Iain McGilchrist - The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

Renowned psychiatrist and writer Iain McGilchrist explains how the 'divided brain' has profoundly altered human behaviour, culture and society.

[neoish]

Einstein " The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant but has forgotten the gift."

[liberty-matrix]

"We only understand things by comparing them with something else we think we know even better." ~ Iain McGilchrist

[XArcane]

Excellent talk. I agree this should be animated, and Dr McGilchrist should be re-invited because this is one of the best RSA lectures I've ever seen. Perhaps the one fault is that he has spent so much time going in-depth (which to him was probably just skimming the surface) that there was not enough time for specifics on how it has impacted society.

[liberty-matrix]

“A problem properly stated is half solved.” ~ John Dewey

[VikrantSingh-sezb]

Thanks for self-illuminating talk about brain that separated myths and truths in content forms and grounded contexts.

[kikiperry]

I was having the mind/ machine discussion with a researcher neuroscientist recently and I needed this turn of phrase, in the absence of a model for comparison we go into to default mode and not knowing what model the mind best compares to we go to the default model: machine i.e. computer. J Searle held a fine discussion on how the computer could never 'be' exactly like our minds.

[cj]

Excellent lecture, short and clear. The whole picture :D

[adda]

The Einstein quote at the end is awesome.

[kikiperry]

Notes: 'CONTEXT' is everything in understanding. Neglect of context is the single great disaster in philosophy. The 'real' mountain is the one in which we play the least part (its material reality).In context we need to protect and maintain the implicit nature of things, by making them explicit we change them and they become something else. Genomes code according to context they find themselves in... understanding does not come out of sidling many out of context items together. very powerful

[nosapience]

Iain on grand form here with the RSA and just down the list a rather good RSAnimate to go with the principle monologue.

[kikiperry]

clif9710: NB: there is the pause button for your empowerment! Pause and reflect and then continue; this is especially useful for the condensed versions of the lectures. I get attracted and hooked by the RSA videos and then go look for the longer version.

[MarkoKraguljac]

We could skip a few royal economists and politicians and allow Mr McGilchrist a few sessions to elaborate further on this very interesting topic?

[MusicalBasics]

That question at the end was typical of left-hemisphere thinking of trying to control the message ;)

[maureensinisi]

No one is responsible for other people's interpretations. The Source's responsibility is to make sure that the delivered message is clear, to give proven examples if needed, and to "surrender" it all. Truth stands on its own.

[yeflynne]

so glad he spoke about the different hemispheres of the brains working together

[rickwitten]

We make a map of reality on our heads, then go on mistaking the map for the place.

[colloredbrothers]

This is what meditation does, this is also what the bible talks about when it says one must have a renewing mind. All of these concepts and how to practice this focusing of consciousness has been known for thousands of years. This is my opinion and it will probably be ill received, but the speaker speaks from a pure intellectual understanding and the manner in which he describes and speaks things is devoid of heart. If you want a talk from an experiencer of this, go to the spiritual teachers.

[DoRayMeFa]

Excellent talk...
Biological facets seem to have been well explored in the past, but the characteristics of the hemispheres on societal development are new to me and very thought provoking.
.
Only distantly related but:
I read an article that showed how the different emotional dispositions of individuals determine their political affiliations: fearful dispositions for conservative politics, and adventurous enterprising dispositions for liberal politics. Not too hemisphere-related, sorry!

[JobvanderZwan]

@XArcane I've read the book, and yes, he was just skimming the surface. The most information-dense book I've ever read, and enjoyed reading, for that matter. I highly recommend it!

[GarglingMarblesMusic]

I do think that similar concepts have been known for a very long time. I also adore Iain McGilchrist. And no matter how strongly one believes, my hierarchy is clear: I have great religious respect for spiritual teachers. I place social and ethical geniuses like McGilchrist miles above those either way.