Mental Freedom Research Articles

Mind-reading in AI and neurotechnology: evaluating claims, hype, and ethical implications for neurorights

This paper examines claims that the convergence of AI and neurotechnology applications, known as brain-reading, enables the reading of human minds. The purpose of this examination is to investigate whether the use of the terms “brain-reading” and “mind-reading” to convey current neurotechnological findings carries evidence of hype. We conducted an interpretive content analysis of 1017 academic articles to gain insights into the current state of the art and examine assertions made by academics. Our analysis revealed that up to 91% of the examined articles suggest the possibility of mind-reading through brain-reading. Ethical issues discussed frequently include mental privacy, mental freedom, and personhood. Our study highlights the imprecise and inconsistent usage of the term mind-reading in scientific discourse, which leads to exaggerated claims about AI and BCIs having already achieved capacities beyond their current capabilities—or even reaching capacities that may never be feasible. While our study provides evidence of AI and BCI hype concerning alleged mind-reading capabilities, it also uncovers a hype in AI ethics, specifically pertaining to neurorights. This involves hypothetical scenarios where the fictional prospect of AI-enabled mind-reading calls for the establishment of new protective human rights.

“You shall have the thought”: habeas cogitationem as a New Legal Remedy to Enforce Freedom of Thinking and Neurorights

Despite its obvious advantages, the disruptive development of neurotechnology can pose risks to fundamental freedoms. In the context of such concerns, proposals have emerged in recent years either to design human rights de novo or to update the existing ones. These new rights in the age of neurotechnology are now widely referred to as “neurorights.” In parallel, there is a considerable amount of ongoing academic work related to updating the right to freedom of thought in order to include the protection of “freedom of thinking” (i.e., freedom of thought itself) and not only its social manifestations. Neurorights such as cognitive liberty, free will, mental freedom, and mental self-determination come into play here. Importantly, freedom of thought has often been considered a prerequisite for all the other fundamental freedoms and rights. In any case, just as other rights require additional legal instruments to guarantee their compliance, substantial neurorights will probably require specific complementary developments in procedural law. In relation to this, there is a long tradition of habeas corpus as an emergency remedy to enforce the rights of a citizen against illegal or arbitrary detention. More recently, the habeas data writ has been proposed and admitted in certain countries to guarantee a person’s ownership of their personal data. In this article, we propose to expand this procedural apparatus by incorporating a third habeas, which we call habeas cogitationem: a writ aimed primarily at enforcing the right to freedom of thinking (and, subsidiarily, the rest of neurorights) against direct, harmful interferences in a person’s thought process by both public and private perpetrators.

The Theme of Poetry Recital in Concentration-Camp Literature: Shalamov, Semprún, and Other Witnesses

A recurrent theme of narratives by concentration-camp survivors is reciting poetry. For intellectuals in the camps, reciting verses was an aid to survival, a loophole of mental freedom, available only when the prisoners were not being driven to depletion at “general works.” Poetry also facilitated genuine human contact, helped the prisoners inscribe themselves into specific historical and cultural traditions, and re-mediated the verses that belonged to those traditions. The latter function of poetry recital was operative not only during the imprisonment but also during the composition of the narratives after the liberation: the memoirists not only found meanings in the cultural traditions on which their sense of identity depended but also helped to maintain these traditions for their own sake.

