DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Annie Murphy Paul, an acclaimed science writer who discusses the concept of the 'extended mind' - the idea that our mind is not just confined to our brain, but extends into our bodies, surroundings, and relationships with others. Paul explains how we can leverage this idea to improve our thinking abilities by incorporating physical movement, engaging with our environment, and collaborating with experts and peers.
Paul delves into practical ways of 'thinking with the body' by being more attuned to bodily sensations through practices like body scans, and using movement to enhance cognitive flow. She also suggests incorporating the physical space around us, such as using whiteboards or post-it notes to externalize ideas, and spending time in nature to replenish mental resources.
The idea of 'thinking with relationships' is explored, highlighting the benefits of learning from experts in a way that makes their knowledge more accessible, collaborating with peers through practices like debate and storytelling, and fostering a 'group mind' through synchronized movement and shared rituals. Paul also touches on the concept of 'extension inequality,' where access to these resources is not equally distributed.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The mind extends beyond the brain and into our bodies, surroundings, and relationships with others.
- Incorporating physical movement, engaging with the environment, and collaborating with others can enhance thinking abilities.
- Practices like body scans, using whiteboards or post-it notes, and spending time in nature can improve cognitive function.
- Learning from experts in an accessible way, collaborating with peers through debate and storytelling, and fostering a 'group mind' can enhance thinking.
- Access to resources like green spaces, knowledgeable people, and freedom of movement is not equally distributed, creating 'extension inequality.'
- Challenging conventional views of the mind confined to the brain can lead to a more holistic understanding of human cognition and well-being.
- Integrating the body, environment, and social relationships into thinking processes can align with philosophical ideas about living in harmony with our true nature as embodied, socially connected beings.
- Adopting an 'extended mind' perspective can provide practical strategies for enhancing cognitive abilities in various contexts, such as work, education, and personal growth.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Where does the mind stop and the rest of the world begin?“ by Annie Murphy Paul, quoting philosophers Andy Clark and David Chalmers
- “We have bodies that were embedded in physical surroundings, that we are related to other people in deep ways, and that all of those things can enhance our thinking, not just a lump of tissue inside our skulls.“ by Annie Murphy Paul
- “If we can give up that idea and explore the alternatives, it's not just an idea about how to think better. It's about how to live better or how to live in accord with who we really are, because we are creatures with bodies and relationships, and we're embedded in physical surroundings.“ by Annie Murphy Paul
- “And if we're not in touch with our bodies, then we don't have the same access to that depth of experience.“ by Annie Murphy Paul
- “We need to think in terms of not just improving our own memory or our own store of information as individuals, but how are those things working together in systems with other people, with other minds?“ by Annie Murphy Paul
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Episode Information
Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris
Ten Percent Happier
5/20/24
An acclaimed science writer on how to upgrade your mind by using more than your head.
When you think about thinking, most of us think of it as a supremely solo pursuit. You’re in your head, concentrating and cogitating, all by yourself. But the science shows that if you want to improve your thinking, you need to get out of your head. Today we’re going to talk about a concept called “the extended mind.” Your mind isn’t just in your skull: it’s in your body, it’s in the people around you, it’s in your surroundings. The best thinking requires that you break out of what the writer David Foster Wallace called “the skull sized kingdom” and access these other resources.
This may sound abstract, but our guest today makes it very practical. Annie Murphy Paul is an acclaimed science writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, Scientific American, Slate, Time, and The Best American Science Writing, among many other publications. She is the author of Origins and The Cult of Personality, hailed by Malcolm Gladwell as a “fascinating new book.” Currently a fellow at New America, Paul has spoken to audiences around the world about learning and cognition; her TED talk has been viewed by more than 2.6 million people. A graduate of Yale University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she has served as a lecturer at Yale University and as a senior advisor at their Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. Her latest book is The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain
In this episode, we also talk about:
- How to use your surroundings to think better
- My favorite of the three areas of this book – thinking with our relationships
- Why “groupthink” isn’t always a bad thing (OR you can say, the benefits of thinking in groups)
- What she called “extension inequality” – that this benefit of the extended mind isn’t available to all people
Related Episodes: Ancient Secrets to Modern Happiness | Tamar Gendler
Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/anniemurphypaul
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