As scientists continue to explore how the brain works, using
ever more sophisticated technology, it seems likely that new
findings will radically alter the traditional understanding of
human nature. One aspect of human nature already being questioned
by recent developments in neuroscience is free will. Do our
decisions arise from purely mechanistic processes? Is our feeling
of self-control merely an illusion created by our brains? If so,
what will become of free will and moral responsibility? In MY BRAIN
MADE ME DO IT: THE RISE OF NEUROSCIENCE AND THE THREAT TO MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY (Prometheus Books, $21) author Eliezer J. Sternberg
attempts to answer these thorny questions and more.
"At some point in our lives, we get puzzled about how we can be
held responsible for actions seemingly initiated by brain
chemistry. My Brain Made Me Do It is a terrific guide for those who
are ready to confront this puzzle in its full scientific and
philosophical complexity," said Jerry Samet, associate professor of
philosophy and cognitive science at Brandeis University. "It
clearly explains the fascinating scientific advances in our
understanding of the brain-behavior connection and carefully
considers their relevance to the free will question—making
these complicated theoretical issues come alive in vivid case
studies."
Sternberg delves into a host of fascinating topics related to
neuroscience and ethics, including:
- the parts of the brain that scientists believe are involved in
the exercise of will
- what Parkinson's, Tourette's, and schizophrenia reveal about
our ability to control our actions
- whether a future of criminal behavior is determined by brain
chemistry
- how self-reflective consciousness may have evolved from a
largely deterministic brain
Using illustrative examples from philosophy, mythology, history,
and criminology, and with thorough discussions of actual scientific
experiments, Sternberg explores the threat of neuroscience to moral
responsibility as he attempts to answer the question: Are we truly
in control of our actions? MY BRAIN MADE ME DO IT is an
"impressively clear account of what neuroscience tells us about the
workings of the brain, and its implications for the issue of free
will…" says BBC Focus magazine, in a five-star review. "A
masterful study of [the] interface between science and philosophy
which will undoubtedly get you thinking."
"Blending Dostoyevsky with neuroscience…[this] is a
provocative defense of free will and moral responsibility. It
repudiates the chemical determinism of mainstream scientists," said
Nigel Barber, author of Kindness in a Cruel World and The Myth of
Culture: Why We Need a Genuine Natural Science of Societies.
Adds Michael Ruse, author of Defining Darwin, "Whether or not
you agree with the author, you will come away challenged and
informed."
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