The Cost of Constructing the World

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If we want to put it into the realm of conscious deliberation, we have to convert facts to narratives. The whole coca-kulia problem couldn't have happened if we didn't do that. But I think there's a cost to do it now because it's like modeling. Once you start to conceptualize the world and divide it up into concepts, you are going to lose some aspect of reality,. Some aspect of the truth. And maybe it's the unconscious doesn't trust language because of that. Because it's a liar.

The Summer of Cormac McCarthy continues – this time we dive into his one piece of non-fiction, the short essay “The Kekulé Problem.” How does our unconscious mind solve problems that conscious deliberation can’t crack? Why does it often work elliptically, in code, rather than giving us the answer directly in language? Is McCarthy right that the unconscious doesn’t trust language because it’s such a newcomer to the human brain?

Plus we select the finalists for our listener selected episode – thanks to our beloved patrons for all their terrific suggestions!

"The Kekulé Problem" by Cormac McCarthy

Pinker & Bloom 1990

Dijksterhuis & Strick 2016