Well I'm a materialist so that explains why I said what I said. :)

materialism, in philosophy, the view that all facts (including facts about the human mind and will and the course of human history) are causally dependent upon physical processes, or even reducible to them.

Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/materialism-philosophy

Of course I may be wrong! I will be reading what you post in your series on swarm theory. I love to learn about many different points of view. I will change and adapt when I get new information if I see that it leads me in a new direction. I am not married to my current beliefs. Wherever the data goes, I'll go too.

I think saying "many brilliant people hold" some point of view is a bit of an appeal to authority or popularity.

The phrase "many brilliant people hold some idea" can be interpreted as an appeal to authority. This fallacy occurs when a claim is assumed to be true because it was made by a perceived authority figure, without critically examining the authority's relevance or reliability. While it may suggest that the idea is supported by knowledgeable individuals, it can also be seen as a form of appeal to popularity, where the belief is accepted simply because many people share it, bypassing the need for evidence. Therefore, while it may indicate that the idea is supported by experts, it is essential to critically assess the authority and the evidence behind the claim.

Source: copilot AI

However, I also use this, quite often! It makes sense to me to know what brilliant people are thinking, and why they think it.

You're smart, well spoken and accomplished, so I will be reading what you write on this topic. I've been reading your posts for almost 10 years now, and I have learned a lot. Thanks!