tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560774651993745496.post7642545750785657981..comments2023-06-29T02:07:49.894-09:00Comments on The Mustard Seed: I Am a Reductionist; Oops, I Mean Charlotte SimmonsTMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07654673878708922180noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560774651993745496.post-35390879152197533392009-09-18T10:34:20.113-09:002009-09-18T10:34:20.113-09:00JCS: “Neuroscience itself is great.”
TW: Oh absol...JCS: “Neuroscience itself is great.”<br /><br />TW: Oh absolutely. I agree.<br /><br />JCS: "I would imagine that the vast majority of neuroscientists aren't using their research to try to justify some kind of nihilist philosophy or other agenda, but some of them are (or they just don't understand what they're doing)."<br /><br />TW: I agree with that too. In fact, I can’t think of a single credentialed neuroscientist who’s willingly signed up to participate in these Culture Wars. Dawkins, Wilson, and Dennett, for example are NOT neuroscientists; they’re specialists in other fields who are using neuroscience research to advance their own agenda. So yes, it does seem that the overwhelming majority of neuroscientists want to conduct their research in peace and with a minimum of outside interference (which is appropriate). <br /><br />JCS: “Terrible things happen when gamers/PUAs start using evopsych and reductionism to make generalizations about all people…Eventually the belief that humans cannot overcome biology becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.”<br /><br />TW: Yes. An important point. Well-said.TMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07654673878708922180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560774651993745496.post-69230261838912645442009-09-17T09:23:06.399-09:002009-09-17T09:23:06.399-09:00JCS, A few points...
1) I'm glad you think th...JCS, A few points...<br /><br />1) I'm glad you think the neuroscience guys are "irrational idiots." They see themselves quite differently, however. They think they own "Da Truth," and they are quite eager to advance that Truth throughout society.<br /><br />2) You wrote “human civilization is clearly dependent on consciousness and free will, because you can't build nuclear missiles with the basic biological impulses found in the animal world. If you could, the Cold War would have been fought between humans and... dolphins or something.”<br /><br />The Reductionists would disagree with you. They would say the Cold War – just like everything in life – can be explained through “evolutionary psychology.” Alpha males in the U.S. and Russia were trying to impress the chicks. And yes, I realize how stupid that sounds. But they don’t think it’s stupid at all. <br /><br />3) Regarding your cake analogy...If I understand you correctly, you are arguing that Reductionism should be a TOOL of science, and only that: a TOOL. I share that position.<br /><br />However, if Reductionism is the overarching philosophy of Science (something that E.O. Wilson advocates), then it becomes an obstacle to understanding. <br /><br />Take the concept of love, for example. Understanding how neurons react to love is interesting, but how much does it really tell us about love? The Reductionist would say “Everything. The neurons are all that matters. The ‘Love’ you speak of is an illusion.” And therein lies the problem. People believe this nonsense. Take my college friend, for instance.TMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07654673878708922180noreply@blogger.com