2.0.7 How Minds Began: Neuroscience - Overview

Version 1.3 November 2016                                                       (Previous Version)

Science is beginning to understand how our brains, our minds, work.

Consciousness, competition, cooperation and compassion did not suddenly appear in time.  They evolved gradually in many small steps.  Scientists investigate mental processes using evolutionary psychology, animal behaviour, ethology, ethnology as well as direct study of the human brain.

Neuroscientists now have maps of the brain showing where various mental and emotional processes occur, such as vision, hearing, language, anger, love, movement and self-control.  A primitive sense of self arises in the brain stem, at the top of the spinal cord, which all mammals have.  This connects areas which generate emotions to the higher parts of the brain.

Human brains are more complex and have more “layers� of neurons than other animals, allowing us to construct more sophisticated and abstract concepts.  The higher level processing centres of our brains have feedback links to lower level centres, so that we can consciously control some of our more “primitive� instincts, and these complex links enrich our conscious experience.

·       All sorts of species as well as humans are subjects for investigations into learning and memory.

·       Emotional responses such as sexual attraction and fear are evident in reptiles, birds and mammals.

·       We can see animals consciously thinking when they face some problems.

·       Species such as crows, otters and chimpanzees use tools.

·       Singing evolved in birds and various species of apes, such as gibbons.

·       Some species have primitive means of communication, for example different cries for different forms of danger, but no other species has anything as sophisticated as human language.

·       Primates, monkeys and apes, are essentially hunter gatherers, who often live in small bands.

·       Individuals in these groups learn who in the group is worth cooperating with, and who isn’t.

·       Many species show antipathy and violence to strangers of the same or similar species.

·       We can explain how we have spiritual experiences without invoking the supernatural.

·       All species exhibit different sexual behaviours and roles. 

Humans evolved to have their unique combination of these features. 

We work through the next level of detail on each of the above issues (more).  After considering this evidence, we’ve looked for a way to state our conclusions briefly, and we come to the following summary.

Is this the best way to state our conclusions in this area?  Click on feedback, or add a comment below, if you can improve the substance or the phrasing.

  more                                                              Statement 13

This story reinforces our choice to value diversity by explaining how xenophobia, racism and sexism evolved, but the justifications which once applied are no longer applicable.  It explains our desire for connection, to the community and beyond, our sense of justice, and spiritual experience.

We have entirely natural explanations of how humans acquired our humanity: seeking the truth, being fearful but thrilled by diversity, trying to understand our shared reality, struggling for life, feeling and seeking love and compassion, appreciating beauty, acknowledging responsibility, striving for equality and living in hope.  

Science explains how we acquired the propensity to choose actions that reflect these values.  Science doesn’t explain why we should have these values, but, perhaps not accidentally, they are consistent with our philosophy.