Are Our Moral Values Hardwired in the Brain?

[selfAdjoint]

Lots of current research showing that primates have hard coded values in the neurons of their prefrontal cortexes.

See
costs and benefits in the brain
http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nn1756.html

Cardinal utility in the brain
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/..._uids=16890516&query_hl=4&itool=pubmed_docsum

Economic Value in the brain
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=16633341

(Courtesy of GNXP poster "Coffee Mug")

 

[moving finger]

Lots of current research showing that primates have hard coded values in the neurons of their prefrontal cortexes.

See
costs and benefits in the brain
http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nn1756.html

Cardinal utility in the brain
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/..._uids=16890516&query_hl=4&itool=pubmed_docsum

Economic Value in the brain
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=16633341

(Courtesy of GNXP poster "Coffee Mug")

Interesting, and it makes perfect sense that organisms evolve to incorporate at least some hard-wired behavioural parameters (as opposed to each generation having to learn these parameters as they mature), especially in species where regular and repetitive social behaviour is broadly similar from one generation to another, so this should come as no surprise.

None of this means, of course, that particular morals or values are necessarily "abolute" in any sense - the hard-coded parameters are simply contingent evolutionary responses to a particular environment.

Best Regards

 

[neurocomp2003]

can we sticky this link so it doesn't go down the list hehe =]

 

[Chaos' lil bro Order]

Very nice Self and very interesting.

 

[physics girl phd]

Isn't there something in game theory about everyone always wanting the whole pot for themselves before sharing? Now we might want actually have morals hardwired?

Well at least somebody oughtta tell Zoobyshoe that zoobies have values. Hmmm...