6 Comments

  1. calinwfraser

    In his publications (i.e., GEB and more recently “I am a Strange Loop”) he does give some credit claiming there is a “similarity in spirit” between his and Freud’s work.

  2. kianatehrani

    Touché.

  3. bdeaner

    Actually these ideas are not new. Freud’s theory of association is basically the same principle: thought is built upon analogies, which connect or associate one idea with another. Hofstadter even steals the concept of parapraxis — the Freudian slip — without crediting Freud!

  4. jboxo

    NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRDDDDDDSS!

  5. bdeaner

    The conception of associations as the means by which sensations become perceptions can be traced to the British Empiricists. But the linkage of associations with structures in language — analogies — is I believe likely original to psychodynamic psychology — Freud and his followers. Nevertheless, yes, a good talk. But it irks me that Hofstadter does not give Freud credit where he is due on these points — I think he is too afraid to ‘associate’ his work with Freud’s. Pun intended.

  6. tokotokotoko3

    I would also say that its kind of obvious that the basis of our thinking must be associations, so I think you’re right, the idea cant be really new (I bet the Greeks already came up with it – they were always first ;) ). But analogies are one step further I think – and its an excellent talk. I enjoyed it a lot.

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