Comments on: Can science find a cure for conservativism? http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/08/can-science-find-a-cure-for-conservativism/ "crass, boorish and more a bruiser than blogger" - Alex Wilcock Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:46:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Free will versus science « Amused Cynicism http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/08/can-science-find-a-cure-for-conservativism/#comment-160084 Free will versus science « Amused Cynicism Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:23:30 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/08/can-science-find-a-cure-for-conservativism/#comment-160084 [...] by cabalamat on 2008-Feb-08 Quaequam blog has as thoughtful post up about how modern science is dissolving commonly-held notions about free will: I’m becoming increasingly conscious of the fact that science and our notions [...] [...] by cabalamat on 2008-Feb-08 Quaequam blog has as thoughtful post up about how modern science is dissolving commonly-held notions about free will: I’m becoming increasingly conscious of the fact that science and our notions [...]

]]> By: OneHourAhead http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/08/can-science-find-a-cure-for-conservativism/#comment-160030 OneHourAhead Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:16:15 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/08/can-science-find-a-cure-for-conservativism/#comment-160030 Interesting post. My opinion would probably be that individuals should pretty much be allowed to do what they want with their own brain. If people want to get high the should be allowed or if people want to take pointless Omega-3 oil supplements they should be free as well. But whether society should mandate treatments? Really I would say a uniform no. If people are xenophobic or anti-social or even violent, well then they are those things, it's their choice (even if that choice was determined by down-regulation of neurotransmitters) and I can't reconcile my brand of liberalism with forcefully changing the very essence of someone. I agree with you though that this is something that could become a big issue. Predicting and altering behaviours in animals is surprisingly easy. The concept of "free will" in these cases obsolete. Interesting post. My opinion would probably be that individuals should pretty much be allowed to do what they want with their own brain. If people want to get high the should be allowed or if people want to take pointless Omega-3 oil supplements they should be free as well. But whether society should mandate treatments? Really I would say a uniform no. If people are xenophobic or anti-social or even violent, well then they are those things, it’s their choice (even if that choice was determined by down-regulation of neurotransmitters) and I can’t reconcile my brand of liberalism with forcefully changing the very essence of someone.

I agree with you though that this is something that could become a big issue. Predicting and altering behaviours in animals is surprisingly easy. The concept of “free will” in these cases obsolete.

]]> By: James Graham http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/08/can-science-find-a-cure-for-conservativism/#comment-160013 James Graham Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:32:11 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/08/can-science-find-a-cure-for-conservativism/#comment-160013 I'm not sure we have the luxury of "keeping away from this", nor do I see how that approach can be consistent with holding "full, free argument with them". What I forgot to mention above was that this dilemma is already with us. Schools are already holding trials over Omega-3 oils and their putative improvements to intelligence levels. Now, you might regard fish oil salesmen as, um, snake oil salesmen, and we will certainly have more effective drugs in the future, but it's happening right now. I’m not sure we have the luxury of “keeping away from this”, nor do I see how that approach can be consistent with holding “full, free argument with them”.

What I forgot to mention above was that this dilemma is already with us. Schools are already holding trials over Omega-3 oils and their putative improvements to intelligence levels. Now, you might regard fish oil salesmen as, um, snake oil salesmen, and we will certainly have more effective drugs in the future, but it’s happening right now.

]]> By: asquith http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/08/can-science-find-a-cure-for-conservativism/#comment-159957 asquith Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:39:10 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/08/can-science-find-a-cure-for-conservativism/#comment-159957 We should keep away from this. The liberal way to defeat fallacies is to hold a full, free argument with them and defeat them. We should keep away from this. The liberal way to defeat fallacies is to hold a full, free argument with them and defeat them.

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