I thought this was an excellent article that brings together a little of where we're at, with regards to neuroscience of the human brain.
My main thoughts after reading it:
- Always be careful of metaphors and analogies when trying to describe reality. They can be fantastic at getting ideas across and giving us insight, but they are still just metaphors and analogies, not the thing we're really looking at.
- Reductionism, even if it is successful in making a 'theory of everything' and however tempting it us to find a 'simple' answer...is likely to never explain a great deal
- The universe is reassuringly hugely, mindboggingly complex and full of mystery still
Why your brain is not a computer
The long read: For decades it has been the dominant metaphor in neuroscience. But could this idea have been leading us astray all along?
www.theguardian.com
My main thoughts after reading it:
- Always be careful of metaphors and analogies when trying to describe reality. They can be fantastic at getting ideas across and giving us insight, but they are still just metaphors and analogies, not the thing we're really looking at.
- Reductionism, even if it is successful in making a 'theory of everything' and however tempting it us to find a 'simple' answer...is likely to never explain a great deal
- The universe is reassuringly hugely, mindboggingly complex and full of mystery still