Consciousness Club #28: Addiction Awareness

Addiction Awareness

Invited speakers: Piet Hut and Special Guest

ABSTRACT

The greatest scientific discoveries are made upon the realization that a generally accepted idea is in fact wrong. And once the new idea is accepted, it is tempting to ask: why did it take so long to see the flaw in the old idea? Perhaps the simple answer is: when we grow up with a set of ideas, forming a coherent worldview, we get so habituated to them that we grow increasingly unwilling to question any specific idea, afraid that it will threaten the comfort zone of our life as we know it.

In some recovery communities, addiction is described as a disease of perception. What is the relationship between addiction and consciousness? Can we be addicted to thoughts and mental habits? Is a strongly held worldview a type of addiction? As recovery from addiction often requires a transformative change in thinking, outlook, and behavior, could the process of recovery from addiction have any lessons for scientists in search of breakthrough thinking and new ideas?

A YHouse member will share his experience as a recovering addict with decades of sobriety and discusses possible insights that may have applications for non-addicts and be joined in conversation by Piet Hut, who will argue that in a wider sense all of us are addicts to world views. Together they will explore ways that tools for recovery from addiction may yield results for scientists looking to re-imagine their approaches to science.











When: Wed., Nov. 8, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Where: WeWork Park South
110 E. 28th St., 8th Floor Lounge

Price: Free
Buy tickets/get more info now
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Addiction Awareness

Invited speakers: Piet Hut and Special Guest

ABSTRACT

The greatest scientific discoveries are made upon the realization that a generally accepted idea is in fact wrong. And once the new idea is accepted, it is tempting to ask: why did it take so long to see the flaw in the old idea? Perhaps the simple answer is: when we grow up with a set of ideas, forming a coherent worldview, we get so habituated to them that we grow increasingly unwilling to question any specific idea, afraid that it will threaten the comfort zone of our life as we know it.

In some recovery communities, addiction is described as a disease of perception. What is the relationship between addiction and consciousness? Can we be addicted to thoughts and mental habits? Is a strongly held worldview a type of addiction? As recovery from addiction often requires a transformative change in thinking, outlook, and behavior, could the process of recovery from addiction have any lessons for scientists in search of breakthrough thinking and new ideas?

A YHouse member will share his experience as a recovering addict with decades of sobriety and discusses possible insights that may have applications for non-addicts and be joined in conversation by Piet Hut, who will argue that in a wider sense all of us are addicts to world views. Together they will explore ways that tools for recovery from addiction may yield results for scientists looking to re-imagine their approaches to science.

Buy tickets/get more info now