浅谈《爱欲》中表现出的佛教观

Shen Congwen focuses on the idea that literature creation is rooted in human nature, expressing the root of Buddhist ideology while speaking about healthy and beautiful vitality about ‘overflowing vitality,’ ‘healthy human nature,’ and natural ‘life’ of human beings. In other words, Shen Congwen pursues human nature and beauty in human nature by describing the nature’s scene of omen in literature, creating literary values. Human nature is the starting point and cornerstone of the utopia that Shen Congwen tried to build, where creation begins. He also reflects Buddhist ideology and accommodates Buddhist stories by building his life philosophy based on the theory of human nature. Shen Congwen asserts life philosophy as the foundation for the theory of human nature by accepting Buddhism in a philosophical way, connoting the Buddhist spirit purusing freedom of mind in his literary world. In his novel 〈Moonlight Scenery〉, ‘holiness’ of life, thoughts about life and death issues, love, and beauty are affected by Buddhist ideology. The exploration of Buddhist ideology that appears in his works reveal how Shen Congwen perceives life. When he attempts to understand the essence of the human world, Buddhism allows him to gaze at holiness of life based on metaphysical speculation. Shen Congwen explores life through the comparison between the world of human nature and pathological world. He is an unusual author who tries to express human nature from the ethical aspect while inciting healthy human nature. His abstract love and alienation of beauty and secular reality allow him to reach thoughts about the most fundamental things in Buddhism, such as life and death, emptiness, eternity, and secular and sacred domains. In addition, due to the influence of Buddhist ideology, Shen Congwen perceives life philosophy that breaks away from all kinds of anguish and pursues the state of mental freedom. Such theory about the Buddhist mind and nature suggests human nature, which is the essence of life seen through Shen’s unique perspective.

서거정과 김시습의 차시에 나타난 차생활 고찰

This research compared the tea lifestyle of Geo-Jung Seo and Si-Seup Kim, who led a stark contrast in life. Seo was a leader of the bureaucracy, while Kim was a culmination of an outsider. Nevertheless, they left the most tea poems in history. On the surface, both enjoyed high-quality teas using down-to-earth teaware. On the other hand, Geo-Jung Seo drank tea from practical perspectives, such as to ease thirst or illness. Si-Seup Kim, however, used tea to reach for Zen and to heal the solitary mind as a lifetime traveller. In addition, the tea lifestyle was a form of rest for Seo, who was physically and mentally tired from hard work. He came to ease by producing a private healing space in the city and drinking tea there. On the other hand, Kim tried to manage his anger or unfulfilled ideas by living in nature and purifying his mind by drinking tea, which led to true mental freedom, where his tea lifestyle itself became him.

Пространство женской неволи в кинематографе Азербайджана 1920-х – начала 1930-х годов

The article explores the impact of Soviet propaganda on Azerbaijani cinema in the 1920s and early 1930s, specifically during the transition from avant-garde to social realism. It analyzes three films as case studies: 'In the Name of God' (1925) by A.-M. Sharifzadeh, 'Sevil' (1929) by A. Bek-Nazarian, and 'Ismet' (1934) by M. Mikayilov. The authors discuss the fight against religion as a social institu-tion and the promotion of Soviet ideals to replace customary law (adat). They identify the bounda-ries of bodily and mental freedom and highlight the lack of freedom experienced by Soviet citizens. The films particularly emphasize women's rights by addressing a breadth of topics, including the role and position of women in family and society, as well as specific plans of action to integrate them into Soviet society. The danger lies in the familiar and everyday aspects of female oppression, origi-nating primarily from the traditional home as the source of authority. A woman's new life begins with a change in her environment and departure from the patriarchal system of interactions. Azerbai-jani films reflect both the socio-cultural context and political objectives, aligning with general Soviet policies while also maintaining a distinct national identity that enhances their impact on the local audience.

Folk Poems and Songs to Empower Human Resources Engaged in Sri Lankan Paddy Farming: An Empirical Study

Purpose: Folk poetry was used to alleviate the drudgery and harshness of agricultural life. The research problem here is whether folk poetry has been used for the spiritual thinking and mental development of people engaged in agriculture since ancient times. The main objective of this study is to reveal that these poems and songs stimulated the rice farming of the farmers.Research Method: The method used for this purpose is the Ethnographic research method. In those songs, the words used and the rhythm are considered prominent for this. Folk poems and songs related to farming recorded from different places in Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2015 are used for this research. Findings: One of the major features of Sri Lankan farming was singing folk poems and songs while working in farming aiming to mitigate work stress. Those poems and songs have influenced the physical and mental wellness of the farmers. It is evident that the communication ability and mental freedom that attracts agriculture are based on the work’s utility and the song’s rhythm. Poems and Songs created by farmers are not just for entertainment. They express their efficiency and the nature of their work in those poems and songs.Research Limitations: Only the songs performed during tasks from mudding to harvesting in fields related to rice farming in Sri Lanka were investigated.Originality/value: These poems reveal the nature of the industry and the mental and creative nature of the people who work in it.

