James of Seattle
@jamesofseattle.bsky.social
Observer on the world, trying to keep things straight.
Reposted by James of Seattle
Merry Christmas
Happy Winter Solstice Season! The celebrations around the time that the sun's path in the sky starts getting higher again, and the days longer, seems to stretch back into prehistory. It's no accident that we observe many of our most cherished religious holidays and celebrate a new…
Happy Winter Solstice Season! The celebrations around the time that the sun's path in the sky starts getting higher again, and the days longer, seems to stretch back into prehistory. It's no accident that we observe many of our most cherished religious holidays and celebrate a new…
Merry Christmas
Happy Winter Solstice Season! The celebrations around the time that the sun's path in the sky starts getting higher again, and the days longer, seems to stretch back into prehistory. It's no accident that we observe many of our most cherished religious holidays and celebrate a new year around this time. It's kind of a corrective. Have a season of good will and fellowship in the darkest time of winter.
selfawarepatterns.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Merry Christmas
Happy Winter Solstice Season! The celebrations around the time that the sun's path in the sky starts getting higher again, and the days longer, seems to stretch back into prehistory. It's no accident that we observe many of our most cherished religious holidays and celebrate a new…
Happy Winter Solstice Season! The celebrations around the time that the sun's path in the sky starts getting higher again, and the days longer, seems to stretch back into prehistory. It's no accident that we observe many of our most cherished religious holidays and celebrate a new…
Ya gotta watch it to the end …
December 16, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Ya gotta watch it to the end …
Reposted by James of Seattle
Is there something you've always wanted to ask @petemandik.bsky.social and me? (No sarcasm, please!) If so, then now's your chance. We're holding a live Q&A tomorrow at 1pm ET / 6pm GMT. You can post your questions in advance in the chat at the link below www.youtube.com/live/149ZxHC...
9: Christmas Q&A
YouTube video by Keith Frankish
www.youtube.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Is there something you've always wanted to ask @petemandik.bsky.social and me? (No sarcasm, please!) If so, then now's your chance. We're holding a live Q&A tomorrow at 1pm ET / 6pm GMT. You can post your questions in advance in the chat at the link below www.youtube.com/live/149ZxHC...
Reposted by James of Seattle
Rob Reiner: “Silence in the face of authoritarianism is complicity. Speaking out is a patriotic act. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. It requires participation, vigilance, and courage from ordinary people."
December 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Rob Reiner: “Silence in the face of authoritarianism is complicity. Speaking out is a patriotic act. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. It requires participation, vigilance, and courage from ordinary people."
Reposted by James of Seattle
It's the season for giving, and The Persuaders are giving you the chance to put your questions to them. The stream will be live on Tuesday 16th at 1pm ET / 6pm GMT but the chat is already open and you can post your questions there in advance www.youtube.com/live/149ZxHC... @petemandik.bsky.social
9: Christmas Q&A
YouTube video by Keith Frankish
www.youtube.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:36 PM
It's the season for giving, and The Persuaders are giving you the chance to put your questions to them. The stream will be live on Tuesday 16th at 1pm ET / 6pm GMT but the chat is already open and you can post your questions there in advance www.youtube.com/live/149ZxHC... @petemandik.bsky.social
Reposted by James of Seattle
Does reality require observers?
Amanda Gefter has an article at Nautilus a couple of you have asked me about: Reality Exists Without Observers? Boooo! The title is an accurate summary of her thesis. Gefter is responding to a book by...
selfawarepatterns.com/2025/12/13/d...
#philosophy #philmind
Amanda Gefter has an article at Nautilus a couple of you have asked me about: Reality Exists Without Observers? Boooo! The title is an accurate summary of her thesis. Gefter is responding to a book by...
selfawarepatterns.com/2025/12/13/d...
#philosophy #philmind
Does reality require observers?
Amanda Gefter has an article at Nautilus a couple of you have asked me about: Reality Exists Without Observers? Boooo! The title is an accurate summary of her thesis. Gefter is responding to a book…
selfawarepatterns.com
December 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Does reality require observers?
Amanda Gefter has an article at Nautilus a couple of you have asked me about: Reality Exists Without Observers? Boooo! The title is an accurate summary of her thesis. Gefter is responding to a book by...
selfawarepatterns.com/2025/12/13/d...
#philosophy #philmind
Amanda Gefter has an article at Nautilus a couple of you have asked me about: Reality Exists Without Observers? Boooo! The title is an accurate summary of her thesis. Gefter is responding to a book by...
selfawarepatterns.com/2025/12/13/d...
#philosophy #philmind
Reposted by James of Seattle
Towards a Deeper Understanding of Our Age of Monsters and Predators talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/towar...
