Free to Choose: Neuroscience and Theology
Scientific American, this month has an article in its skeptic series that is the stuff of my philosophical nightmares. Because I'm so frightened by the idea at this point, I will quote the article at length, I might have to handle analysis later, besides, a little dopamine deprived today after a short night of much drinking:
"...Montague argues that our brains evolved computational programs to evaluate choices in terms of their value and efficiency: 'Those that accurately estimate the costs and the long-term benefits of choices will be more efficient than those that don't.'"
"...Unfortunately, these evolved computational programs can be hijacked. Addictive drugs, for example, rewire the brain's dopamine system--normally used to reward choices that are good for the organism, such as obtaining food, family and friends--to reward choosing the next high instead. Ideas do something similar, in that they take over the role of reward signals that feed into the dopamine neurons. This effect includes bad ideas, such as the Heaven's Gate cult members who chose suicide to join the mother ship they believed was awaiting them near Comet Hale-Bopp. The brains of suicide bombers have been similarly commandeered by bad ideas from their religion or politics."
"...Montague argues that our brains evolved computational programs to evaluate choices in terms of their value and efficiency: 'Those that accurately estimate the costs and the long-term benefits of choices will be more efficient than those that don't.'"
"...Unfortunately, these evolved computational programs can be hijacked. Addictive drugs, for example, rewire the brain's dopamine system--normally used to reward choices that are good for the organism, such as obtaining food, family and friends--to reward choosing the next high instead. Ideas do something similar, in that they take over the role of reward signals that feed into the dopamine neurons. This effect includes bad ideas, such as the Heaven's Gate cult members who chose suicide to join the mother ship they believed was awaiting them near Comet Hale-Bopp. The brains of suicide bombers have been similarly commandeered by bad ideas from their religion or politics."