스포츠 뇌 도핑(brain doping)과 인권

The use of tDCS (Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation), a non-invasive and painless brain stimulation technique, could be used in sports as a new form of brain doping. The World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits doping in competition, and brain doping has the potential to be used as a substitute or workaround for traditional doping methods. As brain doping technologies may provide performance enhancement in a similar way to doping athletes with banned substances or other devices, it is necessary to examine the normative implications of brain doping as an advanced technology. This article examines constitutional principles from the perspective of fundamental rights, such as the rule of law and fairness, and how they relate to human rights issues. In order to focus the discussion on the constitutional issue of anti-corruption, the article examines the public law issues of rule of law and fairness, and the human rights issues of equality, mental freedom, and the right to health, in the context of brain doping in athletes, and suggests implications for anti-doping policy. The implications of imposing restrictions on performance enhancement by intervening in the brain may be a matter of limiting an individual's right to self-determination as a form of self-determination in that it may restrict an individual's ability to improve their performance in a variety of ways of their own free will. In order for brain-doping devices to contribute to sporting fairness, it is important to ensure that access to brain-doping devices is equitable among individuals, while minimizing the adverse effects of using the technology and ensuring that athletes are safe from health risks. Guidelines are needed to ensure that devices that have the potential to undermine the fairness of sporting events through brain doping are included on the anti-doping rule's prohibited list and that athletes who use them are suspended from competition, and that underage athletes are not coerced into using brain-doping devices by coaches, managers et al. When tDCS used for brain doping is marketed as a wellness healthcare product, there is a need for consumer protection. Considering that doping may emerge in new ways in line with advances in science and technology, international cooperation and discussions should be carried out with the participation of civil society to ensure that technological advances do not jeopardize the safety of citizens and become a tool for corruption.

한국 풍류정신문화의 차이성과 창조적 변용성

From the ancient Jecheon ritual to the current Korean Wave, Korean Pungryu Spiritual culture has expressed the mental and emotional feelings that the Korean people experience in unity with God, nature, and the community. In the process, Pungryu culture has inherently possessed the characteristics of Harmony, which seeks to connect the human community with God and nature, and deviation(Mut) and Shinmyoung(神明), which embody mental freedom and aesthetic value beyond the boundaries of harmony. In other words, Korean Pungryu culture has harmony, Mut, and Shinmyoung as its inherent characteristics and has formed the cultural differences that form the basis of Hallyu culture. This paper aims to identify the nature of Korean Pungryu Spiritual culture by exploring how Korean Pungryu Spiritual culture, with its inherent differences of Mut and Harmony, Shinmyoung and Han(恨), has been modified into artistic and behavioral characteristics.

The developmental theory of embodiment: Quantitative measurement of facilitative and adverse experiences in the social environment

The present program of research involved developing and evaluating three fully structured measures of facilitative and adverse social experiences during adulthood described by the developmental theory of embodiment (DTE) as shaping the quality of the experiences of living in the body. The Physical Freedom Scale - adulthood (PFSa) addresses physical experiences, the Mental Freedom Scale – adulthood (MFSa) assesses exposure to social environments that either facilitate or constrict freedom from constraining social discourses, and the Social Power and Relational Connections Scale – adulthood (SPRCSa) covers experiences of accessing, or being barred from, social power and empowering relational connections. The pilot study ( N = 92) involved item revision and deletion. Study 1 (N = 412) involved factor analyses of the three scales, leading to the emergence of six, three, and four factors in the PFSa, MFSa, and SPRCSa, respectively. The study also provided initial support for the internal consistency of the scales and subscales, as well as their convergent validity. Study 2 (N = 373) confirmed the factor structure of the scales from study 2. Study 3 (N = 64) demonstrated that the scales and their factors were stable over a 3-week period. The scales can be used to study integrated sociocultural models of embodiment.

