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Reasoning by analogy is one of the ways we solve the framing problem.

So, when explaining the universe we imagine it's an act of will by a conscious entity (ie., like how we invent). When explaining the mind we suppose it's like one of our inventions.

Absent an analogy of some kind it's quite hard to determine what features are salient. Objects have an essentially infinite number of properties.




> So, when explaining the universe we imagine it's an act of will by a conscious entity

Unless I’m misunderstand you, that line of reasoning assumes one is religious.


Not necessarily, see for example Nick Bostrom's Simulation Hypothesis.

Maybe one could argue that too requires adherence to some religious dogma (Scientism? Reductionism?)


I don’t think that’s strictly required — atheists/agnostics can still “imagine” the universe is an act of will


We here means "our species".


And absent an understanding of electric fields and meteorology, that lightning bolt over there must have been hurled by Zeus!




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