Hamilton Asking if there's anything that you wanted to raise at the beginning before I say anything? Shauna No, how about you start with your questions? Hamilton I've had some time doing less interviews and doing more thinking and looking at the transcripts and comparing them. And one of the ideas that came out of … Continue reading Delusion Interview #3
Testing the soul: Exploring the trials of the mystic and the madman
Humanity has a long tradition of testing the soul, as reflected in the many initiations and rites of passage found in indigenous cultures. Initiations often involve trials or ordeals that test the initiate’s worth and ability. By overcoming these tests, the initiate transitions to a new phase in their lives. As well as being ubiquitous … Continue reading Testing the soul: Exploring the trials of the mystic and the madman
‘Why did this happen to me?’
I’m participating in Hamilton’s PhD research into delusions. He asked me why I don’t like psychodynamic explanations of delusions and, if I don’t use these explanations, how do I make sense of my experiences? This is my response. The idea behind psychodynamic explanations of delusions is that the delusions are not caused by a biological … Continue reading ‘Why did this happen to me?’
Second Delusion Interview
Hamilton: So, I was thinking about things since we last met. We spoke about a number of different things by email, and you had written a couple of pieces that in part contained your reflections on the experience. There were a couple of things that stood out to me. And I know that we had … Continue reading Second Delusion Interview
Interview for delusion research
Hamilton (00:01): Okay, so I've started recording and if at any time you want me to stop or just want to stop in general, that's okay. Sometimes we can go places we didn't anticipate and that's all good. Well, firstly, thank you for agreeing to participate. It was really nice of you to reach out, … Continue reading Interview for delusion research
Easter and COVID-19
I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I wake up in the middle of the night (this is quite normal) – but then I have trouble getting back to sleep. Instead, I toss and turn in a half sleep state with strange thoughts in my mind – thoughts related to this pandemic. Last night, as I … Continue reading Easter and COVID-19
Do you agree with Mercier and Sperber’s view that reason might be a module?
Introduction In The Enigma of Reason: A New Theory of Human Understanding (2017) Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber (M&S) give an evolutionary account of reason. M&S claim that reason is a module that forms intuitive inferences based on reasons. I analyse M&S’s view within the broader debate surrounding modularity. This debate concerns Jerry … Continue reading Do you agree with Mercier and Sperber’s view that reason might be a module?
In the Ābhidharmakośa Vasubandhu argues that what we call a ‘person’ is not substantially real by showing that the parts are real but a whole is not. Explain his argument and evaluate it by providing your own reasons to defend or object to the argument.
Introduction Vasubandhu was an Indian Buddhist scholar from the 3rd to 4th Century CE. The final chapter of his Ābhidharmakośa is a treatise called “Refutation of the Theory of the Self” (Refutation). In Refutation, Vasubandhu seeks to prove that a person or self does not exist and that our identities can be reduced … Continue reading In the Ābhidharmakośa Vasubandhu argues that what we call a ‘person’ is not substantially real by showing that the parts are real but a whole is not. Explain his argument and evaluate it by providing your own reasons to defend or object to the argument.
Michelle
I’ve been quiet with the blogs because I’m working hard at uni. But I’ve been thinking lately that I should devote one day a week to blog writing. And I had an idea today and jotted down an outline. But I sabotaged myself. I like my blogs that have ‘facts’ in them, not simply … Continue reading Michelle
Can Van Gulick’s higher-order global state (HOGS) theory of consciousness account for thought insertion?
Imagine you have a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and you know you are getting unwell. You alert the mental health crisis team and they visit you each week. Each week they tell you to raise the dose of your anti-psychotic medication. But, despite this, you fall deeper into madness. You stay at home … Continue reading Can Van Gulick’s higher-order global state (HOGS) theory of consciousness account for thought insertion?
Shauna Winram blog 