You Are A Lifeless Automaton (?)

cellomould

This science tidbit is from NYTimes

Hijacking the Brain Circuits With a Nickel Slot Machine
By SANDRA BLAKESLEE
http://209.185.240.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=7f61278a671077febf3564f92adac5c0&lat=1014199178&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2enytimes%2ecom%2f2002%2f02%2f19%2fhealth%2f19REWA%2ehtml%3frd%3dhcmcp%3fp%3d042OHd042OJH422oc012000mhz0Gh__S

Compulsive gambling, attendance at sporting events, vulnerability to telephone scams and exuberant investing in the stock market may not seem to have much in common. But neuroscientists have uncovered a common thread.

Such behaviors, they say, rely on brain circuits that evolved to help animals assess rewards important to their survival, like food and sex. Researchers have found that those same circuits are used by the human brain to assess social rewards as diverse as investment income and surprise home runs at the bottom of the ninth.

And, in a finding that astonishes many people, they found that the brain systems that detect and evaluate such rewards generally operate outside of conscious awareness. In navigating the world and deciding what is rewarding, humans are closer to zombies than sentient beings much of the time.

How's that for describing why I spend so much time on JW-com?

cellomould

"In other words, your God is the warden of a prison where the only prisoner is your God." Jose Saramago, The Gospel According to Jesus Christ

larc

So what's your point? Is this a discussion of free will versus determinism. If so, let's have at it.

cellomould

Larc,

you said you were going to bed quite a long time ago...Are you sure your behaviors are under your concious control?

he hehe hehehe

cellomould

"In other words, your God is the warden of a prison where the only prisoner is your God." Jose Saramago, The Gospel According to Jesus Christ

larc

Eat it clown.

Actually, I'm kidding. I kinda like you, you dip shit.

refiners fire

The grand old man of the board is in a very grumpy mood tonight.
I think cellos posts are quite invigorating.

cellomould

Thanks refiner,

And Larc, I rather admire you too. I didn't know you were a grumpy old man though. That's news to me.

So we have better things to do then 'dick around' now, don't we? (is that a good old man phrase?)

cellomould

"In other words, your God is the warden of a prison where the only prisoner is your God." Jose Saramago, The Gospel According to Jesus Christ

refiners fire

Regardings the "lifeless Automaton" matter..
According to You know, and the genius behind www.drjc.org,
none of us is really here, not consciously, this person that I think is me is actually an evil demon whose stolen my body and memories.
I guess that would make me a lifeless automaton if anything will..

Just look at the initial weblink cello put up.
What is that, if not a cacophany of demon voices straight from Babel?

larc

cello,

I get an error message when I try to access that link, which is just as well because I am too lazy to read today, must be the over caste skies.

Now, at one time, I had a very long discussion with a fellow named Duns on the subject of free will versus determinism, on a thread called "free will versus determinism," If you got to search you will find. Rather than repeat the brilliant discussion between Duns and myself, I will give my major premise which I stated at the beginning of that thread. As a scientist, I believe in determinism. As a person, I "feel like" I have free will, although this goes against the philisophical and scientific premises from which I operate.

Cello, I hope you were't offended by my comments last night. I was just funnen ya. If you were offended, well, tough shit. hee hee

cellomould

Hey Larc,

Sorry about the link. Yeah, rf, it's those demons!!!

I hear you about the 'as if by free will' comment. It is kinda fun just to watch your life sometimes. As if you were just enjoying a flick on tv.

'Hey look at me, I am a nice guy after all; I just....'

Trying to control everything just sux. No wonder so many people are miserable.

I have read, in Isak Dinesen, that strength is simply being unafraid to open up your sail and let the wind take you.

Larc, relevant (how do you spell that damn word? I never can remember if it's an a or e) to our discussions last night and a comment of yours from today that I just read, perhaps we should start a discussion about 'What is an acceptable standard of living?'

I think that's the main mentality that divides Democrats from Republicans, but maybe I'm wrong.

cellomould

"In other words, your God is the warden of a prison where the only prisoner is your God." Jose Saramago, The Gospel According to Jesus Christ

edited to add that I spelled 'relevant' correctly, but for some reason it looks strange to me tonight.

You Are A Lifeless Automaton (?)

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