Comments for Randall Birtell http://rbirtell.wordpress.com Radical individualism must die! Mon, 14 May 2007 18:21:38 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Naturalism Has a Problem by rbirtell http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-16 rbirtell Mon, 14 May 2007 18:21:38 +0000 http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-16 That just pushes the problem back - it doesn't solve it. That just pushes the problem back – it doesn’t solve it.

]]> Comment on Naturalism Has a Problem by Matt http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-15 Matt Mon, 14 May 2007 09:31:58 +0000 http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-15 No, for their own upbringing was shaped to a great degree by their environment and life experiences. No, for their own upbringing was shaped to a great degree by their environment and life experiences.

]]> Comment on Naturalism Has a Problem by rbirtell http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-14 rbirtell Mon, 14 May 2007 02:59:09 +0000 http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-14 But in your view - isn't "upbringing" nothing more than the way your parents are genetically wired? But in your view – isn’t “upbringing” nothing more than the way your parents are genetically wired?

]]> Comment on Naturalism Has a Problem by Matt http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-13 Matt Fri, 11 May 2007 05:32:48 +0000 http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-13 Good and bad are aspects based on survival of the species, a field called Evolutionary Ethics. I could explain it but people have already done it for me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_and_evolutionary_psychology As for non-survival choices, that's a sort of incorrect term. Choices aren't necessarily based on survival, they're based on favourable circumstances. The way I was brought up and my life experiences changed the development of my brain in such a way that I enjoy the discussion of this field, for example. Genetics is one thing but it is only a part of what makes a person what he or she may be. Upbringing during childhood, while the brain is still forming and developing, is another. Good and bad are aspects based on survival of the species, a field called Evolutionary Ethics. I could explain it but people have already done it for me:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_and_evolutionary_psychology

As for non-survival choices, that’s a sort of incorrect term. Choices aren’t necessarily based on survival, they’re based on favourable circumstances. The way I was brought up and my life experiences changed the development of my brain in such a way that I enjoy the discussion of this field, for example.

Genetics is one thing but it is only a part of what makes a person what he or she may be. Upbringing during childhood, while the brain is still forming and developing, is another.

]]> Comment on Naturalism Has a Problem by rbirtell http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-12 rbirtell Fri, 11 May 2007 04:01:04 +0000 http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-12 At the risk of going on a tangent - How do you define "good" and "bad"? Also, lets talk more about this idea of choosing. You suggested in your first post that choices are merely intinctive reactions toward survival (if I understand you correctly). But how about non survival choices. Say for instance, your choice to respond to my blog. How do you explain that? At the risk of going on a tangent – How do you define “good” and “bad”?

Also, lets talk more about this idea of choosing. You suggested in your first post that choices are merely intinctive reactions toward survival (if I understand you correctly). But how about non survival choices. Say for instance, your choice to respond to my blog. How do you explain that?

]]> Comment on Naturalism Has a Problem by Matt http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-11 Matt Fri, 11 May 2007 01:14:03 +0000 http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-11 I phrased it poorly. Through the evolutionary process, the human body has come to learn what is good and what is bad for it. Certain circumstances are good for it's continued well being (give or take, it's a general rule and some specific things can fool the body) and when the body encounters something that it knows it is good for it, it will release chemicals in the brain which make the person feel good and happy. I phrased it poorly.

Through the evolutionary process, the human body has come to learn what is good and what is bad for it. Certain circumstances are good for it’s continued well being (give or take, it’s a general rule and some specific things can fool the body) and when the body encounters something that it knows it is good for it, it will release chemicals in the brain which make the person feel good and happy.

]]> Comment on Naturalism Has a Problem by rbirtell http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-10 rbirtell Fri, 11 May 2007 00:29:36 +0000 http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-10 Matt, you didn't answer my question. In your example you use the phrases "doing something generally pleasurable" and "feel pretty good". The former you say triggers the endorphins and the former you say is caused by the endorphins. You can't have it both ways. Matt, you didn’t answer my question. In your example you use the phrases “doing something generally pleasurable” and “feel pretty good”. The former you say triggers the endorphins and the former you say is caused by the endorphins. You can’t have it both ways.

]]> Comment on Naturalism Has a Problem by Matt http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-9 Matt Thu, 10 May 2007 22:25:20 +0000 http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-9 Endorphins are what is released in the brain whenever circumstances that are beneficial to the body are encountered. For example, when you're having fun or you're doing something generally pleasurable then endorphins are released which make you feel pretty good. Endorphins are what is released in the brain whenever circumstances that are beneficial to the body are encountered. For example, when you’re having fun or you’re doing something generally pleasurable then endorphins are released which make you feel pretty good.

]]> Comment on Naturalism Has a Problem by rbirtell http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-8 rbirtell Thu, 10 May 2007 14:51:03 +0000 http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-8 I'm not sure I understand. Do endorphins cause happiness or does happiness cause endorphins? I’m not sure I understand. Do endorphins cause happiness or does happiness cause endorphins?

]]> Comment on Naturalism Has a Problem by Matt http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-7 Matt Thu, 10 May 2007 06:22:49 +0000 http://rbirtell.wordpress.com/2007/05/09/naturalism-has-a-problem/#comment-7 Emotions are, as shown in a laboratory, simple chemical reactions in the brain. These reactions are translated as emotions and, again, help us to survive. Endorphins, for example, are released when we are happy and secure which what the whole point of living is. Therefore, in part, because it feels good to be happy and secure we strive for decisions and circumstances which supply that. Similarly, the pain generated by our very own nervous system is a very nasty thing to experience at times - therefore we work to avoid or minimise situations in which pain is felt. Such as cutting ourselves accidentally with knives, breaking an arm or getting eaten by a lion. The ability to choose is simply life itself, we are driven by hard wired imperatives to live and we make choices based on that. We do not wish to die, we do not wish to feel pain. We wish to be fed, warm and secure and what we do in life is based on those things (and others but I'm sure you get the general idea). Whereas, if there were an omniscient god then we would have no ability to choose, simply because if he was omniscient then he knows what choices we supposedly make which makes free will no more than a thin illusion since those decisions are set. Emotions are, as shown in a laboratory, simple chemical reactions in the brain. These reactions are translated as emotions and, again, help us to survive.

Endorphins, for example, are released when we are happy and secure which what the whole point of living is. Therefore, in part, because it feels good to be happy and secure we strive for decisions and circumstances which supply that. Similarly, the pain generated by our very own nervous system is a very nasty thing to experience at times – therefore we work to avoid or minimise situations in which pain is felt. Such as cutting ourselves accidentally with knives, breaking an arm or getting eaten by a lion.

The ability to choose is simply life itself, we are driven by hard wired imperatives to live and we make choices based on that. We do not wish to die, we do not wish to feel pain. We wish to be fed, warm and secure and what we do in life is based on those things (and others but I’m sure you get the general idea).

Whereas, if there were an omniscient god then we would have no ability to choose, simply because if he was omniscient then he knows what choices we supposedly make which makes free will no more than a thin illusion since those decisions are set.

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