Professor Karl Friston is a very prominent academic. He has published an extraordinary number of articles on a wide range of subjects including mathematics, psychology, neuroscience.
One of his theories is that a particular driving force of human beings is to “minimise surprise”. In fact he says all this applies to all animals, and all systems, including companies.
It describes how in order to navigate the world, we need to build a model of that world in our heads, and if we have a better model of that world we are less likely to be surprised, less likely to fall into a hole, less likely to come to ruin. This model of the world encourages curiosity, in order to find out more about the world, so you are not stuck at some “local maximum”.
When I think about Arthur‘s treatment, I think about how surprise was maximised for him. He owned nothing. He had no space in the house. He had no agency. He was perpetually surprised by new terrors. It was impossible for him to build a mental model of the world. The only world he could see was a psychopathic dysfunctional family, an empty hallway with a wall in front of him, and random acts of terror.
Despite all that, I think we all see two things in his video. Grimacing in raw pain, but also, an absolutely extraordinary determination and bravery. Arthur, rest in peace.
