&gt; The day’s lecture was short, with slides; the speaker, a neuropsychologist named Chris Frith, argued that a crucial feature of consciousness was regret.<p>This reminds me of a quote from Dune, where Count Hasimir Fenring is talking with Baron Harkonnen:<p>&gt; &quot;Mankind has ah only one mm-m-m science,&quot; the Count said [...]<p>&gt; &quot;And what science is that?&quot; the Baron asked.<p>&gt; &quot;It&#x27;s the um-m-m-ah-h science of ah-h-h discontent,&quot; the Count said.