December 12, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Towards a Deeper Understanding of Our Age of Monsters and Predators talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/towar...
Reposted by James of Seattle
Mind Chat is back! Join us live at 4.30pm GMT tomorrow when @philipgoff.bsky.social & I talk to host of Closer to Truth and creator of the Landscape of Consciousness project, Robert Lawrence Kuhn.
Landscape format youtube.com/live/2o7RvGV...
Portrait format (for phones) youtube.com/live/wzVGSzV...
Landscape format youtube.com/live/2o7RvGV...
Portrait format (for phones) youtube.com/live/wzVGSzV...
The Landscape of Consciousness at Christmas (landscape format)
YouTube video by Mind Chat
youtube.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Mind Chat is back! Join us live at 4.30pm GMT tomorrow when @philipgoff.bsky.social & I talk to host of Closer to Truth and creator of the Landscape of Consciousness project, Robert Lawrence Kuhn.
Landscape format youtube.com/live/2o7RvGV...
Portrait format (for phones) youtube.com/live/wzVGSzV...
Landscape format youtube.com/live/2o7RvGV...
Portrait format (for phones) youtube.com/live/wzVGSzV...
Reposted by James of Seattle
It's the first Friday of December, which means it's time for the last Philosophy Booth of 2025!
If you have questions, we meandering have follow up questions that say more about us than about your question, which we have already forgotten.
TONIGHT!
8pm-10pm EST
twitch.tv/askaphilosopher
If you have questions, we meandering have follow up questions that say more about us than about your question, which we have already forgotten.
TONIGHT!
8pm-10pm EST
twitch.tv/askaphilosopher
December 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
It's the first Friday of December, which means it's time for the last Philosophy Booth of 2025!
If you have questions, we meandering have follow up questions that say more about us than about your question, which we have already forgotten.
TONIGHT!
8pm-10pm EST
twitch.tv/askaphilosopher
If you have questions, we meandering have follow up questions that say more about us than about your question, which we have already forgotten.
TONIGHT!
8pm-10pm EST
twitch.tv/askaphilosopher
Reposted by James of Seattle
Tomorrow at 1pm ET / 6pm GMT, The Persuaders will be discussing Cory Doctorow's latest book Enshittification, which describes how monopolistic online platforms make all our lives worse. Join them for edification about enshittification! www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLwn... @petemandik.bsky.social
8: Enshittification
YouTube video by Keith Frankish
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Tomorrow at 1pm ET / 6pm GMT, The Persuaders will be discussing Cory Doctorow's latest book Enshittification, which describes how monopolistic online platforms make all our lives worse. Join them for edification about enshittification! www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLwn... @petemandik.bsky.social
Reposted by James of Seattle
Sinners, and other TV notes
Since I've been reviewing a lot of horror lately, I could see you being skeptical about my constant disclaimers that I'm not much of a horror fan. But the truth is some horror is so good in its non-horror elements that it's compelling even for people not into horror.…
Since I've been reviewing a lot of horror lately, I could see you being skeptical about my constant disclaimers that I'm not much of a horror fan. But the truth is some horror is so good in its non-horror elements that it's compelling even for people not into horror.…
Sinners, and other TV notes
Since I've been reviewing a lot of horror lately, I could see you being skeptical about my constant disclaimers that I'm not much of a horror fan. But the truth is some horror is so good in its non-horror elements that it's compelling even for people not into horror. That's the case with Sinners, which I'm late to the party on.
selfawarepatterns.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Sinners, and other TV notes
Since I've been reviewing a lot of horror lately, I could see you being skeptical about my constant disclaimers that I'm not much of a horror fan. But the truth is some horror is so good in its non-horror elements that it's compelling even for people not into horror.…
Since I've been reviewing a lot of horror lately, I could see you being skeptical about my constant disclaimers that I'm not much of a horror fan. But the truth is some horror is so good in its non-horror elements that it's compelling even for people not into horror.…
There is a nice discussion comparing panpsychism and panqualityism in @philipgoff.bsky.social ’s substack. (Link in first reply)
The Psychule (aka Pattern Recognition) Theory of Consciousness is a Minimal Unifying Model, so the following thread shows how to unify panpsychism and panqualityism .
The Psychule (aka Pattern Recognition) Theory of Consciousness is a Minimal Unifying Model, so the following thread shows how to unify panpsychism and panqualityism .
November 27, 2025 at 8:44 PM
There is a nice discussion comparing panpsychism and panqualityism in @philipgoff.bsky.social ’s substack. (Link in first reply)
The Psychule (aka Pattern Recognition) Theory of Consciousness is a Minimal Unifying Model, so the following thread shows how to unify panpsychism and panqualityism .
