Experiential Understanding

Experiences can manifest in various ways. For example, the sensation of cold is an experience in itself, while observing someone else feeling cold can evoke a different kind of understanding, albeit at a reduced level.

Thoughts also constitute experiences. The mere thought of a physical sensation can trigger a perceived reality. For instance, thinking about a threat can induce panic, accompanied by physiological responses like increased heart rate. Thus, thoughts can give rise to experiences, and they too are classified as experiences.

The brain's rules governing thoughts are inherently linked to those governing experiences. Emotional factors such as hate, revenge, and feelings of offense are often articulated through thought processes. The assumptions we make and our subsequent reactions are deeply rooted in these cognitive patterns.

Sensory Processing in the Brain

In the realm of brain science, it is well-established that all sensory information—except for smell, which is processed in the olfactory bulb—converges at the thalamus before being relayed to the cerebral cortex for further interpretation.

This means that when we perceive sensory inputs (sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell), they initially converge at specific brain points for processing. It is theorized that this sensory integration at these hubs transforms diverse stimuli into a cohesive experience before being dispatched for interpretation elsewhere in the brain.

Sensory inputs lose their original distinctiveness and become a unified entity, akin to a currency used for further cognitive processing. This integrated form is proposed to be the basis of thought, where external stimuli are represented internally. Thus, everything perceived is ultimately processed as a form of thought within the brain.

The cerebral cortex then interprets these integrated experiences into categories such as knowledge, emotion, and reaction. Knowledge, which is essentially memory, dictates how these experiences unfold.

The interpretation process can be regarded as a property acquisition, where the integrated experience seeks destinations for further processing. This dynamic interplay shapes our emotional responses, whether they align with external circumstances or not.

The Properties of Emotional Experience

Emotional states such as hate, joy, fear, and anxiety are all properties that can be influenced by these integrated experiences. The brain's ability to relay quantities of these emotional states determines our reactions in various situations.

Although there are cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for constructing these emotional states, they exist on different levels. For instance, while fear is a widely studied phenomenon, individuals do not directly experience the brain's fear centers or cells. Neuroimaging techniques observe brain activity but do not capture the essence of experiences themselves.

The critical inquiry lies in understanding the properties that a quantity acquires at any given moment. This understanding is vital for educating those who might feel offended or vengeful, encouraging them to seek help or intervention, which could play a significant role in preventing harm.

Mass shootings have become alarmingly frequent, often attributed to guns or mental health issues. However, the experience of mental illness, characterized by delusions or hallucinations, differs significantly from the biological aspects of these conditions.

By elucidating the pathways of experiential understanding, we may pave the way for a more secure future, distancing ourselves from the complexities of current challenges.