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Re: Evolved Psychology - Brain Region Tied to Regret Identified
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#12
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Re: Evolved Psychology - Brain Region Tied to Regret Identified
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My point in that quote was that people tend to weigh what they might lose before they break the law; those with less to lose are more apt to rob a gas station. So your 'objective' morality and 'free will' seems to depend on a person's circumstances. And I stand by my point, which I think is a very good one. Here's a question I think is more relevant to the conversation: In your 'morality', based on 'free will' and 'objective truth', how do you explain the high proportion of men in prison? |
#13
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Re: Evolved Psychology - Brain Region Tied to Regret Identified
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Additionally, whatever freewill such males may have had prior to jail, they obviously didn’t use it too wisely (and/or may have suffered various mental disorders), and probably have even less free will once they’re in jail. Keep in mind that although we do have this “free will,†that doesn’t mean that we are necessarily “free†to choose to be, say, a rocket scientist, or professional basketball player, or President. Obviously we all have varying abilities and limitations, and I don’t doubt that some have a higher propensity to screw-up and find themselves in jail. But the issue is whether most of us have at least some amount of choice in our behavior—e.g., couldn’t Bill Clinton have chosen to refuse that Oval Office BJ, or at least couldn’t he have chosen to be truthful rather than perjure himself regarding said BJ? Be that as it may, that you’re an “engineer†apparently is relevant to you since you’ve chosen, so to speak, to mention it several times—so why don’t you now choose to provide more (brief) info on your engineer degree/background/experience? If nothing else it may help me better understand your POV . . . but of course the choice is yours. |
#14
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Re: Evolved Psychology - Brain Region Tied to Regret Identified
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Where does this propensity come from? |
#15
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Re: Evolved Psychology - Brain Region Tied to Regret Identified
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Here’s my advice: Choose to behave and you’ll probably avoid jail; and choose to use protection if you choose to participate in extramarital sex and you’ll increase your odds that you’ll avoid those nasty STDs and/or unwanted pregnancies. Hope that helps. Have a nice day. |
#16
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Re: Evolved Psychology - Brain Region Tied to Regret Identified
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If a region of the brain can eliminate Fred's ability to feel remorse, and act on it, he does not have free will. He can still think and 'choose', as I've always said, but only to the limits of his brain. Again, not free. And not blind. Thanks Fred, I hope your day is great, too. |
#17
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Re: Evolved Psychology - Brain Region Tied to Regret Identified
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#18
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Re: Evolved Psychology - Brain Region Tied to Regret Identified
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Plus, I'll be glad to answer the "what kind of engineer" question if you tell me your religious affiliation. |
#19
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Re: Evolved Psychology - Brain Region Tied to Regret Identified
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Essentially you’re arguing that, say, Clinton chose that Oval Office BJ, or that he chose to perjure himself regarding said BJ, b/c his “regret module†is not in “perfect working order.†And that Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, MiloÅ¡ević, etc. all misbehaved b/c their “regret modules†are/were not in “perfect working orderâ€â€”that essentially they had no choice, no real or meaningful moral responsibility. I’m arguing that those individuals “chose,†using their free will (unless they truly had some major brain damage I’m not aware of), to do the evil they did—that they were morally responsible for their behavior. Regarding my “religious†views, I think I’ve indicated this elsewhere, but just for you— I’ve no specific “affiliation,†but I’m obviously no atheist. I suppose I’m a deist or theist, depending on the day of the week. I usually like Jesus. I have a certain kind of respect for the Bible—it’s fascinating literature/poetry and has had a huge impact on our culture. I also really like what these great scientists (obviously not atheists) have had to say: Quote:
And no need for you to come clean on your “engineer†thing. Have a nice day. |
#20
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Re: Evolved Psychology - Brain Region Tied to Regret Identified
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That you agree that free will is somewhat dependent on the condition of the brain is way more than I expected. So, I'll leave it there. Whether my horse is dead or not, it's been a great ride. But, yes, I feel that they are not morally responsible, and should still be punished/deterred. I can't hate an invalid. And I think that Clinton is such an excellent example; that he risked so much for so little (on MY balance) means that he must've been far more tempted than I; his regret module did not outweigh all the other modules concerning respect for the office, the furniture, his party, his wife, Monica's parents, etc. And I have a BSEE. I started out in electrical hardware but once I started assembly-language programing, I was forever hooked on the dark side. |
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