My Wings, My Cage (9.1)

Mlodinow quotes a "well-known neuro-scientist" who claims that when it comes to his true feelings and motivations "[t]he real truth lies in structures like my thalamus and hypothalamus, and my amygdala, and I have no conscious access to those not matter how much I introspect" (178).

Theme & Variations by Fornasetti (1913-1988)
Above:  Plate #96 (Butterfly)Below:  #361 Face with Pansy in Mouth in Window)
This artwork may be protected by copyright.
It is posted on the site in accordance with fair use principles

Do you think that the people you know attribute too much or too little value to introspection and talk about feelings and motivations?






If Mlodinow is right that our unconscious mind rules our behavior in ways that we will never able to fully comprehend, does this knowledge free us from the burden of having to inspect our motives?

Or does it suggest that we will always be slaves of forces that we do not comprehend?

Though Your Heart is Aching (9.2)

"The Unsmiling Tsarevna" by Viktor Vasnetsov (1916-1926)

According to Mlodinow, "we don't tremble because we're angry or cry because we feel sad, rather, we are aware of feeling angry because we tremble, and we feel sad because we cry" (182).

If this is true, do you think intentionally yelling (like athletes do sometimes) might have the effect of inciting rage?

Do you think smiling could have the effect of making someone feel happier?

Do you consider yourself to be a person whose happiness might be increased by more intentional smiling?

A's for Effort (10.1)

"Portrait of Napoléon on the Imperial Throne" by  Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1806)

According to Mlodinow, "people tend to recognize that inflated self-assessment and overconfidence can be a problem--but only in others"  (199). Mlodinow does not mention it, but this overconfidence is particularly high among American students, if you compare them to students from other nations, like Japan and Korea (click here to read a 2006 article in the Washington Post that discusses this phenomenon).

Can you identify any cultural practices that might contribute to this phenomenon in American schools?  Is it something that happens mostly in elementary schools or do college also contribute to the same phenomenon?

Say It Like You Mean It (10.2)

Mlodinow reports that "Believing in what you desire to be true and then seeking evidence to justify it doesn't seem to be the best approach to everyday decisions. . . .[But] [t]he 'causal arrow' in human thought processes consistently tends to point from belief to evidence, not vice versa. . . [And] in the struggle to fashion a coherent convincing view of ourselves and the rest of the world, it is the impassioned advocate that usually wins over the truth seeker" (201).

Does Mlodinow's view that belief comes before evidence and impassioned advocacy is more persuasive than the presentation of fact and logic apply in school and academia or is this kind of behavior typical, rather, of the world of politics, television, and religion, say?

"AAA AAA" by Ulay and Ambramowicz (1978)  Photo by Christine Kouli 

A Little Touch Up (10.3)

"Portrait of Dora Maar" by  Pablo Picasso (1937)This artwork may be protected by copyright. It is posted on the site in accordance with fair use principles.

Mlodinow argues that "When we paint our picture of self, our attorney-like unconscious blends fact and illusion, exaggerating our strengths, minimizing our weaknesses, creating a virtually Picassoesque series of distortions in which some parts have been blown up to enormous size (the parts we like) and others shrunk to near invisibility. The rational scientists of our conscious minds then innocently admire the self-portrait, believing it to be a work of photographic accuracy"  (201).

For this comment opportunity, you are to write two self-portraits.  In one, you will play the role of a prosecutor painting a very unflattering portrait of yourself, pointing out all of your flaws and failures.  In the other, you will play the role of a defense attorney who exaggerates your strengths and minimizes your weaknesses.  Do not post either description in the comment box below.

In the comment box, you are to reflect on the experience of writing these two descriptions.  Which one was more difficult to write and why?

Are there people in your life who play the role of your prosecutor and your defense attorney?  Do you tend to pay more attention to the prosecutors or the defense attorneys?

I Don't See It (10.4)

"Blind Pew" by N.C. Wyeth (1911)

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On page 202-203, Mlodinow describes an experiment that sought to measure the impact of motivation on perception and suggested that we "tailor reality to fit our desires" (202).  In other words, more often than we realize, we see what we want to see.

Have you personally had an experience in which you've seen this phenomenon play out: a situation in which the attitude of the participants (including, perhaps, you) clearly shaped their impression of the value of the experience (either positively or negatively)?

You Can't Win (10.5)

"A sad girl" by Carlos Saenz de Tejada (1921)

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Mlodinow claims that "it would be enlightening for all of us to face the fact that our own reasoning is often not so perfectly objective" (210).

What do you make of that?  How is it "enlightening" to know that it is difficult to be objective?  If objectivity is so difficult to attain, what's left other than bias and enthusiasm?  Do Mlodinow's claims here and elsewhere in this text encourage readers to feel cynical or humble? Don't both postures--cynicism and humility--undercut the very qualities--confidence and enthusiasm--that are likely to help someone advance their beliefs?