The Psychule (aka Pattern Recognition) Theory of Consciousness is a Minimal Unifying Model, so the following thread shows how to unify panpsychism and panqualityism .
Reposted by James of Seattle
![Comic. Panels up to the 10-year point are grayed out. New panels since the Ten Years comic, which chronicles the first ten years of PERSON 1's journey with cancer: (1) [two people in bed] PERSON 1 (woman): One more chapter? PERSON 2 (man): Don’t we both have to get up early? PERSON 1: Nnnnnggggh PERSON 2: Sure, good point. (2) [many people wearing masks, walking while looking at graphs on their phones] (3) [birds landing on people] PERSON 2 in beanie and scarf: Hah! They like *my* seeds best. PERSON 1 in scarf holding phone with a bird sitting on it: Wait, how do I take a picture of this one? (4) [two people rowing boats with tree landscape] (5) [Person 1 carries overflowing stack of things to Person 2 in bed] PERSON 1: I brought you honey lemon tea, more pillows, a cinnamon roll, Tylenol, another blanket, a– PERSON 2: It was just Appendicitis, I’m really– PERSON 1: *It is my turn to take care of you and I am going to do it right!* (6) [Two people in car] (7) [still in car) PERSON 1: Oh my god. PERSON 2: Oh my god. (8) [car driving] PERSON 1: Pull over! PERSON 2: I am! (9) [both people get out of car] (10) [Large colored panel of aurora borealis over water with both people looking on] (11) [Person 1 sits against tree while Person 2 lies on the ground] PERSON 1: Fifteen years. No sign of the cancer. (12) I *am* having some weird symptoms. Joint pain. Fatigue. I think I’m losing my close-up vision. PERSON 2: Yeah. Me too. (13) PERSON 2: I think we’re getting old. (14) PERSON 1: I guess that’s okay. PERSON 2: It’s all I wanted.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihwhjblp5lyiwp63ouar7ocfea7evmckytoeo7rkfuoo4gw5rnrra@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by James of Seattle
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by James of Seattle
Maybe we’re already part of a hive mind
I recently discovered the new TV show Pluribus, about a scenario where the whole world gets turned into a hive mind, an annoyingly nice one, at least in the initial episodes, but where a few humans turn out to be immune to the virus that converts everyone…
I recently discovered the new TV show Pluribus, about a scenario where the whole world gets turned into a hive mind, an annoyingly nice one, at least in the initial episodes, but where a few humans turn out to be immune to the virus that converts everyone…
Maybe we’re already part of a hive mind
I recently discovered the new TV show Pluribus, about a scenario where the whole world gets turned into a hive mind, an annoyingly nice one, at least in the initial episodes, but where a few humans turn out to be immune to the virus that converts everyone else, including the cantankerous protagonist, Carol Sturka. The hive mind in the show appears to work via telepathy, enabled by alien sequences of DNA.
selfawarepatterns.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Maybe we’re already part of a hive mind
I recently discovered the new TV show Pluribus, about a scenario where the whole world gets turned into a hive mind, an annoyingly nice one, at least in the initial episodes, but where a few humans turn out to be immune to the virus that converts everyone…
I recently discovered the new TV show Pluribus, about a scenario where the whole world gets turned into a hive mind, an annoyingly nice one, at least in the initial episodes, but where a few humans turn out to be immune to the virus that converts everyone…
Reposted by James of Seattle
New blog post!
The fourth of my five-part review of Sapiens by Yuval Harari. This one covers the Scientific Revolution and its entanglement with capitalism.
www.evphil.com/blog/review-...
The fourth of my five-part review of Sapiens by Yuval Harari. This one covers the Scientific Revolution and its entanglement with capitalism.
www.evphil.com/blog/review-...
Review of “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari (4/5)
Time now for the penultimate review of Sapiens . In the first three parts, we saw the emergence of our species, its spread around the globe, and some of the unifying forces that have made...
www.evphil.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM
New blog post!
The fourth of my five-part review of Sapiens by Yuval Harari. This one covers the Scientific Revolution and its entanglement with capitalism.
www.evphil.com/blog/review-...
The fourth of my five-part review of Sapiens by Yuval Harari. This one covers the Scientific Revolution and its entanglement with capitalism.
www.evphil.com/blog/review-...
Reposted by James of Seattle
Here's the recording of today's episode of The Persuaders, in which Pete and I have a rational discussion about irrationalism www.youtube.com/watch?v=duI3...
@petemandik.bsky.social
@petemandik.bsky.social
7: Are your beliefs rational?
YouTube video by Keith Frankish
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Here's the recording of today's episode of The Persuaders, in which Pete and I have a rational discussion about irrationalism www.youtube.com/watch?v=duI3...
@petemandik.bsky.social
@petemandik.bsky.social
Reposted by James of Seattle
Overheard at #SfN25: “It’s up to us to reflect the truth.”
