Blog #10

In Jonah Lehrer’s essay he expresses that art should be used in the scientific field to help better research and concepts. With the use of art it can inspire scientist and spark unknown ideas and potential. He suggests that scientist only think inside of the box and only focus on their science. But if they use art it will expand their minds allowing them to approach problems at a different angle. I agree with Lehrer’s ideas of using art in science. Art is not just a thing people like to look at but it is something in which expands the thought processes. It allows people to gain more knowledge by giving them other points of views, therefore allowing them to approach a question. This also helps them think of new ways to answer some unanswered questions that they might have.

Glossing the text: 

Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle– It is impossible to measure two properties of a quantum object, such as its position and momentum (or energy and time), simultaneously with infinite precision.

“The bridging principle” – The neural event that would explain how the activity of our brain cells creates the subjective experience of consciousness.

Reductionism- The practice of analyzing and describing a complex phenomenon in terms of phenomena that are held to represent a simpler or more fundamental level, especially when this is said to provide a sufficient explanation. 

Synapse– A junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter

Epiphenomenon–  a secondary phenomenon accompanying another and caused by it; specifically : a secondary mental phenomenon that is caused by and accompanies a physical phenomenon but has no causal influence itself     

Holistic perspective– It means that we are interested in engaging and developing the whole person.

Metaphor– A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Philosopher and scientist, David Chalmers, focuses on the areas of language and the mind. Chalmers talks about the state of consciousness and he expresses his idea of incorporating the arts to help answer questions about it. He believes that with the usage of art people can understand more about  consciousness, not just from a scientific approach. This relates to Lehrer’s idea of combining both the arts with science.

Virginia Woolf, an English writer, talks about the mind from an artistic stand point. She quotes things about the mind through an artistic way. She relates to Lehrer when he talks about figuring out the mind and building ideas from the inside out not from the outside in. This is a way to use the artistic way of using the human thoughts and emotion instead of using science to look into it.