Neurogenetic Determinism And Free Will
Submitted by brthrbruce on 06/30/2008 05:21 PM
- Category: Social Issues
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Neurogenetic Determinism And Free Will
"Neurogenetic Determinism and Free Will"
"What happens in the test-tube may not be what happens in the real world"
(Nick Pollard, "detailed summary of...Lifelines: Biology, Freedom, Determinism" Available online: http://www.damaris.org/olr/guides/1998/lifelines_overview.htm)
In this paper I am going to discuss three different views which conflict with that of Neurogenetic Determinism. After reflecting upon Hugo Lagercrantz's passage," The Child's Brain—On Neurogenetic Determinism and Free Will," I have found myself questioning the ability of man to place all responsibility of human nature upon genetic code. By elaborating upon my own personal dilemmas of this subject in three different areas of life I hope to disprove the direct causal relationship between gene and behavior. Even though "genes encoding for depression, novelty-seeking, absolute pitch and homosexuality have been discovered during the last decade" (Gregersen 65), this does not necessarily prove that we are predisposed to these conditions. In my personal view, these scientific discoveries might prove that people with these genes have a higher probability of developing a particular condition. "'Recognizing the power of the genes in no way forces us to submit to their supreme authority'" (Changeux cited in Gregersen 70).
In Hugo Lagercrantz's passage, he does not take a distinct stance upon the subject until the end. He presents the information in such a way to allow the reader to consider his or her own view on Neurogenetic Determinism through the science of a child's development. He gives scientific accounts and background on the subject to develop one side of the argument which states, "neurogenetic determinism is the modern version of the preformation idea" (Gregersen 66). The preformation idea implies that there is a fully developed individual from the very beginning. In the context of neurogenetic determinism, this implies that the genetic...
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