Author: gnosticmodels
-
Reviews
“Alec helps us learn how to think creatively and penetratingly about how we construct helpful and not-so-helpful beliefs or models about the nature of the mind and reality.” Tsoknyi Rinpoche
-
About the Author
Alec Rogers is an author who has studied the mind from numerous perspectives for over 30 years. He has degrees in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Psychology, and has studied at Boston University, Cornell University, Maitripa College, Portland State University, Rangjung Yeshe Institute, and Reed College. Prior to becoming an author, he worked as a…
-
Thought vs Non-Thought
If you find yourself thinking a lot, you might be anxiously trying to solve a problem, but you might also simply enjoy your thoughts a lot. So, if you really enjoy your thoughts, don’t try not to think. Wait until you value the alternative, then cease thinking. If you don’t value the alternative, make sure…
-
Thinking About Embodiment
Perhaps it is odd to think about embodiment to any great degree if one wants to be embodied, because theory is not practice. But some of us will want to know what exactly we are putting our trust in when we have faith in our emotions or bodies. So, here is a theory about what…
-
Spacetime Diagrams
The diagrams in this book are based on spacetime diagrams, which are 2-D diagrams where the horizontal dimension represents space and the vertical dimension represents time (the future is up). All events within spacetime are volumes that have both a spatial and a temporal extent. The vertical lines are called worldlines: they represent the course…
-
Introduction
Gnostic models are mental models. This is meant in two ways: they are models of our mind and they are models that our mind uses. If we do not have a model of the mind that we use to understand the world, we are likely to become confused by projecting aspects of our mind onto…
-
Table of Contents
Preface Introduction Models The Self Model The Physical Model Exercise: Asking Space The Rug Model Measuring Space Worldlines Causality Retrocausality Exercise: Visualizing Mind Conceptual Spaces Connectionism What is the Mind? Where is the Mind? Exercise: Knowing Emotion Types of Emotions Emotional Energy Empathy Exercise: Feeling Body Karma What is the Body? Where is the Body?…
-
Preface
Self-models form a basis for thinking, feeling, and acting in the world: the better our models are, the better we know and navigate reality. Although models of reality are often more highly valued than models of the self, we cannot form a good model of reality unless we also have a good model of the…