Embodied / Somatosensory influence on Attention
Encouraging comment about unconscious processes, particularly emotional and physical (embodied)... View more
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Embodied states and conscious attention
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Embodied states and conscious attention
Apology for not beginning a conversation around this aspect of conscious attention. By way of introduction, some thoughts about our embodied states influence.
“Craving is an embodied state both physical & emotional, mediated in humans by the Vagus nerve and other hormonal influences, acute and more sustained. Human death anxiety must be dealt with, suppressed at a minimum. A sense of unease or disquiet, existential challenge possibly, isn’t considered normal or good enough in our contemporary Capitalist Democracy. Something needs to be fixed! Whatever brings about some degree of resolution of this unease can be experienced as a solution. Such inclinations to resolve this unease abound, religion being one! Alternatively, the wonder or “spirit” of our existence, a sense of awe if allowed, doesn’t have a ready answer, “it must be something!” but remains intangible. Then, we are left with a variable experience of unease in “the not knowing.” We are all a product of a time and culture, narcissism on the rise in context of a digital revolution.”
Just a few non-original thoughts.
I appreciate your consideration and constructive comments. Cheers
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1 Reply
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A few comments, hopefully constructive …
“Craving is an embodied state both physical & emotional” — Okay. But hunger can be a good thing, if it’s for the right foods. The rejection of hunger leads to serious physical and emotional problems. Obviously one can also eat too much. But to crave, say, a bowl of organic fruit, or to crave a stroll in a beautiful landscape … not bad things! Rather essential.
Then “A sense of unease or disquiet … isn’t
considered normal or good enough in our contemporary Capitalist
Democracy.” Some argue that a sense of unease is exactly what capitalism cultivates in us, so that we will go out and buy more to try to fill the emptiness. But when you say “isn’t considered normal,” who is it you have doing the considering? If one is uneasy about some problem, and then finds a solution, one feels easier in that moment. Thus both unease and ease have their place is a good and productive life.If we’re to be constructive here, what would you like to construct? Do you wish to become more at ease with unease, at a meta level? Do you have cravings which make you uneasy when satisfied, or when not satisfied? I don’t wish to be the Devil’s advocate here; just trying to follow through on the themes you’ve brought to this discussion.
Best,
Whit
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