조선시대 시가창작에서의 『莊子』 은일사상 수용양상 고찰

Admiration of rural hermitage in literary works during the Joseon Dynasty was from the seclusion thought of Zhuangzi. Accordingly, this study aims to examine how the seclusion thought of Zhuangzi was applied in creating literary works in Joseon. The essence of Taoism of Zhuangzi is freedom (逍遙遊), which is seclusion thought pursuing mental freedom from constraints of secular life. In the chaotic situation of the Wei-jin South and North Dynasty period in China, Confucianism declined, and Taoism of Zhuangzi emerged as a good philosophy, leading to the popularity of seclusion life. In contrast, in the Sui-Tang dynasties, the popularity of such a life declined, which shows that, while, in peaceful times, the literati favored Confucian activism, they, in chaotic times, or, if they were politically misfortunate, they sought psychological solace from seclusion thought of Zhuangzi. Even if the Joseon Dynasty adopted neo-Confucianism as the ruling theory, and excluded other theories as heretics, it only allowed seclusion theory of Zhuangzi to influence the literati as admiration of rural hermitage life. In the earlier period of the dynasty, the hermitage life was somewhat popular among anti-regime critics and some of politicians in the central government. But, after purges of Confucian scholars, such a life was very popular among the literati. Excluding anti-regime critics, however, it can be said that scholar-politicians of Joseon Dynasty favored having government positions and participation in politics to seclusion.

Gender Socialization as a Predictor of Psychosocial Well-Being in Young Women with Breast Cancer.

This study aimed to explore the relationship between gender socialization and psychosocial well-being among young women diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. A total of 113 women between the ages of 18-49 completed a one-time questionnaire package. Four key measures of gender socialization were included: Gender Role Socialization Scale (GRSS), Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS), Mental Freedom Scale (MFS), and Silencing the Self Scale (SSS). Two measures of psychosocial well-being were included: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) and Experience of Embodiment Scale (EES). Correlational and regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between gender socialization variables and well-being. In multiple regression models, GRSS and MFS added significant increments to the prediction of variance of the FACT-B (R2 = 23.0%). In contrast, the OBCS and MFS added significant increments to the prediction of variance of the EES (R2 = 47.0%). Findings suggested that women with greater endorsements to proscribed gender socialization were associated with poor well-being scores. Women who endorsed a critical stance, resisting traditional gender-role expectations, objectification pressures, and other social discourses, were associated with greater well-being scores. Future studies are needed to examine the impact of gender socialization on the well-being of young people with breast cancer.

William Blake: Mental Slavery and his Visions of Mental Freedom

William Blake belongs to one of those visionary artists who, during his lifetime, did not receive much recognition from society, was not understood and therefore even marked as “crazy”, his art “odd”. Nevertheless, a small circle of sensitive connoisseurs favored and supported him. But fortunately, his work was not completely forgotten. It seems that today William Blake is being highly valued. An extensive exhibition of his fine, masterful artwork was shown at Tate Britain in London till February 2020. His pictorial, sensitive works are of inestimable value to us today as they address areas that are so important for the further development of mankind nowadays. For William Blake, imprisonment of a human being does not mean only the physical, as a slave, but above all the spiritual, the mental. Unfortunately, mental slavery is not recognized as such by mankind, as Blake let us know, this is influence of sly forces. From early childhood he had visions of God and angels. For him it was clear and undoubted that man should be innocent as a small child and therefore is under God’s protection. However, according circumstances emanating from negative forces, man is enthralled and drowned in it. Keywords: religion, mental slavery, mental freedom, love for mankind, salvation

Zhe Jiang: a Chinese practice-led research paradigm

Broadly, in Chinese Zhe [ 哲] means philosophy and Jiang [ 匠] means craftsman. In contemporary Chinese art practice, Zhe Jiang [ 哲匠] has been defined as “thinking as a philosopher; making as a craftsman”. Artist-researchers who follow Zhe Jiang paradigm improve their artistic skills as well as the academic capabilities. In this article, firstly, Zhe Jiang paradigm is introduced by been compared with Western practice-led research. Secondly, the pathway to reach the mental state of freedom is explained from the aspects of inquiry and forgetting. The mental freedom can be considered as the most unique feature of Zhe Jiang paradigm. Thirdly, the ideal outcome of applying Zhe Jiang paradigm is stated as becoming a “better self”. Lastly, the primary methodology led by the Zhe Jiang paradigm is illustrated through showing examples from my film poem The Heart of Spring. Thus, this article unpacks a journey of exploring Zhe Jiang as a recently developed research paradigm. It draws into a working relationship approaches from both Chinese and Western thinking.

