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The "model" under discussion here is much more fundamental than I think you're taking into consideration. Specifically, Langer has suggested that merely thinki

The "model" under discussion here is much more fundamental than I think you're taking into consideration. Specifically, Langer has suggested that merely thinking about things can lead to physical changes in the world. This is at odds with not just some specific model of something, but with the broadest conception of post-Rennaisance science.

photochemsyn 2y ago
Your brain does burn more glucose when it's working hard and this should cause a noticeable if slight temperature increase in the surrounding environment - so a physical change does take place, just by thinking. Other than that, some extraordinary evidence would be required.
- pigeons 2y ago
  Could a person cause the physical change in the world of a slightly different configuration of myelin in their body, just with their thoughts?
binoct 2y ago
> merely thinking about things can lead to physical changes in the world Her claims are hardly akin to moving objects through telekinesis. Your brain is part of your nervous system which has massive control over your body. What happens in your brain obvious leads to changes in your body. Beyond the obvious "I think about moving my arm and then my arm moves" there is a ton of hard research to back up the ability of thoughts and moods to influence the autonomic systems of the body. Why are the things Langer is suggesting fundamentally different? Clearly more evidence is needed to prove many of her specific claims, and many of them may turn out to be noise, but the basic premise hardly seems worth dismissing. Descartes was 400 years ago.
- PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
  They are indeed fascinating ideas. But they are so fascinating and so challenging that they deserve (much) better investigation than what Langer appears to have managed so far. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and all that.

photochemsyn 2y ago

Your brain does burn more glucose when it's working hard and this should cause a noticeable if slight temperature increase in the surrounding environment - so a physical change does take place, just by thinking. Other than that, some extraordinary evidence would be required.

pigeons 2y ago
Could a person cause the physical change in the world of a slightly different configuration of myelin in their body, just with their thoughts?

binoct 2y ago

> merely thinking about things can lead to physical changes in the world Her claims are hardly akin to moving objects through telekinesis. Your brain is part of your nervous system which has massive control over your body. What happens in your brain obvious leads to changes in your body. Beyond the obvious "I think about moving my arm and then my arm moves" there is a ton of hard research to back up the ability of thoughts and moods to influence the autonomic systems of the body. Why are the things Langer is suggesting fundamentally different? Clearly more evidence is needed to prove many of her specific claims, and many of them may turn out to be noise, but the basic premise hardly seems worth dismissing. Descartes was 400 years ago.

PaulDavisThe1st 2y ago
They are indeed fascinating ideas. But they are so fascinating and so challenging that they deserve (much) better investigation than what Langer appears to have managed so far. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and all that.