#7 Nerd Nite Hamilton – 11th March, 2024
Talk #1: Dementia and Its Discontent
What is dementia? What is normal aging and what is not? If it’s not dementia, what else could it be? What does it mean to be a Care Partner? What is “Caregiver Syndrome”? So many questions!!!! Lucky for you, there are answers….at Nerd Nite #7. Join us for this fascinating discussion of all these issues and empower yourselves and your loved ones with knowledge about dementia and what living with it could mean!
Bio: Cheri Elson was an estate planning and probate attorney in California and Oregon for 20 years, working with families living with dementia and other cognitive decline, and preserving the rights of seniors and those unable to advocate for themselves. Also a full-time caregiver of a close relative for over two years, Cheri has experienced first-hand the stress and overwhelm that often accompanies the challenging task of caring for loved ones around the clock. With a passion for preserving the rights of seniors and those unable to advocate for themselves, and a professional background as an elder law attorney/LAWYER, Cheri offers a unique perspective to the often-complicated process of managing the affairs of those struggling with the effects of cognitive decline and dementia.
Talk #2: Spontaneous Activity, Intentional Activity, and a Not-so-secret Third Kind of Activity the Daoists Told us About
Many of our activities are spontaneous—breathing, hearing, holding our bodies up. Some of our activities are intentional—sniffing, listening, gesturing. In many other activities, spontaneity and intention are commingled—for example, skilled but natural action such as excellent artistic or athletic performance, or flow states of all kinds. The problem is that “Western” philosophical theories of action systematically fail to account for the third kind of activity. This is because historically deep-seated dichotomies between spontaneity/intention, nature/artifice, body/mind, and ease/effort distort our accounts of the third kind of activity. In this talk, I explore ways in which an “Eastern” analysis of natural but skilled activity can help us go beyond the dichotomies to develop more fine-grained and commodious theories of activities where spontaneity and rarified skill work together more or less seamlessly. Getting a bit clearer on how skill, effort, and action relate to each other is essential for effective self-cultivation.
Bio: Alex Djedovic, B.Sc., Ph.D., is a philosopher working at the intersection of biology and cognitive science. His research interests focus on how the life sciences and mind sciences both inform and mislead each other. Alex is also interested in non-Western approaches to cognition, the intersection of philosophy of mind with mental health, how cognitive science influences society, and the role of theory in making a more just world.
Talk #3: Scrolling Struggles: Unraveling the Mystery of Social Media Addiction
Social media: the love-hate relationship we just can’t quit! Ever wondered why we keep scrolling even when we know it’s not good for us? Turns out, our brains are like prediction machines on overdrive, trying to make sense of the digital chaos. But hey, not all apps are evil geniuses – some are just friendly neighbors! Let’s dive into the neuroscience of addiction and find out why we’re hooked on likes, shares, and cat videos. Spoiler alert: blame it on the algorithm!”
Bio: Mark Miller, Ph.D. is a philosopher of cognition. His research explores what recent advances in the cognitive sciences can tell us about happiness and well-being, and what it means to live well in our increasingly technologically-mediated world. Currently Mark is the Senior Research Fellow at the Monash University’s Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies (Australia), and is cross affiliated at both the University of Toronto (Canada) and Hokkaido University (Japan).