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Cognitive errors

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 6:05 am
by _aussieguy55
There is an interesting paper in this site http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/pubs_articles.html

Cognitive Error and Contemplative Practices,” Journal of Nanjing University of Science and Technology (Social Sciences Edition), forthcoming, 2011 (in Chinese). PDF of English Translation
Example of errors

The first of the three cognitive factors is our tendency to produce meaningful patterns from purely random data



The second cognitive factor is our tendency to jnfer a great deal from too little Information


The third cognitive factor is our tendency to see what we expect to see


Fourth, and the first motivational or social factor, is our tendency to see what we want to see.


Fifth, and the second motivational or social factor, is our tendency to believe what we are told


Sixth, and the third motivational or social factor, is the tendency to imaginethat others agree with us


Seventh, and finally, we are liable to cognitive errors in the form of self-defeating thought processes and behaviors that seem obviously stupid to ourselves and to othersand yet are surprisingly difficult to change


What are your thoughts? The author mentions that the Dali lama asked a group to study the meditationn techniques of some Buddist monks.

Re: Cognitive errors

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:33 pm
by _MCB
Looks interesting. I will get back to you on it.

Yes, there are several books out about the scientific studies supported by the Dalai Lama. As a result, in the US, there is a strong push towards Bhuddism as a psychology.

Re: Cognitive errors

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:25 pm
by _Buffalo
"our tendency to produce meaningful patterns from purely random data"

This explains the invention of religion.

Re: Cognitive errors

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:31 pm
by _MCB
Buffalo wrote:"our tendency to produce meaningful patterns from purely random data"

This explains the invention of religion.
The absence of which results in chaos. We may always agree to disagree.

Re: Cognitive errors

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:34 pm
by _jon
MCB wrote:
Buffalo wrote:"our tendency to produce meaningful patterns from purely random data"

This explains the invention of religion.
The absence of which results in chaos. We may always agree to disagree.


The absence of religion results in chaos?

Are you sure?

Re: Cognitive errors

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:40 pm
by _MCB
jon wrote:The absence of religion results in chaos?

Are you sure?
Healthy religion is a stabilizing structure in society. Unhealthy religion divides and fragments. Always reach for the higher etical principle. I am affirming the concept of humanity as an etherialized organism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noosphere

Re: Cognitive errors

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:46 pm
by _jon
MCB wrote:
jon wrote:The absence of religion results in chaos?

Are you sure?
Healthy religion is a stabilizing structure in society. Unhealthy religion divides and fragments. Always reach for the higher etical principle. I am affirming the concept of humanity as an etherialized organism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noosphere


Which religions would you say provide a stabilizing structure in today's society?

Re: Cognitive errors

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:18 pm
by _Daniel Peterson
Buffalo wrote:"our tendency to produce meaningful patterns from purely random data"
This explains the invention of religion.

I'm still hoping that it will kick in to explain your posts.

Re: Cognitive errors

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:21 pm
by _RockSlider
jon wrote:Which religions would you say provide a stabilizing structure in today's society?


Well, Christianity, of course.


(just ask the Norwegian's )

Re: Cognitive errors

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:40 pm
by _Daniel Peterson
I'm unconvinced that religious faith had much, if anything, to do with Anders Breivik's atrocities in Norway.

http://www.patheos.com/community/philos ... -agnostic/