宋代亭臺樓閣記空間觀念轉型硏究

This study analyzes the contents of 90 the narration of the pavilion (亭臺楼阁记) which contained in 『QuanSongWen全宋文』·『SongWenJian宋文鉴』. The narration of the pavilion (亭臺楼阁记) of Song Dynasty (宋代) is one of the most representative prose of Song Dynasty. It has two characteristics. First, it is deeply related to Otium culture and suffering consciousness (忧患意识). Second, the argumentative (议论性) of this prose dilutes the pleasure of relaxation. The reasons of these two characteristics are complex, but both are closely related to contemplation of space. The geographic environment was the reason of the first feature. The location of the creative site of the narration of the pavilion of Song dynasty is distributed in safe and bustling areas in eastern and central China. This geographical environment made Song Dynasty’s resting culture popular. Also, it became a place to experiment with the spirit of thinking about danger in comfort (居安思危) for Song Dynasty’s noblemen, who were seeking comfort. By reaching Song Dynasty, the narration of the pavilion as the Otium culture revealed suffering consciousness for the country. People expressed concerns about the military and national defense crisis occurring on the periphery and politics at the time. Therefore, the narration of the pavilion, which was a resting place, became a place and medium in which Song Dynasty’s Otium culture and suffering consciousness were closely combined. The reason of second characteristic is Song Dynasty’s scholar-bureaucrats have emerged as the central class of society through the imperial examinations. The sufficient vacation and high salary given to them made the culture of entertainment and relaxation popular. They built a resting place where the scenery beautiful to relieve stress and gain mental freedom. The pavilion was built there, and literary creation was very active. They resolved their feelings through having a deep discussion. As the number of scholar-bureaucrats increased through the imperial examinations, social competence also increased. Based on their increased political power and status, they actively presented opinions on real politics and social issues, which appeared as the narration of the pavilion.

Internal and external aspects of freedom of choice in mental health: cultural and linguistic adaptation of the Hungarian version of the Oxford CAPabilities questionnaire\u2014Mental Health (OxCAP-MH)

BackgroundA link between mental health and freedom of choice has long been established, in fact, the loss of freedom of choice is one of the possible defining features of mental disorders. Freedom of choice has internal and external aspects explicitly identified within the capability approach, but received little explicit attention in capability instruments. This study aimed to develop a feasible and linguistically and culturally appropriate Hungarian version of the Oxford CAPabilities questionnaire—Mental Health (OxCAP-MH) for mental health outcome measurement.MethodsFollowing forward and back translations, a reconciled Hungarian version of the OxCAP-MH was developed following professional consensus guidelines of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research and the WHO. The wording of the questionnaire underwent cultural and linguistic validation through content analysis of cognitive debriefing interviews with 11 Hungarian speaking mental health patients in 2019. Results were compared with those from the development of the German version and the original English version with special focus on linguistic aspects.ResultsTwenty-nine phrases were translated. There were linguistic differences in each question and answer options due to the high number of inflected, affixed words and word fragments that characterize the Hungarian language in general. Major linguistic differences were also revealed between the internal and external aspects of capability freedom of choices which appear much more explicit in the Hungarian than in the English or German languages. A re-analysis of the capability freedom of choice concepts in the existing language versions exposed the need for minor amendments also in the English version in order to allow the development of future culturally, linguistically and conceptually valid translations.ConclusionThe internal and external freedom of choice impacts of mental health conditions require different care/policy measures. Their explicit consideration is necessary for the conceptually harmonised operationalisation of the capability approach for (mental) health outcome measurement in diverse cultural and linguistic contexts.

