The Scientific Perspective- Notes
The Scientific Perspective So far, we have been introduced to the deliberations made by the historical traditions of philosophy, on how to behave and why. This introduction gives information regarding different theoretical perspectives that provide guidance regarding what is good and what is bad in a person’s life. We must consider that these theoretical standpoints have a history of a few thousand years. In the course of history, human life has kept changing.
But the changes were gradual and the primary problems that humans had to face were of same nature. With the emergence of agriculture, classes were created and man-woman relationship also changed, in accordance with agriculture. It was during this period that the religious framework started becoming rigid. Religion provided guidance regarding how to act in the prevalent situation. The industrial era began two centuries ago. Even at that time things were not very different. Hunger, disease, war were the major problems that man had to face. He had no cure for old age and death.
Nevertheless, today in the 21st century the situation is changing rapidly. Even today, hunger, disease, war are the major problems, but their intensity has reduced compared to last few centuries. Even today, the old age and death have remained mysteries for us, but now technology does not look at them as something that is beyond human reach, but as ‘solvable problems’.
Through the theory of evolution it became possible to objectively understand, how was life generated and how did it evolve. It was also understood that humans are a product of evolution. It was also realized that what humans are today, that is, not only their bodily structure but also their behaviour, are influenced by the history of evolution. Later, with the study of brain it was known that the interconnections concerning human behaviour are found in the structure of the nervous system and in the peculiar working patterns of the brain. After realizing that the functioning/working patterns of the brain must be examined in order to understand why humans behave as they do, investigations began to accelerate in that direction. This was a significant change.
If we view history we discover that so far philosophy and religion have discussed moral issues concerning human actions. However now, the study of human behaviour itself has become important. Through this study some significant facts were noticed. For example, if we look at the structure of the brain there are two parts, viz. the one that has evolved initially is amygdala and the other that has evolved later is neo cortex. Amygdala is more influential in the initial stage of the growth. It was found out that the functions like, thinking about the past and the future; comprehensive thinking, are the functions of the neo cortex which grows gradually.
The brain nerves cannot be regenerated and in old age the function of brain slows down. Such observations helped to understand why a person behaves in a particular way. But now science can explain in an objective manner the subtleties of human nature or at least the study seems to be oriented towards it. Efforts are also underway to find objective answers to the traditional questions like, whether the inborn qualities are more important or the upbringing.
The answers to these questions regarding how to behave and why; can now be found in the light of laws of evolution. For solving the problems ranging from the choice of food to the choice of profession; religious and traditional perspectives were used so far. Collect more information about the functioning of human brain which offers analysis of human behaviour. Let’s find it! The alternative that is available now of solving these problems is that of considering the biological inheritance and person’s likesdislikes, capabilities and limitations. Instead of using the religious and traditional perspectives one can refer to this recent alternative. All these developments also raise some questions. For example, recent research has shown that the emotion of pleasure, happiness, is important for human beings, for making a decision regarding action. This idea is not new to philosophy.
It has also been challenged. In Buddhist philosophy it has been said that the more we desire pleasurable experiences, the more stressed and dissatisfied we become. In order to find the true satisfaction, man should not run behind the pleasurable experiences. Even if it is so, what we see is, everyone is in the pursuit of instant and greater pleasures. The technology that is developing around us is as if created with this purpose. This has given rise to several questions. We will discuss them in the chapter of science and technology
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