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I wasn't really trying to turn the thread in the direction of occultism, it was just a comment on the fuzzy limits between "change as reinterpretation" and "change as action".

The only ways to "change reality" is either thru a change in the interpretation of the meaning of it or thru taking action.

Both can be seen as basically the same, e.g., in practical occultism (magic(k)).

I don't know the first thing about neuroscience, but it seems that the general state of human intelligence at any point in history represents an adaptation to the environment. So, it makes sense that more complex networking would bring a certain development. But it also makes sense that this development be specific to the kinds of networks formed. In other words, people from the past would probably be baffled in our world, but only in relation to the specific features of our time, whereas we are all very smart about gadget-use and all that, but basically wilderness-dumb.

Is there evidence that the contemporary mind may be more able to solve problems in general?

The phrase, the world wants to be deceived, has become truer than had ever been intended. People are not only, as the saying goes, falling for the swindle; if it guarantees them even the most fleeting gratification they desire a deception which is nonetheless transparent to them. They force their eyes shut and voice approval, in a kind of self-loathing, for what is meted out to them, knowing fully the purpose for which it is manufactured. Without admitting it they sense that their lives would be completely intolerable as soon as they no longer clung to satisfactions which are none at all.
-- Adorno, Culture Industry Reconsidered

The Machine is the framework wherein weakness, ignorance and fear are promoted as social values and then turned into a profit. Of course, some of Its cogs happily defend Its power over reality, because they see personal gain in it. Others simply play along, because it would be too scary to stop being a loyal little sprocket. And so, we came to a point where It was created by us, puny humans, but it has outgrown us. The Machine is its own machinist.