Sir lastnail
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gold_medal wrote on Nov 24 th, 2012 at 11:54am: muso wrote on Nov 23 rd, 2012 at 8:24am: Soren wrote on Nov 22 nd, 2012 at 10:10pm: muso wrote on Nov 22 nd, 2012 at 9:47pm: I don't think the cat of science is really interested in that particular mouse.
I agree with just about everything you said, with the addition that the context of the neuroscience is just a useful extra dimension in our understanding.
I understand that a picture of a pipe is not a pipe, but a mental picture of something does offer us an extra dimension of understanding. It shouldn't be dismissed just because it doesn't convey that sense of corrosive smoke permeating your lungs when you look at it. Neuroscience, all science, is very, very important. I am saying, however, that all science tends to overreach and what is worse, tend to resist correctives against such overreach. There is no science of the mind, even as there is neuroscience and brain science. The mind and the brain are not about the same thing. The way to deal with the mind is through literature, art, conversation, interpersonal relationships, 'this person, this situation' kind of stuff - all unquantifiable, living, elusive yet essential stuff. I actually know of some instances where science tends to overreach, such as psychometrics, and maybe you're right about some aspects of social evolution too, but it doesn't hurt to postulate, even if your postulate involves standing tip toe on a box on top of a ladder. Eventually the postulate might fall in a heap, or it might not, and even if it does fall in a heap, we might still learn things along the way. Researchers particularly tend to over-reach to the point of cognitive acrobatics, notably in the fields of Cosmology and Quantum Physics. As long as peer researchers are continuously jiggling the ladder, it doesn't really matter. We probably need a bit more ladder jiggling in the field of human resources. Their latest fads never cease to amuse me. Ive never heard it described in such a way and it is fabulous. you are right in that bleeding-edge researchers are tip-toe on top of a ladder while their peers are shaking it. The trouble is there are the likes of lastnail and SOB and others who would rather just push the ladder over. great analogy! So what happened to the dinosaurs ?? Where did they go ?? How come Noah didn't have enough room for all of the dinsoaur species on his boat ?? Boat not big enough LOL
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