Sebastian Watzl
@sebastianwatzl.bsky.social
Philosophy Prof at University of Oslo. Writes all things attention - from psychology to politics and back. Author of "Structuring Mind" (OUP). PI of GoodAttention. He/His
https://www.sebastianwatzl.com/
https://www.sebastianwatzl.com/
I wouldn't mind that splintering if the slop wasn't slop (i.e. ok, good indeed I think, for private and public to separate if only the public information sphere - I like calling it attentional landscape - was of better quality)
October 31, 2025 at 10:37 AM
I wouldn't mind that splintering if the slop wasn't slop (i.e. ok, good indeed I think, for private and public to separate if only the public information sphere - I like calling it attentional landscape - was of better quality)
In part that's probably true.
October 31, 2025 at 9:20 AM
In part that's probably true.
that might be a part of it and that wouldn't be bad I think (tehre is more to social life than giving lectures to the world!)
October 31, 2025 at 9:01 AM
that might be a part of it and that wouldn't be bad I think (tehre is more to social life than giving lectures to the world!)
well, depends on what they are doing instead, no? As I understand the evidence people are just as much (or more) online, but they are less engaged in social interactions (hope it's not true, but fear it might be)
October 31, 2025 at 8:47 AM
well, depends on what they are doing instead, no? As I understand the evidence people are just as much (or more) online, but they are less engaged in social interactions (hope it's not true, but fear it might be)
It’s a good book!
October 30, 2025 at 4:02 PM
It’s a good book!
no no no. there is organization, organ donor, etc. 'Ero... anything' is just a no go. (totally agree with K. Hawley here!)
October 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
no no no. there is organization, organ donor, etc. 'Ero... anything' is just a no go. (totally agree with K. Hawley here!)
YES. I was just dealing with today. No Undo button??? (i really hope we can see another round of proofs - because this might just have become a weird f--up.)
October 28, 2025 at 2:13 PM
YES. I was just dealing with today. No Undo button??? (i really hope we can see another round of proofs - because this might just have become a weird f--up.)
That seems to be independent of whether smell or flavor experience is representational, no?
October 26, 2025 at 12:13 PM
That seems to be independent of whether smell or flavor experience is representational, no?
Seems to me that in one sense the answer is yes: the presence of the flavor in, say, a food is explained by the fact that it indicates to a consumer system the presence of, say, bananas. It’s a signal selected to carry that message. On a certain teleofunctional notion, it does seem representional.
October 26, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Seems to me that in one sense the answer is yes: the presence of the flavor in, say, a food is explained by the fact that it indicates to a consumer system the presence of, say, bananas. It’s a signal selected to carry that message. On a certain teleofunctional notion, it does seem representional.
well, I'd say it started a lot earlier when the populist figured out how to run an effective war of position
October 15, 2025 at 4:21 PM
well, I'd say it started a lot earlier when the populist figured out how to run an effective war of position
(but yes, the feedback loop is important to explain the dynamics)
October 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
(but yes, the feedback loop is important to explain the dynamics)
Yeah, that seems to me a true and important observation. Still, one might say: why did the populist not succeed (as much) in the 70s? You say: it took some time for them to construct their own niche (I prefer that biological metaphor). But then, why did it not start 40 years earlier?
October 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Yeah, that seems to me a true and important observation. Still, one might say: why did the populist not succeed (as much) in the 70s? You say: it took some time for them to construct their own niche (I prefer that biological metaphor). But then, why did it not start 40 years earlier?
That seems very plausible to me. What's your view on why it's happening (more) NOW? (ym guess regarding contributing factors: (neo)liberalism not really working for many people (especially emotionally, fall of east bloc made (badness of) alternatives to democracy less salient, other things?)
October 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
That seems very plausible to me. What's your view on why it's happening (more) NOW? (ym guess regarding contributing factors: (neo)liberalism not really working for many people (especially emotionally, fall of east bloc made (badness of) alternatives to democracy less salient, other things?)
in my head: yes
October 13, 2025 at 10:02 PM
in my head: yes