Details for this torrent 


VICTIM_OF_THE_BRAIN-1988.mp4
Type:
Video > Movies
Files:
1
Size:
700.57 MB

Spoken language(s):
English
Tag(s):
Douglas Hofstadter Daniel Dennett Marvin Minsky artificial intelligence cognition docudrama science brain Godel Escher Bach reality robots scientist
Quality:
+0 / -0 (0)

Uploaded:
Sep 9, 2008
By:
westoncb



From Wikipedia: "Victim of the Brain is a 1988 film by Dutch director Piet Hoenderdos, loosely based on The Mind's I, a compilation of texts and stories on the philosophy of mind and self, co-edited by Douglas Hofstadter and Daniel C. Dennett. The film weaves interviews with Hofstadter with adaptations of several works in the book: Dennett's Where am I?, The Soul of the Mark III Beast by Terrel Miedaner, and also the short story The Seventh Sally by Stanisław Lem. The film was shown several times on television in Holland in the late eighties".

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I thought the film was pretty great, slow to start with, but great eventually. The ideas are expressed pretty well and in a manner that I feel would gradually acquaint someone unfamiliar with them to at least the point of comprehension, if not acceptance, of the most advanced (Ok, the unfamiliar are going to miss some of what Hofstadter's getting at.., but the main ideas are accessible). What's really great is watching Dennett and Minsky doing a pretty good job of acting out a scenario that the docudrama never explicitly reveals is fictional :) At the same time as being absolutely hilarious, it shows the intense conviction of the film's participants that the ideas are true. 

If the ideas in the film interest you, you should check out some of the books written by Hofstadter, Minsky, and/or Dennett. Gödel, Escher, Bach; Society of Mind; or Consciousness Explained will give you more detail and an idea of the foundations of the ideas. Each book has a unique flavor and difficulty, but they're all good.

-weston

Comments

Anyone to seed this? Would be so grateful!

Anyone who's had trouble getting through Hofstadter's G-E-B might want to try his recent "I am a Strange Loop". Sums up the same themes with greater ease (after 30-or-so years of contemplating them, no doubt).
Seeding this gem would be nice. Thank you!