“This is not a sprint, this is not a marathon, this is a relay.” (Advocate for science, and when you get tired, let someone else do it for a while, then get involved again…
#StandUpForScience #SciPolicy #Advocacy #Neuroscience #Neurosky
“This is not a sprint, this is not a marathon, this is a relay.” (Advocate for science, and when you get tired, let someone else do it for a while, then get involved again…
#StandUpForScience #SciPolicy #Advocacy #Neuroscience #Neurosky
November 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Overheard at #SfN25: “It’s up to us to reflect the truth.”
“This is not a sprint, this is not a marathon, this is a relay.” (Advocate for science, and when you get tired, let someone else do it for a while, then get involved again…
#StandUpForScience #SciPolicy #Advocacy #Neuroscience #Neurosky
“This is not a sprint, this is not a marathon, this is a relay.” (Advocate for science, and when you get tired, let someone else do it for a while, then get involved again…
#StandUpForScience #SciPolicy #Advocacy #Neuroscience #Neurosky
Reposted by James of Seattle
The Persuaders will be live again tomorrow at 1pm EST, 6pm GMT, when they will asking if our beliefs are formed by rational processes and if it matters. The Truth Demon may also put in an appearance. www.youtube.com/watch?v=duI3... @petemandik.bsky.social
7: Are your beliefs rational?
YouTube video by Keith Frankish
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The Persuaders will be live again tomorrow at 1pm EST, 6pm GMT, when they will asking if our beliefs are formed by rational processes and if it matters. The Truth Demon may also put in an appearance. www.youtube.com/watch?v=duI3... @petemandik.bsky.social
Reposted by James of Seattle
Guess what? youtu.be/zpXvEhl2YXE?...
14 Beauty
YouTube video by Pete Mandik
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Guess what? youtu.be/zpXvEhl2YXE?...
Reposted by James of Seattle
What if ALL the sun's power was focused in one place?
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
youtu.be/qu8nx1qUwEU
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
youtu.be/qu8nx1qUwEU
What if ALL the sun’s power was focused in one place?
YouTube video by xkcd's What If?
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 PM
What if ALL the sun's power was focused in one place?
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
youtu.be/qu8nx1qUwEU
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
youtu.be/qu8nx1qUwEU
Reposted by James of Seattle
John von Neumann Shot Lightning From His Arse
John von Neumann Shot Lightning From His Arse
www.theintrinsicperspective.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
John von Neumann Shot Lightning From His Arse
Reposted by James of Seattle
Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus
After watching the new Frankenstein movie this weekend, I decided to correct something. I'd never read the original novel by Mary Shelley. I was familiar with the overall story, but I think it came from reading a comic book adaptation at some point decades…
After watching the new Frankenstein movie this weekend, I decided to correct something. I'd never read the original novel by Mary Shelley. I was familiar with the overall story, but I think it came from reading a comic book adaptation at some point decades…
Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus
After watching the new Frankenstein movie this weekend, I decided to correct something. I'd never read the original novel by Mary Shelley. I was familiar with the overall story, but I think it came from reading a comic book adaptation at some point decades ago, one I knew was heavily abridged. A key question upfront was which version to read: the…
selfawarepatterns.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus
After watching the new Frankenstein movie this weekend, I decided to correct something. I'd never read the original novel by Mary Shelley. I was familiar with the overall story, but I think it came from reading a comic book adaptation at some point decades…
After watching the new Frankenstein movie this weekend, I decided to correct something. I'd never read the original novel by Mary Shelley. I was familiar with the overall story, but I think it came from reading a comic book adaptation at some point decades…
Reposted by James of Seattle
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
I’m a fan of this opinion. It’s another reason billionaires shouldn’t exist and drive our culture.
I’m a fan of this opinion. It’s another reason billionaires shouldn’t exist and drive our culture.
Investors’ ‘dumb transhumanist ideas’ setting back neurotech progress, say experts
Fascination of investors such as Elon Musk with uploading their brains to computers is hindering progress in curing disease, say scientists
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
I’m a fan of this opinion. It’s another reason billionaires shouldn’t exist and drive our culture.
I’m a fan of this opinion. It’s another reason billionaires shouldn’t exist and drive our culture.
Reposted by James of Seattle
Can you having feelings you're not aware of? My latest Substack post on "Unconscious Consciousness."
philipgoff.substack.com/p/unconsciou...
philipgoff.substack.com/p/unconsciou...
Unconscious Consciousness
Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash
philipgoff.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Can you having feelings you're not aware of? My latest Substack post on "Unconscious Consciousness."
philipgoff.substack.com/p/unconsciou...
philipgoff.substack.com/p/unconsciou...