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What Neuroscience Cannot Tell Us About Humanity

By Kent Scheidegger et al.

That's the title of an intriguing essay by David Perks, who astutely observes: Even a cursory glance at reviews of the field shows that neuroscience poses more questions than it answers. The Economist?s review in 2006, although enthusiastic about the potential of neuroscience, is blunt about the long way the science has to go to make good on its claims. Current theories about the biological basis of consciousness certainly give pause for thought. According to Benjamin Libet at the University of California, San Francisco, the process within the brain which leads a subject to carry out a simple act occurs 0.3 seconds before the mind is conscious of it. In other words, we observe what our brain has already decided to do rather than consciously deciding upon a course of action...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime and Consequences on March 12, 2008 (boomark / email).