Hi, ToK'ers!

Relatively new to the list (along with Cory). Intriguing topic, here, and
of course very timely.

I started writing on this topic in 2014. I published a short piece for my
old campus (UC Santa Barbara's) Science and Tech newspaper column. I link
it here:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__dailynexus.com_2014-2D08-2D27_artificial-2Dintelligence-2Dcan-2Dscience-2Dtruly-2Drecreate-2Dyou_&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=YHXtBxs7Oqxgc_mn-USVWM6c788fTpFwEjwsaSFeHqk&s=zoa8c0_6un152ROj0sdRnjX_Ohyu0myyoK-zkPNojzk&e=

For quotes, I interviewed one of my ethics debate coaches and social
psychology/psychology of self professor. Some of you may recognize their
names and/or work (the former is a philosopher). The former is reserved
about mind-body dualism a la Descartes, while the latter rejects
physicalism as a dominant mode for understanding human experience.

I started a manuscript on affect, self, and subjectivity in modern A.I.
(theory and applications), in 2015...but, haven't worked on it in a while.

Lastly, I share a blog post
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__thesurajsood.com_2017_03_02_shakespearean-2Da-2Di-2Dsoop_&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=YHXtBxs7Oqxgc_mn-USVWM6c788fTpFwEjwsaSFeHqk&s=6pTaM8jQJSciDlSX85OhcHn94dpSgE0o6OaxWXl3svY&e=> resulting
from a human growth and potential course, and which was incorporated into
one of my recent conference articles (The Psychoinformatic Complexity of
Humanness and Person-Situation Interaction
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.researchgate.net_publication_327971572-5FThe-5Fpsychoinformatic-5Fcomplexity-5Fof-5Fhumanness-5Fand-5Fperson-2Dsituation-5Finteraction&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=YHXtBxs7Oqxgc_mn-USVWM6c788fTpFwEjwsaSFeHqk&s=z56sXI8lDUfQUP-3uMJhw3fAcEyopJVv3Zx8G9fn858&e=>).
I hope these are found to be relevant, here.

Looking forward to further ToK discussion!

