7 ms·

I think Daniel Kahneman's System 1 (habits, unconscious) and System 2 (learning, "error correction", conscious) are physical systems, and System 2 takes a LOT m

I think Daniel Kahneman's System 1 (habits, unconscious) and System 2 (learning, "error correction", conscious) are physical systems, and System 2 takes a LOT more energy to run. So, when you get tired, System 2 leans more and more on the much more energy efficient System 1. So you get behaviors that look like unrestrained habits: poor impulse control, lowered emotional regulation, etc Edit: I wrote more about this idea if anyone is curious: https://1393.xyz/writing/alzheimers-is-the-symptom-not-the-problem https://1393.xyz/writing/alzheimers-is-the-symptom-not-the-p...

plantain 9mo ago
I love the simplicity of the System 1/2 breakdown - but is there any actual evidence behind it? It seems like such a classic pop-psychology observational deduction of how something might work with no science to prove it.
- rdgthree 9mo ago
  In cognitive psychology there's all sorts of evidence that we have two distinct processes, but I don't think anyone has really mapped it to a physical system yet. Modeling two physical systems is pretty interesting though because dementia ends up looking like a clear failure of System 2. Really neat idea generator even if imperfect.
arjie 9mo ago
I do appreciate when people write up their ideas like this. It would be great if you had an RSS feed.
- rdgthree 9mo ago
  Should have added one sooner! Here you go: https://1393.xyz/rss.xml https://1393.xyz/rss.xml
  - arjie 9mo ago
    Subscribed. Thank you.
sph 9mo ago
My very controversial interpretation of taoism's wu wei [effortless action] is exactly this concept, which 2500 years later we can express in much more scientific ways. Motivation, pure effort and stubbornness to change our ways, are wasted energy and a waste of time. The only way to effect behavioural change in ourselves is through the unconscious habits that drive 99% of our daily lives. I feel not many people are aware that conscious activity is very energy-intense and sporadic. Most people have days that are 100% routine from morning to bedtime.
notaurus 9mo ago
If you’ve read the book, they stressed many times that this was irrelevant to the model and also probably untrue

plantain 9mo ago

I love the simplicity of the System 1/2 breakdown - but is there any actual evidence behind it? It seems like such a classic pop-psychology observational deduction of how something might work with no science to prove it.

rdgthree 9mo ago
In cognitive psychology there's all sorts of evidence that we have two distinct processes, but I don't think anyone has really mapped it to a physical system yet. Modeling two physical systems is pretty interesting though because dementia ends up looking like a clear failure of System 2. Really neat idea generator even if imperfect.

arjie 9mo ago

I do appreciate when people write up their ideas like this. It would be great if you had an RSS feed.

rdgthree 9mo ago
Should have added one sooner! Here you go: https://1393.xyz/rss.xml https://1393.xyz/rss.xml
- arjie 9mo ago
  Subscribed. Thank you.

sph 9mo ago

My very controversial interpretation of taoism's wu wei [effortless action] is exactly this concept, which 2500 years later we can express in much more scientific ways. Motivation, pure effort and stubbornness to change our ways, are wasted energy and a waste of time. The only way to effect behavioural change in ourselves is through the unconscious habits that drive 99% of our daily lives. I feel not many people are aware that conscious activity is very energy-intense and sporadic. Most people have days that are 100% routine from morning to bedtime.

notaurus 9mo ago

If you’ve read the book, they stressed many times that this was irrelevant to the model and also probably untrue