From: gts (gts@optexinc.com)
Date: Tue Oct 08 2002 - 22:15:13 MDT
Lee Corbin wrote:
> gts writes
>
> > > I'll wager that a lot of people besides Rafal
> > > and me find [your axiom] problematic, and
> > > you should be interested (if I'm right) in why.
> >
> > I think a lot of people would consider it simple common
> > sense. People do not do things for no reason, which is
> > to say that every behavior has a motivation.
>
> But, alas, we have argued at length about what such
> a statement *means*. People often have no idea why
> they do something.
As I've written, my axiom contains no requirement that the person be
consciously aware of his motivation for acting.
> Also, even *if* one concedes that
> every behavior has a motivation [sic], then there is
> still the sticky problem of *whose* motivation it is.
> We've been all through that.
That reminds me of something I had meant to write to you in an earlier
message:
I had written words to the effect that my idea that "Each person has as
part of his person a motivation to breathe" is an obvious truth of human
nature, and one that intelligent people should not waste time debating.
Because you continued to deny ownership of your motivation to breathe, I
asked if you thought it was "of God." You replied that it was "of
evolution," or words to that effect.
To say that the will to breathe is "of evolution" is to say that it is
"of nature." Specifically it is to say that it is "of human nature." And
that, Lee, is what I stated at the outset. It is an obvious truth of
human nature and one not worthy of debate.
> Your notions/speculations about addiction are very
> well taken.
Thank you. That subject is one I find truly interesting and worth
discussing.
> My guess is that as the pigeon gradually began to avoid the
> electrical shocks one would *not* see any particular rise
> in nucleus accumbens activity, *nor* any enhanced dopamine
> levels. One would simply see less neurological activity
> that was linked to pain or painful stimuli.
Maybe. Perhaps someone should round up some pigeons and find out.
But consider it in human terms. Don't you feel a rewarding feeling when
you act in ways that avoid serious pain? I sure do. If the avoided pain
was really serious then I breathe a sigh of relief, thank my lucky
charms, and maybe pat myself on the back for being clever enough to
avoid the pain. And I know that rewarding feeling doesn't come from the
stars. It comes from activity in the reward centers in my brain.
Evolution equipped me with this reward circuitry so that I would avoid
pain and have more baby gts's. :)
-gts
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