PS 233 Lecture 5: Predictive Hypotheses
Document Summary
We carry in our heads predictive hypotheses of the external worldand of ourselves . Information or evidence for something comes in, the mind uses that information and information from prior experience, and then gives the best guess on what is happening. What we"re consciously aware of isn"t what is actually out there, but we are consciously aware of the mind"s predictions (i. e. illusions) Most times the mind"s best guess is in fact what is out there. In the case of perception it"s easier to see the two sides that are out there (description vs the prediction of the mind) But when it comes to decision making, etc. it becomes foggier. An active process there will be cases where we are incorrect. It"s based on past experience, and other information. The mind is always saying what am i experiencing then making the best guess. Prediction is necessary because we don"t have perfect information.
