O blogue de Luka Nieto Garay

The Ghost in the Machine

Submitted by Luka Nieto Garay, Published on Dom, 01/29/2012 - 06:11

The Ghost in the Machine phrase was invented by philosopher Gilbert Ryle as a way to describe René Descartes' mind-body dualism. In his book The Concept of Mind Ryle ridiculed the belief that the psyche somehow functions independent of the physical body -according to Decartes and all dualists thereafter, the mind is not subject to mechanical laws, it is not even in space, hence the immaterial soul governing the mechanistic body, the Ghost in the Machine.

The Quandary of Technology

Submitted by Luka Nieto Garay, Published on Qua, 01/25/2012 - 16:22

Humankind has been the master of technology since its humble beginnings. Actually, our ability to use higher brain functions in order to create and handle tools is essentially what sets us apart as a species, however able some other apes may be. Our creativity defines us and whatever we choose to do with it will mark the progress of our civilization. After all, technology is no longer defined only by useful tools of creation, but by weapons of destruction too.

The Postmodernist Deceit

Submitted by Luka Nieto Garay, Published on Qua, 01/18/2012 - 15:18

Postmodernism is a philosophical movement born after World War II, brought about by a disillusionment with the objectivist stance on reality boosted by The Enlightenment. To be honest, a renaissance of human knowledge never truly took off during the time we know of as "The Renaissance" -humanity had to wait until the 19th Century for the Enlightenment ideals to actually take hold of society and governments. This truly was the age of Rationalism and Science.

Hypothesis, Model, Theory and Law

Submitted by Luka Nieto Garay, Published on Sáb, 12/03/2011 - 10:57

Among the most extremist -and extremely ignorant- of the anti-science crowd you will come across statements such as this: "But evolution is only a theory." Indeed, but scratch the only. In science, the terms Hypothesis, Model, Theory and Law are indeed gradations in a scale but they certainly do not share their colloquial meaning or hierarchy. If you think a scientific theory ever becomes a law or a fact you may need to read the following. Let's go back to the basics.

"Wickedness in high places"

Submitted by Luka Nieto Garay, Published on Qua, 11/16/2011 - 23:08

The reasons for the global protests that political and financial high circles are facing right now should be obvious for anyone who bothers to pay attention to the state of the world. They don't need to be repeated. However, there is a question I cannot avoid approaching: self-criticism.

A Clash of Ideas

Submitted by Luka Nieto Garay, Published on Sáb, 11/05/2011 - 01:03

In Psychology there is a concept referred to as cognitive dissonance which alludes to the «tension or internal discord of the belief system that someone perceives while holding two conflicting ideas all at once.» That is, holding two antithetical ideas simultaneously.

The Big Brain Theory

Submitted by Luka Nieto Garay, Published on Qui, 10/27/2011 - 12:37

In its study by sociologists, anthropologists and economists, society has lately been described as a "collective intelligence" and figuratively likened to a brain. Indeed, society functions as if it was a comprehensive construct directed by the people, just as a brain is a big box for neurons to set up an electrical party –both the brain and society have also been compared to a computer, after all.

Human Nature

Submitted by Luka Nieto Garay, Published on Qua, 10/26/2011 - 12:41

Most people accept the specialists' perspective of socially uncontroversial fields, even if it is often due to compliance instead of humility in the face of someone else's proficiency. However, there is a blind spot: the study of the human being and its nature.

By definition, 'human nature' alludes to whatever psychological characteristics are innately shared by each and every human being on this planet.

Social Evolution

Submitted by Luka Nieto Garay, Published on Qui, 07/28/2011 - 22:15

Karl Marx was right when he said that "the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." Every power establishment eventually undergoes a downfall, of which the lower class takes advantage in order to improve their situation; in the most extreme cases, the action takes the form of a full-fledged revolution and in the not-so-extreme cases, they at least make themselves noticeable enough to make sure they are never again ignored.