Does Global Workspace Theory mean "The Secret" is right?

Nick227 · 20th February 2009, 09:48 AM

I was recently reading Bernard Baars interesting book, "In the Theater of Consciousness: The Workspace of the Mind," which is about his own Global Workspace Theory (GWT). Baars' theory seems to be increasingly accepted by neuroscientists, philosophers and cognitive psychologists and has spawned several modified versions, including one by philosopher Daniel Dennett.

GWT essentially proposes, as I understand it, that consciousness is simply the means by which the brain "broadcasts" important information to its host of unconscious processes. It is the gateway to the processing power of the unconscious mind.

Something that struck me was that this seemed to be very much in line with what a "new-age" movie that was popular a couple of years back, The Secret, was saying. As I recall the movie claimed that what you kept in awareness would dictate your reality and allow you to manifest what you want. I didn't like the film much as I found the voiceover and some of the production a bit annoying. But I recalled its central premise, which some spiritual schools have anyway been claiming for years, and was struck by the resemblance to GWT.

It seems to me that Baars' theoretical model, and the increasing acceptance that it's gaining amongst consciousness researchers, opens a doorway for examining several "new age" therapies and archaic spiritual practices ranging from praying to making affirmations.

Nick

Dymanic · 20th February 2009, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Nick227

It seems to me that Baars' theoretical model, and the increasing acceptance that it's gaining amongst consciousness researchers, opens a doorway for examining several "new age" therapies and archaic spiritual practices ranging from praying to making affirmations.

Not necessarily its biggest selling point.

PixyMisa · 20th February 2009, 11:13 AM

No.

Gilmar · 20th February 2009, 11:15 AM

Looks like GWT is about how the brain talks to itself. The Secret, on the other hand, claims you can affect external physical reality merely by keeping certain thoughts in mind. Not the same, though I'm sure the woos would love it, much as they latched onto Quantum Mechanics.

Richard Masters · 20th February 2009, 11:26 AM

"The Secret" is partially right for the wrong reasons.

Positive thinking has been around for centuries, but it has nothing to do with a universe that grants your wishes; that's magical thinking - an informal fallacy upon which "The Secret" is based.

Richard Masters · 20th February 2009, 11:50 AM

"The Secret" is partially right for the wrong reasons.

Positive thinking has been around for centuries, but it has nothing to do with a universe that grants your wishes; that's magical thinking - an informal fallacy upon which "The Secret" is based.

jimtron · 20th February 2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

As I recall the movie claimed that what you kept in awareness would dictate your reality and allow you to manifest what you want.

That could be true, but it's quite vague. Of course, as Richard Masters pointed out, positive thinking can be beneficial. And if you constantly wallow in negativity, that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. But The Secret is completely nuts; it says stuff like if you want to lose weight, don't look at fat people. And that when bad things happen to people, it's because they brought it upon themselves (all those starving children could be eating square healthy meals if they only could purchase a copy of The Secret, apparently).

MattusMaximus · 20th February 2009, 11:49 PM

No. "The Secret" is crap.

Nick227 · 21st February 2009, 02:44 AM

Originally Posted by Richard Masters

"The Secret" is partially right for the wrong reasons.

Positive thinking has been around for centuries, but it has nothing to do with a universe that grants your wishes; that's magical thinking - an informal fallacy upon which "The Secret" is based.

I agree. I don't much recall the movie except for the part about what you keep in awareness dictates a lot of your reality, and for me this bit does seem to be ratified by GWT.

Nick

PixyMisa · 21st February 2009, 05:37 AM

No.

Ladewig · 21st February 2009, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by Nick227

I agree. I don't much recall the movie except for the part about what you keep in awareness dictates a lot of your reality, and for me this bit does seem to be ratified by GWT.

Nick

You've missed a critical part of the movie. Yes, what you focus your consciousness on does dictate a lot of your reality (positive thinking can make you happier) but "The Secret" claims that what you focus our consciousness on dictates a lot of objective reality (positive thinking can help you win the lottery). That claim is absurd. "The Secret" is nonsense and is not validated by GWT's assertion that what you focus your thoughts on will effect the way your think.

"The Secret" can also be classified as twaddle because it claims that it works every time and therefore if you are not getting the results you want, then you are not wising hard enough.

Nick227 · 21st February 2009, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Ladewig

You've missed a critical part of the movie. Yes, what you focus your consciousness on does dictate a lot of your reality (positive thinking can make you happier) but "The Secret" claims that what you focus our consciousness on dictates a lot of objective reality (positive thinking can help you win the lottery). That claim is absurd. "The Secret" is nonsense and is not validated by GWT's assertion that what you focus your thoughts on will effect the way your think.

"The Secret" can also be classified as twaddle because it claims that it works every time and therefore if you are not getting the results you want, then you are not wising hard enough.

Yes, I'm sure the movie goes way too far. But I think the point that keeping a desire in awareness does harness the considerable power of the unconscious mind to try and find a way to fulfil it is valid. To my mind GWT starts to ratify some elements of populist new-age thinking around praying, affirming and wish-fulfilment generally. I don't go much in for this stuff personally but it seems to me a viewpoint that could have scientific validity.

