The Predictive Mind and Mortal Knowledge

Abstract

In my commentary on Greg Nixon’s articles, “Myth and Mind” and “Hollows of Experience”, I begin with a discussion of those definitions and principles regarding consciousness in which Nixon and I are in agreement. Next I set forth my understanding of Nixon’s thesis regarding the reaction to mortal knowledge and concomitant construction of sacred myth, in the emergence of consciousness, and critique this thesis. I then offer an alternative explanation for the emergence of consciousness, in which the construction of predictive narrative is selected “for”. I conclude my commentary with an alternative explanation of the emergence of, and significance of, Nixon’s existential crisis of mortal knowledge, by repositioning its emergence from beginnings, 150,000 years ago, to cultural developments that occurred as recently as 10,000 years ago.