Bi-cameral brains in depth

[Ian Livingston]

My neuropsych profs were eager to caution that we have now reached such a
deep understanding of the brain and its functions that we can at last say
with confidence that we know almost nothing about it.

On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 8:47 AM, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:

> Yes I read those reviews. What I am finding so far is that the book is
> very careful to build its picture of how the hemispheres work from data.
> Every step of the way, he draws on research and is very careful so far not
> to overreach and to include differing takes on that data. One of the things
> he points out is that brain science is with current technology and perhaps
> will always be a matter of intelligent interpretation since it deals with
> qualities and actions for which quantification makes little sense, like
> empathy, unjustified self confidence, manual grasping behaviors etc. Also
> it is almost impossible to really track the mechanisms involved( if they
> really are of a mechanistic nature) because they take place in a living
> organism. So brain scans give correspondences between activities and brain
> metabolism but not clearly detailed causal relationships. Also many mental
> processes draw on both sides of the brain which he frequently reminds the
> reader.
>
> Stlll, I  think any reader will be surprised and amazed at the wealth and
> specificity of the data and how much can be meaningfully and confidently
> understood about the hemispheric differences. I know I am.
>
> It is true that he is trying to say something philosophically profound and
> that is always dangerous terrain, though I have not gotten to the heart of
> that part of the text. The question is whether there is enough data to
> support it. So far the data base is so rich that the book cannot fail to
> leave a powerful imprint and sense of enriched understanding for me.
>
>
> > On Jan 25, 2016, at 10:22 AM, Paul Mackin <mackin.paul at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > One of a number of favorable reviews, this one glowing. However a couple
> of reviewers according to Wikipedia cautioned against culture and
> psychology conclusions getting too far ahead of hard brain science.
> >
> > http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jan/02/1
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 6:39 AM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > "You're gonna want your cause and effect, eh?"
> > Since his first book is entitled Against Criticism, I hope he isn't IN
> GR--
> >  but I'll mic drop in advance. ......
> > Just a little metajoke there, heh, heh.
> >
> > On Sun, Jan 24, 2016 at 8:10 PM, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:
> > I am currently reading Iain McGilchrist’s The Master and his Emissary
> >
> >
> >
> > One of the most scientifically, psychologically and philosophically
> profound books I have ever read. It really has me reeling with information
> and insight and makes sense of so much that seems inscrutable in human
> history and personal behavior. I came across the title and a description
> with a brief quote while doing research on another book. It seemed the more
> intriguing book so I got it from the library. Will be looking for a used
> copy.
> >   The topic is the roles of the 2 hemispheres of the brain and he brings
> together an unexpected wealth of medical/scientific research, both
> contemprary and historic to build a very powerful picture of the nature of
> each hemisphere, as well as the evolutionary logic of their
> differentiation. Both from the introduction and from some peeks ahead I
> know he has a philosophic intention that argues for a greater balance  in
> our cultural biases,  and greater awareness of the brain-structure origins
> of those biases.
> >   From a Pynchon reader POV McGilchrist takes on the brain structure
> basis of major themes and historic tendencies that appear throughout the
> body of P’s work. Essentially it is about the division in the brain between
> left hemisphere’s tendency to seek and produce control achieved through
> manipulable units of thought, communication, structure, manufacture  and
> the right brain’s holistic, individualistic and socially empathic style. (
> there is no way to adequadetly summarize this or the pages of precise
> information derived from scientific research). This struggle appers in all
> P books and with profound starkness in Pynchon’s essay on CP Snow, and the
> GR theme of mechanistic control vs nature/pursuit of bliss/personal
> freedom, humane solidarity.
> >
> > The writer’s background for this book is about as good as possible.
> Professional Psychiatrist specializing in physiological brain issues, a
> researcher in neuro-imaging and an  Oxford English teacher 3 times elected
> Fellow at All Souls College. Of equal or greater importance is the
> originality of his brilliance and the humane depth of his quest to
> understand how our brain structure fits into our historic development, and
> his sense that understanding these things might free us to find a better
> way forward.
> >
> > Has anyone else read it?
> >
> > 462 pgs of text and over 100 of end notes etc.-
> > Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
> >
> >
>
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
>
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