Do you think there are many similar threads between shock value, surprisal, and awe? Like, are there many common threads—both neurologically and sociologically?
Totalitarian societies use “awe” as a tool of control.
Did awe evolve from “something more primitive” into the complex emotion it is today? What is the simplest animal species that can feel something akin to awe? Jane Goodall wrote that even chimpanzees can feel “awe” from a waterfall, and some cetacean experts have mentioned that whales/elephants can pause at events humans might react with awe to.
[The biggest moment of awe I ever felt in my life was when the Thiel Fellowship got announced for the first time. It just… shocked… every sense of my policy network… every sense of “what actions/life paths are worth following”.. as it shocked the entire world… and I was shocked/impressed that it was possible that people could follow such life paths].
(I mean, feelings of “a whole new world” that come all at once also inspire awe..)
[As someone whose mental space was constantly consumed by having to impress gatekeepers, the Thiel Fellowship’s announcement produced awe in the most cathartic way]
Do you think there are many similar threads between shock value, surprisal, and awe? Like, are there many common threads—both neurologically and sociologically?
Totalitarian societies use “awe” as a tool of control.
Did awe evolve from “something more primitive” into the complex emotion it is today? What is the simplest animal species that can feel something akin to awe? Jane Goodall wrote that even chimpanzees can feel “awe” from a waterfall, and some cetacean experts have mentioned that whales/elephants can pause at events humans might react with awe to.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_and_awe
Infinities are a way to inspire awe—https://x.com/JDHamkins?t=yfENp4Ou23RggXDPRpo2yw&s=09
https://open.substack.com/pub/joeldavidhamkins/p/surreal-numbers?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=60bo
(Max tegmarck multiverse theory is another way)
[The biggest moment of awe I ever felt in my life was when the Thiel Fellowship got announced for the first time. It just… shocked… every sense of my policy network… every sense of “what actions/life paths are worth following”.. as it shocked the entire world… and I was shocked/impressed that it was possible that people could follow such life paths].
(I mean, feelings of “a whole new world” that come all at once also inspire awe..)
[As someone whose mental space was constantly consumed by having to impress gatekeepers, the Thiel Fellowship’s announcement produced awe in the most cathartic way]