Exploring incongruities between science and religion, this volume deploys the latest research in neuroscience to show how abstractions such as consciousness, Euclidean triangles, and even Mickey Mouse, all have physically realized counterparts in the brain.

Contradictions is a general interest book that exposes the incompatibility between popular religious beliefs and the scientific view of human nature. It begins with a survey of the evolution of religions and their continuing, often irrational, influences in modern society. Then, based on his long experience in neuroscience, the author takes issue with Decartes about the duality of body and soul. He presents case studies of patients with brain diseases and from these deduces that the soul, far from being separate and supernatural, is no more or less than our way of experiencing our brains ... and which correspondingly disintegrates when they do. Convincing clinical findings and powerful arguments about the universality of truth make this book a bold contribution to the debate about belief and religion in the modern world.

Takes issue with Decartes about the duality of mind and body Exposes some of the numerous irrational beliefs that permeate our culture Draws attention to the incompatibility of different religions Helps to explain the origin and evolution of human nature Describes the essential characteristics of qualitiative experiences, or qualia Based on the author's long experience in neuroscience Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext

Dr. José M. Musacchio is Professor Emeritus of pharmacology at New York University Medical School. He received his M.D. from the National University of La Plata, Argentina, where he trained in neurology and psychiatry. Later he completed his training in Bellevue Hospital in New York City, where he was Chief Resident in neurology. He also trained in neurochemistry and psychopharmacology at the National Institute of Mental Health, in Bethesda, MD, and became Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology at NYU Medical School in 1965. He is the author of one hundred publications in his field.

Inhalt

Introduction.- The Universality of Religious Beliefs.- The Contradictions and Consequences of Religious Beliefs.- The Evolution of Human Ancestors.- The Most Amazing Window on Human Nature.- Why Qualia and Consciousness Seem Mysterious.- The Word-Grounding Problem and the Incompleteness of Language.- The Roots of Knowledge.- Abstract and Imaginary Objects.- Nature Is Logical, Because Logic Is Natural.- Faith and the Validation of Beliefs.- Contradictory Beliefs or "Schizodoxia" is a Poor Mechanism of Adaptation.