Re-reading Tagore’s The Home and the World: A Study of Contesting Modernities

The present paper attempts to focus the model of contesting modernities dealing with conceptual problems rather than the importance of logic and science. The Home and the World (1916), written by Rabindanath Tagore, a fictional autobiographical novel can be read as the model of contesting modernities. In the research article, it is an attempt to explore the textual responses to contesting forms of modernity in abstract ideas about the issues of nation and gender in the context of Swadeshi Bengal in the early decades of twentieth century. After re-reading the text, it can be applied to the larger question of formation of nation and true nationalist and liberty of women. The novel grows out of the anti-partition Swadeshi movement, the issues of the home and the world, the tradition and the modern approach of life. The novel focuses the battle of ideas between western culture and revolution against the western culture in colonial period. Two protagonists of the novel such as Nikhilesh and Sandip in the novel represents two kinds of ideas in the light of the spirit of the Modern age as revealed in Sabuj Patra. From their ideas reveal two types of nationalists’ project. Nationalism always can be viewed as a process of cultural invention. Nikhilesh is a logical man and supports for non-violence. He likes true mental freedom that can be achieved by the projects of nationalism full of humanism. At the other hand, Sandip prefers to aggressive political freedom and power after grabbing over other nations and national resources. Bimala, third protagonist, is ultimately disillusioned to the nationalist project of Sandip about the emancipation of gender. So Modernity, the recreated form of culture can be viewed with humanistic features such as love, co-operation, sympathy, sacrifice etc.

Credo: So Our Lives Glide On

ABSTRACT Psychoanalytic believing is situated in a social frame, promoted through the potential of mental freedom, and found within the therapeutic action of playing.

Josip Vaništa kao „lažni Rimbaud”

Tekst potvrđuje zagrebačku protokonceptualnu skupinu Gorgona kao antiestetsko i antislikarsko društvo, koje nastoji inicirati reviziju zatečene umjetnosti, desakralizirati umjetničko stvaranje, sekularizirati umjetničko djelo i njezinu poruku. Protegnula se Gorgona u prostor mentalne slobode i demistifikacije samog jezika umjetnosti. U gorgonaškim rukopisima stvarnost likovnog djela pregnantno i dojmljivo nastupa kao nešto samostalno i samodostatno, slobodno od tradicionalnih, kanoniziranih, propisanih i akademiziranih navada predstavljačkog slikarstva. Kritičko preispitivanje funkcije umjetnosti i umjetničkog jezika otkrilo je gorgonašima konvenciju slike kao neprimjerenu etici umjetnosti. Slikanje – sada doživljeno kao zastarjeli i potrošeni instrument umjetničke ekspresije – nastoji se svesti na minimum, a zapravo ga – konceptualno – nastoje izbaciti iz konteksta umjetničkog, premda si članovi grupe – izvan gorgonaških aktivnosti – dopuštaju i slikanje. Gorgonaši afirmiraju bihevioralnu i verbalnu poziciju umjetnika, pa se o mediju „čistog” slikarstva može govoriti tek u kontekstu njegove negacije. Rad posebice predstavlja antislikarske radove Josipa Vanište kojima nadilazi i nadvladava pojam slike, pretvarajući je u tekst.

Countering Mind-forg’d Manacles in Ben Okri’s The Freedom Artist (2019)

Summary This article seeks to unveil Ben Okri’s antidote to the proposition that the “normal” world is an asylum for mind control. Acknowledging its rich literary undercurrent, I posit that The Freedom Artist (2019), countering Blake’s “mind-forg’d manacles” in “London”, is a culmination of Mental Fight (1999); the novel is a linear progression of the anthology’s subtitle: “an anti-spell for the 21st century”. Although aligning my reading with the view that Okri’s eleventh novel is a penetrating exploration of how our freedom is being eroded by today’s post-truth society, I argue against the grain of organised religions’ promise of redemption, exploring the possibility of mental and emotional freedom via high order thinking/[HOT consciousness. The novel’s double narra-tive provides interlocking blueprints for ontopoiesis/heightened consciousness. The initiation of the young male protagonist, Mirababa, runs parallel to that of Karnak, whose lover, Amalantis, is arrested and spirited away by the thought police for voicing the forbidden question: “Who is the prisoner?” The discussion is perforce limited to the “initiations” – one a spiritual immersion, the other a transformation to intuitive logic for the Bildungsreisende. Both re-awakenings are made manifest by masterfully em- bedding the major arcana of Tarot wisdom within the distinctly dystopian storylines for the enhancement of consciousness.