From: Charles Hixson (charleshixsn@earthlink.net)
Date: Sun Sep 01 2002 - 11:04:07 MDT
On Saturday 31 August 2002 23:50, Damien Broderick wrote:
> At 10:47 PM 8/31/02 -0700, Lee wrote:
> >...
> >Often, you know,
> >belief is actually built in by the genes. We have some numeracy,
> >some 3D beliefs (I think), and some social beliefs (e.g., the
> >hardware primed to detect cheating in others).
>
> Those are not *beliefs*, they're pre-programmed and testable *theories*.
>
> Damien Broderick
I think that those are more properly called instincts. Sometimes true
instincts can be overcome by training, but not always. And I'm not sure that
there's a clear line between instincts and the physical hardware that is
built (under the direction of the genes). It seems to me that they most
likely grade into each other. Consider breathing, e.g. The automatic
builtin method is dependant on there being sufficient carbon dioxide in the
air, but we also have a more generalized instinct that causes us to want to
breathe even if we don't feel the need (from the carbon dioxide sensor).
These usually work in harmony (where do you naturally find a place lacking
carbon dioxide), but in a pure oxygen atmosphere (at low enough pressure),
the automatic reflex is disengaged, but the more generalized instinct remains
intact. (It's much less effective for this purpose, though.)
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