n e c ho o s es to d o s o .
So me p eo p le tak e c o mfo r t i n the i d ea o f hav i n g a gu ard i an an gel an d i t may be a ben efi t to them. Othe rs fi n d the co n c ep t un w elc o me. T he tho u ght o f hav i n g a s p i ri tu al Peep i n g T o m fo llo w i n g them aro u n d may s eem an i n fri n gemen t o n p ers o n al li b erty . Belief Systems A ltho u gh mo s t o f the w o rld ' s to tal p o p u lati o n o f 5 bi lli o n o r s o d o n o t su p p o rt a reli gi o n o f an y k i n d , i t w as rec en tly es ti mated by a reli gi o u s lead e r th a t a l ar ge mi n o ri ty o f aro u n d 3 0 % s ti ll hop e to get v alu e an d c o mfo rt o u t o f reli gi o u s beli efs o f o n e k i n d o r an o ther. Mo s t o f thes e be li ev ers w er e bo r n i n to maj o r w o rld reli gi o n s li k e J u d ai s m, Chri s ti an i ty , Is lam, H i n d u i s m o r B ud d hi s m w hic h are s p li t i n to tho u s an d s o f s u bgro u p s w i th a ran ge o f v a ri ati o n s i n thei r beli efs an d c u s to ms .
102 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN In ad d i ti on , there ar e a s tagge ri n g ran ge o f s maller reli gi o n s , c u lts an d beli ef s y s tems o f a v ari ety w hi c h tes ti fies to the ri c hn es s an d d i v ers i ty o f hu man i magi n ati o n . T hes e b eli ef s y s tems req u i re b eli ev ers to tak e a l eap o f fai th an d to b eli ev e i n thi n gs that w e may n o t b e ab le to tes t o r m eas u re. T hes e re li gi o u s beli efs fal l o u ts i d e the s c i en ti fi c metho d . T hi s d o es n ' t n ec ess ari ly mean thei r c lai ms ar e n o t t ru e o r d i d n ' t hap p en , i t s i mp ly means that the bal a n c e o f ev i d en c e is s o s li m that w e hav e n o w ay o f k n o w i n g w hether they a re tru e an d s o , i f w e ac c ep t them , w e d o s o by tak i n g a leap o f fai th . Man y p eo p le, ho w ev er, are qu i te able to tak e s u c h a leap o f fai th. Man y o thers may hav e had a s et o f b eli efs c u ltu rally p ro grammed i n to thei r brai n w hen they w ere v ery s mall c hi ld ren . T o be c o n s id ered s c i en ti fi c ally v ali d, a p ro p o s i ti o n mus t be able to be tes ted o r meas u red i n d ep en d en tly . It i s n o t en o u gh to s i mp ly meas u re the n u mber o f p eo p le w ho beli ev e i t. J u s t bec aus e a mi lli on p eo p le beli ev e the earth i s flat i s n o t en o u gh to mak e i t flat. If a mi lli o n bec o mes ten mi lli o n , the earth w i ll s ti l l n o t lo s e i ts thi rd d i men s i on .
Laws of Moses So meti mes , fro m a v ery ea rly age , o u r brai n s bec o me in fec ted by cu ltu ral memes ( s to ri es that rep li c ate b ec au s e the y are go o d at getti n g p as s ed o n fro m o n e gen erati o n to the n ext) an d v ery o ften w e n ev er, ev er really qu es ti o n thes e s to ri es . I hav e w ri tten mo re abo u t memes i n T he X 10 Me m e p le x: Mu lti p ly Y o u r B us i ne s s B y T e n! E s p eci ally w hen w e are v ery y o un g, w e may s i mp ly beli ev e thi n gs w e are to ld to beli ev e j u s t bec aus e w e n ev er really tho u ght the matt er th ro u gh o u rs elv e s . It may really o n ly b e an are a tha t has been p ro tec ted f ro m thi n k i n g fo r man y y ears . F o r examp le , Mo s es w as a lead e r o f an c i en t ti mes an d , li k e all le ad ers , h e n eed ed hi s p eo p le to ad here to hi s law s . H e s ai d that hi s ten law s o r c o mman d ments s ho u ld
103 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN be o bey ed . T he reas o n that th ey s ho u ld be o bey ed , he c lai med , i s bec au s e they w ere gi v en to hi m, p ri v ately , o n a mo u n tai n , by hi s go d , Y ahw eh. B y mak i n g thi s c lai m, Mo s es p o s i ti o n ed thes e law s w i th the hi g hes t p o s s i ble au tho ri ty . T hey w e re n o t hi s law s , s ai d Mo s es , bu t Go d ' s law s . T hi s i s a v ery o ld s to ry that man y p eo p le j u s t ac c ep t bu t hav e n ev er r eally u p d ated o r t ho u ght i t thro u gh fo r the ms elv es . If y o u d o s to p to thi n k abo u t thi s s to ry i n the li gh t o f ev i d en c e av ai lable t o d ay y o u may be able to as k y ou rs elf fo r a mo re p lau s i ble v ers i o n . Sin c e there w ere n o w i tn es s es o r ev i d enc e o f an y k in d we d o n ' t kn o w w hether Mo s es ' v ers i on ac tu ally hap p en ed . Y et there i s mu c h ev i d en c e to s ho w that i t i s v ery u n li k ely . From Polytheism to Monotheism Three o f the w o rld ' s maj o r reli gi o n s are ev o lv ed v ari ati o n s o f the ' on e God meme' J u d ai s m, Is lam and Chri s ti ani ty . H ow ev er, the fi rs t rec o rd ed ev i d en c e o f thi s meme fro m w hi c h al l t he ab o v e v ers i o n s hav e ev o lv ed ari s es o n ly abo u t a hu n d red y ears befo re Mo s es . K i n g T u t' s father , th e Pharo a h A k he n aten , d u ri n g the A marn a i s the o ri gi n ater o f mo n o thei s m.
T he
ev i d en c e
s ho w s
that
thi s
hereti c
king
i n v en ted
the
fi rs t
mo n o thei s ti c meme. T hi s w as on ly abo u t 3 0 0 0 y ears ago . Du ri n g the p rev i o u s 10 mi lli o n y ears o f man ' s ev o lu ti on there i s an en o rmo u s amo u n t o f ev i d en c e p ro v i n g the i n v en ti o n o f tho u s an d s o f blac k - bo x memes to fi ll the n eed s o f the b rai n to mak e s o me s en s e o f the i n exp lic able p hy s ic s o f the w o rld . E s p eci ally the ' go d memes ' that m o d ern man has i n v en ted o v er o v er the las t 10 0 ,0 0 0 y ears li k e the ' Zeu s meme' to exp lai n the p hen o men o n o f li ghtn i n g o r the ' go d o f the Ni le' mem e to exp lai n w hy the Ni le f lo o d ed fro m ti me to ti me et c etc . It s eems thes e ar e examp les o f ho w t he c lev er hu man brai n has ev o lv ed i ts ro le as an effec ti v e exp l an ati o n - c reati n g mec han i s m w hi c h i s n o t the s ame thi n g as exp lai n i n g the ac tu al p hen o men a. J u s t bec au s e a meme has i n fec ted mi lli o n s o f p eo p le' s brai n s is n o t en o u gh reas o n , by i ts elf, to mak e the meme a t ru th. T here n eed s to be the balan c e o f ev i d en c e that
104 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN en ab les u s to