Best regards,
Suraj

On Tue, Aug 27, 2019 at 3:13 PM Waldemar Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> I apologize about the two empty messages.
> It was a test to see who was in charge - me or the computer.
> It wasn’t me - again!
>
> *Waldemar A Schmidt, PhD, MD*
> (Perseveret et Percipiunt)
> 503.631.8044
>
> *Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. (A Einstein)*
>
> On Aug 27, 2019, at 9:02 AM, Henriques, Gregg - henriqgx <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> Hi Folks,
>   Recall that one facet of the Digital Identity Problem is the
> digital-globalization meta-crisis, which refers to the enormous
> “game-changer” that the digital landscape will bring us. I think one of the
> most dangerous aspect of the digital landscape is that it is so easy to
> have it create whatever reality folks want.
>
> Here is an article by Jordan Peterson on “deep fakes” that gets at a
> disturbing aspect of this development.
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalpost.com_opinion_jordan-2Dpeterson-2Ddeep-2Dfake&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=YHXtBxs7Oqxgc_mn-USVWM6c788fTpFwEjwsaSFeHqk&s=6BVixugYY5kkB9FaYMB_lLV9Dn9YOw0AyKEDL6N2OwY&e=
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nationalpost.com_opinion_jordan-2Dpeterson-2Ddeep-2Dfake&d=DwMFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=W55_VRf7pgKikHR45aoyvjf2wo_69TJjO0HPdrl262Y&s=MPPTqmm5jxYGJFd3i8ZkK87tc0J59v9Qd9mjjVd4VjM&e=>
>
> Best,
> Gregg
>
> *From:* tree of knowledge system discussion <
> [log in to unmask]> *On Behalf Of *Waldemar Schmidt
> *Sent:* Monday, August 26, 2019 12:55 PM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* Re: Digital Identity Problem
>
> Dear TOK discussion friends:
>
> Many thanks to both Lonnie and Gregg for the comments about mental health
> and senior citizens!
>
> I find the Brookings report illuminating and very disturbing (
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.brookings.edu_wp-2Dcontent_uploads_2017_08_casetextsp17bpea.pdf&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=YHXtBxs7Oqxgc_mn-USVWM6c788fTpFwEjwsaSFeHqk&s=cNV3p8YNrifjDSvgvshgX4zV0qaob5nd2q9ba9M7k_4&e=
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.brookings.edu_wp-2Dcontent_uploads_2017_08_casetextsp17bpea.pdf&d=DwMFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=gg9HskcH4k-a_XPRTrtlq8JS3tRFnysAmDpYG0WAYII&s=9ZMYCkS_xlTRHAAO3e2YWZq8pBoKD_hqUyAHdW5nd8s&e=>
> ),
> Where the college student suicide problem is well documented that of the
> general and mental health of the general USA population doesn’t seem to be
> - or, at least, is not as widely available.
> The Case and Deaton data are well worth the time spent reading - they
> provide objective and temporally-indexed data.
> While some may differ with the concept of a *digital identity crisis* it
> seems pretty obvious that we are headed there in a big hurry.
>
> My experience practicing medicine has led me to the concern that we (in
> the USA) have been practicing a “way of life” which is inimical to mental
> and physical well-being of the general population.
> Case and Deaton demonstrate how long this has been going on.
> AND, we may objectively compare our “life-style: (if not culture
> &worldview) with that of other nations and peoples.
>
> Is it too much to compare our “cultural outcomes crisis” with the “global
> warming crisis?”
> The current paths of these two problems have already lead to grim outcomes
> - the final “crater” ain’t going to be very pretty!
>
> Best regards,
>
> Waldemar
>
> *Waldemar A Schmidt, PhD, MD*
> (Perseveret et Percipiunt)
> 503.631.8044
>
> *Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. (A Einstein)*
>
>
> On Aug 25, 2019, at 8:19 AM, Henriques, Gregg - henriqgx <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>
> Lonnie,
>  I see the mental health crisis as being quite pervasive and would
> consider this observation to fall mostly under the mental health crisis,
> although it clearly also connects to the meaning and digital-globalization
> crises. My primary question would be: Are we seeing an aggregate shift in
> the mental health of the elderly? I have not seen data along those lines.
> When I look I see definite, strong aggregate data pointing to a rise in
> mental health problems in the youth. There is also good data that the
> general and mental health of "lower class" whites has dropped (see here
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.brookings.edu_wp-2Dcontent_uploads_2017_08_casetextsp17bpea.pdf&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=YHXtBxs7Oqxgc_mn-USVWM6c788fTpFwEjwsaSFeHqk&s=cNV3p8YNrifjDSvgvshgX4zV0qaob5nd2q9ba9M7k_4&e=
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.brookings.edu_wp-2Dcontent_uploads_2017_08_casetextsp17bpea.pdf&d=DwMFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=gg9HskcH4k-a_XPRTrtlq8JS3tRFnysAmDpYG0WAYII&s=9ZMYCkS_xlTRHAAO3e2YWZq8pBoKD_hqUyAHdW5nd8s&e=>
> ).
>
>  So, your point is well taken and your reflections are exactly what I hope
> the Digital Identity Problem formulation does, which is provide a
> macro-level frame to see the situation we are in and then start to line up
> many different patterns in the world to raise our collective consciousness.
>
>
> Thanks much for this reflection. I would be interested in looking over
> your dissertation if you feel like sharing it.
>
> Best,
> Gregg
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tree of knowledge system discussion <[log in to unmask]>
> On Behalf Of Lonny Meinecke
> Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 1:03 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Digital Identity Problem
>
> Thanks Gregg!
>
> We might add, as well, a 5th aspect (or subcategory of item 4). There is
> an identity crisis and self-worth crisis among the senior community, as we
> find ourselves expected to keep up with a rate of cognitive growth (a
> selective, amensal growth so to speak) that easily outstrips our
> evolutionary capacity (the rate of our commensal growth so to speak). The
> need to memorize so many passwords associated with fleeting products and
> industries, to intuitively navigate so many different "interfaces" (using
> so many different browsers, each trying to avoid the other's copyrighted
> design while establishing a single standard), make sweeping gestures that
> magically summon hidden items behind glass screens… and so forth.
>
> I am seeing a recurrent "repertoire" of new expressions of anguish and
> anxiety on the faces of elderly persons exhibiting worried cognitive
> saccades as they like living rasters try to find the attentional button of
> the day. You can watch them as they sweep their heads like turrets from
> side to side and top to bottom - the growing fear of failure in their eyes
> - the collapse of self worth and admission of burgeoning cognitive
> "deficits" because they are expected to intuit what is not remotely
> instinctual. Curiously, G Stanley Hall said much the same 100 years ago
> about the plight of children (Search, 1901, p. 51-52).
>
> Nearly every day I hear admissions of insufficient self-worth by persons I
> once admired, and not because their abilities have diminished but because
> the expectations of a digital world make us all feel outdated and obsolete.
>
> For our group, I think this offers a chance to challenge our assumptions
> in the broad sense, and see if we might foster reverence for what we
> biologically are (unique individuated creatures with the need to be valued
> by our fellows) more than what we mentally lack (too young to be of any
> value, too old to be of any value, or just right to be of temporary value
> to society). What do you think? Some of this is in my dissertation's
> chapter 5 and based on my method (physical age bias: too young, too old, or
> just right and mental age bias: not smart, not smart enough, or just right).
>
> Thanks!
> Lonny
>
> Reference
>
> Search, P. W. (1901). An ideal school, or looking forward. In W. T. Harris
> (Ed.), International Education Series (Vol. LII, pp. 1-357). New York, NY:
> D. Appleton and Company.
>
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