It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of the James Burke series, Connections. That series took an interdisciplinary approach to the history of science and invention, and demonstrated how various discoveries, scientific achievements, and historical world events were built from one another. It was a marvelous and thought-provoking series with episodes such as this 1997 Connections episode called Feedback.
However, this post isn’t about James Burke or Connections, but rather about a worthy successor to the Burke Method of teaching. That successor is Dr. David Eagleman and his fascinating 6-part series, The Brain. Eagleman is an associate professor at Stanford University in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He asks in his series: What Is Reality? What Makes Me? Who Is in Control? How Do I Decide? Why Do I Need You? Who Will We Be?
Asking these age old questions isn’t enough. Eagleman answers these questions by challenging viewers with intelligent scenarios that always give you an “ah-ha” moment. For example, the conscious you thinks it’s in charge when at best, it’s simply along for the ride. Think you know why you voted for a particular candidate? You really don’t. Your heredity and level of disgust determines your political views – nothing more and nothing else. Don’t understand how someone can lack empathy? Eagleman tells you why empathy is our natural state and those without it are the aberration.
I want to be clear: Burke went from point A to D in a linear manner showing how D was built upon the success of C which was successful because B was successful, etc. Eagleman is not Burke and doesn’t pretend to be. He is focused purely on item D and why it is important in laying the groundwork for item E. Understanding what we are leads to understanding who we are and where we can go.
The Brain is a fascinating series that can be found on Amazon Prime or at PBS.org. Part of episode 1, What is Reality? is below. Watching it will be time well spent.