Nick

20th February 2009, 09:48 AM	#1
Nick227 Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 3,353	Does Global Workspace Theory mean "The Secret" is right? I was recently reading Bernard Baars interesting book, "In the Theater of Consciousness: The Workspace of the Mind," which is about his own Global Workspace Theory (GWT). Baars' theory seems to be increasingly accepted by neuroscientists, philosophers and cognitive psychologists and has spawned several modified versions, including one by philosopher Daniel Dennett. GWT essentially proposes, as I understand it, that consciousness is simply the means by which the brain "broadcasts" important information to its host of unconscious processes. It is the gateway to the processing power of the unconscious mind. Something that struck me was that this seemed to be very much in line with what a "new-age" movie that was popular a couple of years back, The Secret, was saying. As I recall the movie claimed that what you kept in awareness would dictate your reality and allow you to manifest what you want. I didn't like the film much as I found the voiceover and some of the production a bit annoying. But I recalled its central premise, which some spiritual schools have anyway been claiming for years, and was struck by the resemblance to GWT. It seems to me that Baars' theoretical model, and the increasing acceptance that it's gaining amongst consciousness researchers, opens a doorway for examining several "new age" therapies and archaic spiritual practices ranging from praying to making affirmations. Nick
	__________________ "Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies"

20th February 2009, 11:01 AM	#2
Dymanic Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 4,733	Originally Posted by Nick227 It seems to me that Baars' theoretical model, and the increasing acceptance that it's gaining amongst consciousness researchers, opens a doorway for examining several "new age" therapies and archaic spiritual practices ranging from praying to making affirmations. Not necessarily its biggest selling point.
Dymanic Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 4,733

20th February 2009, 11:13 AM	#3
PixyMisa Persnickety Insect Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sunny Munuvia Posts: 14,913	No.
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20th February 2009, 11:15 AM	#4
Gilmar Muse Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: From the desert to the sea. Posts: 566	Looks like GWT is about how the brain talks to itself. The Secret, on the other hand, claims you can affect external physical reality merely by keeping certain thoughts in mind. Not the same, though I'm sure the woos would love it, much as they latched onto Quantum Mechanics.
	__________________ Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, I'm pulling over the side of the road to let the ambulance drive by. - Senex "World domination is such an ugly phrase. I prefer to call it world optimization." - Less Wrong You can't make Frodo a Jedi without giving Sauron the Death Star. - Less Wrong

20th February 2009, 04:45 PM	#7
jimtron Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,966	Quote: As I recall the movie claimed that what you kept in awareness would dictate your reality and allow you to manifest what you want. That could be true, but it's quite vague. Of course, as Richard Masters pointed out, positive thinking can be beneficial. And if you constantly wallow in negativity, that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. But The Secret is completely nuts; it says stuff like if you want to lose weight, don't look at fat people. And that when bad things happen to people, it's because they brought it upon themselves (all those starving children could be eating square healthy meals if they only could purchase a copy of The Secret, apparently).
	__________________

20th February 2009, 11:26 AM	#5
Richard Masters Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,030	"The Secret" is partially right for the wrong reasons. Positive thinking has been around for centuries, but it has nothing to do with a universe that grants your wishes; that's magical thinking - an informal fallacy upon which "The Secret" is based.

20th February 2009, 11:50 AM	#6
Richard Masters Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,030	"The Secret" is partially right for the wrong reasons. Positive thinking has been around for centuries, but it has nothing to do with a universe that grants your wishes; that's magical thinking - an informal fallacy upon which "The Secret" is based.

20th February 2009, 11:49 PM	#8
MattusMaximus Intellectual Gladiator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the midst of a vast, beautiful & uncaring universe Posts: 14,175	No. "The Secret" is crap.
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21st February 2009, 02:44 AM	#9
Nick227 Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 3,353	Originally Posted by Richard Masters "The Secret" is partially right for the wrong reasons. Positive thinking has been around for centuries, but it has nothing to do with a universe that grants your wishes; that's magical thinking - an informal fallacy upon which "The Secret" is based. I agree. I don't much recall the movie except for the part about what you keep in awareness dictates a lot of your reality, and for me this bit does seem to be ratified by GWT. Nick
	__________________ "Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies"

21st February 2009, 05:37 AM	#10
PixyMisa Persnickety Insect Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sunny Munuvia Posts: 14,913	No.
	__________________ Free blogs for skeptics... And everyone else. mee.nu What, in the Holy Name of Gzortch, are you people doing?!?!!? - TGHO

21st February 2009, 06:17 AM	#11
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,817	Originally Posted by Nick227 I agree. I don't much recall the movie except for the part about what you keep in awareness dictates a lot of your reality, and for me this bit does seem to be ratified by GWT. Nick You've missed a critical part of the movie. Yes, what you focus your consciousness on does dictate a lot of your reality (positive thinking can make you happier) but "The Secret" claims that what you focus our consciousness on dictates a lot of objective reality (positive thinking can help you win the lottery). That claim is absurd. "The Secret" is nonsense and is not validated by GWT's assertion that what you focus your thoughts on will effect the way your think. "The Secret" can also be classified as twaddle because it claims that it works every time and therefore if you are not getting the results you want, then you are not wising hard enough.
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21st February 2009, 08:37 AM	#12
Nick227 Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 3,353	Originally Posted by Ladewig You've missed a critical part of the movie. Yes, what you focus your consciousness on does dictate a lot of your reality (positive thinking can make you happier) but "The Secret" claims that what you focus our consciousness on dictates a lot of objective reality (positive thinking can help you win the lottery). That claim is absurd. "The Secret" is nonsense and is not validated by GWT's assertion that what you focus your thoughts on will effect the way your think. "The Secret" can also be classified as twaddle because it claims that it works every time and therefore if you are not getting the results you want, then you are not wising hard enough. Yes, I'm sure the movie goes way too far. But I think the point that keeping a desire in awareness does harness the considerable power of the unconscious mind to try and find a way to fulfil it is valid. To my mind GWT starts to ratify some elements of populist new-age thinking around praying, affirming and wish-fulfilment generally. I don't go much in for this stuff personally but it seems to me a viewpoint that could have scientific validity. Nick
	__________________ "Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies"