I have spent a bit of time lately thinking about something I am calling the “Cognitive Multiverse.” Essentially it’s the acknowledgement and mental accumulation of possible current and future realities that people are trying to keep track of due to narratives that they can’t prove wrong or fully discard. Holding these possible unfolding paths mentally alive as simultaneously occurring worlds must create a significant cognitive load.
Discussion
Interesting thoughts.
It sounds like this would create the emotional product of uncertainty.
Yes!. But what I have noticed is the tendency of the many to collapse narratives that create uncertain by putting on blinders and choosing a side to fall on quickly rather than hold onto the uncertainty while continuing to explore. The benefit of a swift collapse is the reduction of cognitive loading but there is a sacrifice of cognitive expansion. Possibly a subconscious form of intellectual dishonesty. 🙂
Many people don't mind intellectual dishonesty or at least reductionism if it means reducing uncertainty, and therefore sacrificing the discovery of what's real in any particular context. But this tactical intellectual and emotional approach is a strategic sacrifice that may bring pain or suffering later.