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But the brain isn't a complex system because the climate is a complex system. There is no relation between the two systems, other than that the two are emergent

by sumy23 4y ago

But the brain isn't a complex system because the climate is a complex system. There is no relation between the two systems, other than that the two are emergent phenomena on Earth. Proof that the climate is a complex system doesn't automatically prove the brain is a complex system. Apriori, you can't draw any logical conclusions about the brain from the climate. You're right about one thing: It's amazing the confidence people have

mjburgess 4y ago
So where do you think i made that argument? The climate was an analogy to illustrate the point
- sumy23 4y ago
  The article is about whether or not human learning is powered by a simple, understandable process. Your response is: “No, human learning is like the climate, it’s complex.” I’m just pointing out what a nonsensical statement that is. The article offers evidence about how synapses work. What is your analogy, exactly? Usually an analogy has some points of comparison that help illustrate a topic. E.g. chess is like war. There are two sides in both war and chess, both war and chess require anticipating your opponents moves etc. Therefore, you can make the argument that you can understand something about war through understanding chess. I’m really failing to see how the climate helps us understand the brain. Other than your claim that both are beyond comprehension.
  - mjburgess 4y ago
    A complex system is a well-defined technical term, see the wikipedia article in which both brains and the climate are listed in the first sentence. They're both complex because they meet the definition of a complex system
    - sumy23 4y ago
      Ok, but clearly this article is arguing that in fact, human learning is not a complex system, at least in terms of synapse function. What the Wikipedia article says is irrelevant to this new information. Again, there is no connection between the brain and the climate. What if we prove the brain is not a complex system? Does that mean the climate is not a complex system either?

by sumy23 4y ago

mjburgess 4y ago

So where do you think i made that argument? The climate was an analogy to illustrate the point

sumy23 4y ago
The article is about whether or not human learning is powered by a simple, understandable process. Your response is: “No, human learning is like the climate, it’s complex.” I’m just pointing out what a nonsensical statement that is. The article offers evidence about how synapses work. What is your analogy, exactly? Usually an analogy has some points of comparison that help illustrate a topic. E.g. chess is like war. There are two sides in both war and chess, both war and chess require anticipating your opponents moves etc. Therefore, you can make the argument that you can understand something about war through understanding chess. I’m really failing to see how the climate helps us understand the brain. Other than your claim that both are beyond comprehension.
- mjburgess 4y ago
  A complex system is a well-defined technical term, see the wikipedia article in which both brains and the climate are listed in the first sentence. They're both complex because they meet the definition of a complex system
  - sumy23 4y ago
    Ok, but clearly this article is arguing that in fact, human learning is not a complex system, at least in terms of synapse function. What the Wikipedia article says is irrelevant to this new information. Again, there is no connection between the brain and the climate. What if we prove the brain is not a complex system? Does that mean the climate is not a complex system either?