Rand Quote About the Subconscious

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Dennis Hackethal’s avatar
Dennis HackethalOP revised 12 months ago·#667· Collapse
2nd of 2 versions leading to #1128

Ayn Rand writes:

Your subconscious is like a computer—more complex a computer than men can build—and its main function is the integration of your ideas. Who programs it? Your conscious mind. If you default, if you don’t reach any firm convictions, your subconscious is programmed by chance—and you deliver yourself into the power of ideas you do not know you have accepted.

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Dennis Hackethal’s avatar
Dennis HackethalOP revised 12 months ago·#696· Collapse

Your subconscious is like a computer […]

She says “like” so the sentence is technically correct, but it would have been better if she had said the subconscious is a program (or an amalgamation of programs). What she’s presumably getting at here is that the subconscious is automatic like a computer and unlike the conscious, which can stop and reflect and criticize and so on.

Criticism of #667
Knut Sondre Sæbø’s avatar
1st of 9 versions

Wouldn't the more correct framing be the mind has automatic programs and consciousness? In other words the mind has a dual process of "explicit thoughts and conscious reflection" and "ingrained habits or "mental programs" on the other.