Definitions by Abzugal
Cognitive Relativism
The view that all knowledge, concepts, and truths are constructed by the mind and are relative to the individual's or culture's perspective, framework, or conceptual scheme. There is no neutral, framework-independent way to check if our concepts "match" reality; we're always interpreting through a lens. Different frameworks create different, equally valid, cognitive realities.
Example: The concept of "justice." Cognitive relativism would argue there's no universal, mind-independent essence of justice. One culture's justice (restorative, community-based) is a fundamentally different cognitive construction than another's (retributive, individual-based). Neither is more "real"; they are products of different historical and social frameworks. Two people witnessing the same event (e.g., a political protest) will cognitively construct different events based on their pre-existing schemas.
Cognitive Relativism by Abzugal January 24, 2026
Cognitive Realism
The position that our internal cognitive representations (concepts, schemas, mental models) accurately mirror the external world. Our minds are like maps that, while not perfect, are fundamentally aligned with the territory. Truth is about correspondence between thought and reality, and through reason and perception, we can progressively refine our maps to be more accurate.
Cognitive Realism believes that the concept of "tree" in your mind, while simplified, corresponds to an actual class of objects with shared properties (roots, trunk, leaves) that exist independently of you. Scientific models, like the heliocentric solar system, are triumphantly realistic maps that displaced less accurate ones (geocentrism). When you learn a new fact and update your belief, you're moving your cognitive map closer to reality.
Cognitive Realism by Abzugal January 24, 2026
Neuropsychodeterminism
The hardcore belief that all thoughts, choices, and actions are the inevitable, pre-determined outputs of electrochemical brain processes. Free will is a compelling illusion generated by the brain to explain its own operations to itself. You are a passive passenger watching the screen of consciousness, while the neural machinery below runs on the unbreakable laws of physics and chemistry.
Example: You "decide" to grab a coffee. Neuropsychodeterminism says that decision was finalized milliseconds before you were consciously aware of it, triggered by a cascade of neural events stemming from your blood sugar, prior caffeine addiction pathways, and sensory input. The "you" that feels in control is just a news ticker, not the editor. The movie "Free Guy" hints at this—the NPC's "choices" are just code executing. A neuropsychodeterminist sees humans as vastly more complex, but equally determined, biological NPCs.
Neuropsychodeterminism by Abzugal January 24, 2026
Neuropsychorelativism
The idea that the brain's structure and function are not fixed interpreters of reality, but are shaped by culture, language, and personal experience to such a degree that there is no single, objective "brain reality." Different brains, shaped by different lives, literally perceive and construct different worlds. Your neural architecture is your own unique reality-generating prison.
Consider the concept of "schizophrenia." Neuropsychorelativism might argue that in a culture that interprets auditory hallucinations as communication with ancestors, the brain's wiring and the person's experience would be fundamentally different—and perhaps less distressing—than in a culture that pathologizes it as a disease. The brain isn't discovering reality; it's building a bespoke one based on its inputs. Someone who grows up bilingual might have a literally different neural landscape for language than a monolingual person.
Neuropsychorelativism by Abzugal January 24, 2026
Neuropsychorealism
The belief that our subjective mental experiences—thoughts, emotions, "the self"—are direct, one-to-one products of specific, measurable brain states. It asserts that if we had a perfect brain scanner, we could read your mind like a book because every qualia (like the redness of red or the ache of sadness) has a precise neural barcode. It's the ultimate "you are your brain" stance, dismissing anything that can't be physically located as illusion.
Neuropsychorealism would argue that your feeling of love for your partner isn't some mystical connection, but simply the predictable firing pattern of neurons in your ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens, flooded with oxytocin and dopamine. If we could perfectly replicate that exact brain state in a vat, you'd feel identical love for no one at all. The movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is a neuropsychorealist nightmare—since memories are physical engrams, zapping them should delete the associated emotion.
Neuropsychorealism by Abzugal January 24, 2026
Great Books Theory
The conviction that the classic texts of Western (and global) literature—from Homer to Dante to Shakespeare—contain timeless wisdom about human nature, morality, and the forces that shape history. Jiang argues that these “Great Books” are not just old stories; they are encoded manuals for understanding the present and navigating the future. Reading them is like downloading the software of civilization itself.
“Great Books Theory says that if you want to predict the next Trump, read Macbeth. If you want to understand modern propaganda, read *1984*. And if you want to know where society is headed, crack open the Iliad—it’s all there, dude.”
Great Books Theory by Abzugal January 24, 2026
Applied Game Theory
Using game‑theory models to explain real‑world politics, economics, and social behavior. Jiang strips away the abstract math and applies concepts like the prisoner’s dilemma, zero‑sum games, and Nash equilibria to everything from dating to nuclear brinkmanship. The idea is that if you can figure out the “payoff matrix” of any situation, you can predict—and even manipulate—the choices of the players. It’s strategy for geeks who want to rule the world.
“Applied Game Theory explains why the U.S. and China are stuck in an arms race: it’s a classic ‘security dilemma’ where neither side can back down without looking weak. Spoiler: the only winning move is to change the game.”
Applied Game Theory by Abzugal January 24, 2026