Comments on: Moral judgment is just a brain process

By: Chris Struble

Chris Struble — Tue, 11 May 2010 22:51:33 +0000

Joseph,

Good point that we should not say it is “just” a brain process. I said “simply” which is also selling it short. I would prefer “amazing” or “wonderful” or “awesome” to “incredible” though, in some definitions “incredible” means not believable. Of course we should believe what the evidence is starting to tell us.

By: Ash

Ash — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:18:41 +0000

Well, ‘just’ here implies ‘only’, not ‘merely’.

And yeah, it does seem to be the case that neuron-like cells do exist in other parts of the body, including the gut. It will be very interesting to find out more about their functions…

By: joseph

joseph — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:04:37 +0000

Two thoughts..instead of saying it is ‘just’ a brain process..I think it should say ‘is a INCREDIBLE brain process.

Secondly..is the discovery in the past couple years of neural cells in different part of the body, at least the heart, that were once thought to ONLY exist in the brain… i.e. more or less brain cells in heart tissue. This is according to a couple neurological scientists I’ve had on treks with me.

By: Chris Struble

Chris Struble — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:55:25 +0000

Interesting story. More evidence that mind is simply what the brain does. And perhaps another reason to be cautious about those behind the ear cell phones.

By: Ash

Ash — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:14:57 +0000

That would be a very interesting experiment. The findings would be fascinating either way, I think. I also wonder if there would be differences between, say, a Catholic priest, a Buddhist monk, a Rabbi, a Hindu guru, and an atheistic philosopher.

By: Joseph Sheader

Joseph Sheader — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:57:24 +0000

I am not surprised because this seems to simply affirm that a element of the physical brain is operating in the moral discernment and reasoning process. I think that of course natural selection has produced our moral orientations, which are also affected by culture and contextual influences.
It would be presumptuous to think we have complete control just as one doesn’t necessarily have complete control of other physical attributes. I wonder though…just as athletes can withstand and produced greater and sometimes miraculous like fortitude and ability could it not be so with people and morals?..for instance a highly discipline mind oriented to moral behavior..say a Buddhist monk, would be far less susceptible to this ‘magnet’ than young punk who has had little if any training in that area of development? I would think so.