...or at least a part of it. I agree with Pinker in that there is a genetic basis for everything that we do. The initial conditions, the substrate on which our minds are formed (our brain) is a product of our genetics. Though I think Pinker takes it too far at times. An example of this is a lecture he gave entitled 'Jews, Genes and Intelligence'( http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6037708729636407580&ei=O-JlS5u0DIWUqwLop4TuCg&q# ) where he argues that there is a biological basis for higher intelligence in a certain segment of the Jewish population. I do not think that intelligence is well enough understood yet to make these claims and that the complexity of the familial, economic and social interactions involved are too great to statistically analyze at this time in any meaningful way. I'd go as far to say that his claims are irresponsible and dangerous. It reminds me of the pseudoscience of WWII era German "scientists" claiming genetic superiority.
Nonetheless, there is, i believe, a direct relationship between the physicality of our brains (and thus our genetics) to who we think we are (in my estimation about %50 genetics, %50 experience). Latour's castigating 'Brain-in-a-Vat' analogy is much better put fourth by Daniel Dennett in a short story called 'Where Am I' ( http://www.newbanner.com/SecHumSCM/WhereAmI.html ). Dennett's story is a fictional tale of a human brain that actually gets put in a vat and the apparent paradoxes that ensue. His story attempts to ask and shed light on questions such as what is the self? where do I exist? and, jocularly, what is the role of technology on the question of what it means to be human? I truly believe that soon humanity will have to come up with an answer (or definition) of what is the self? and what is consciousness? Futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts that before the end of the century a $1000 computer will have the combined intelligence of the global human population due to the exponential growth of technology * . Therefore I believe that it is of great importance for people in the humanities to become familiar with scientific methods and principles and be able to keep up so that they have something to contribute, for the definition of humanity will be ever dramatically changing.
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Singularity_is_Near
Ray Kurzweil (futurist, genius, nut, brilliant) is proposing that we will soon be able to transform into 'silicon based life forms,' when our consciousness can be downloaded onto computers--and thus live forever. This is the idea behind the Cylons (Battlestar Gallactica and now just repeated on Caprica). Latour mentions one sci-fi novel where a guy ends up as that brain-in-a-vat, and Ben said it happened on Twilight Zone as well.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the idea of a soul / self that can be isolated from the body has engaged us for a long time. And I don't think this is about 'science.'
I agree, the IDEA has been with us for a long time, yet one of the products of science (technology) MIGHT be able to move us from the thought experiment stage to the actual experiment.
ReplyDeleteElliott's dilemma in removing limbs pales in comparison to social and philosophical implications to Kurzweil's notions of removing/replacing the entire body (brain included).