Re: Descartes is still in error, it seems

On Mar 13, 7:27 pm, n...@xxxxxxxxx (The Averdein Building) wrote:
Contrary to what Descartes held dear,
the finding that risk prediction and
processing of emotions are related
suggests that emotions may be
intimately involved in rational decision
making -- they may help us to correctly
assess risk in an uncertain world.

Which would follow from nonhuman animals lacking a conceptual and
inferential system grounded in acquired language. Emotions and feelings
were there first, as part of a brain's original method for trying to
sort and identify worldly circumstances, ascribing a semblance of
orderly values to them, and responding with bodily actions.


I think the evidence suggests that emotions are involved in human risk
taking - just as Damasio said they were. I think humans are much more
continuous with our animal relatives than you think.

Lance
.