Author
|
Topic: virus: consulting the experts (Read 892 times) |
|
hell-kite
Initiate
Gender:
Posts: 73 Reputation: 5.03 Rate hell-kite
feed me!
|
|
virus: consulting the experts
« on: 2004-11-19 05:55:13 » |
|
Good morning again!
In a hopefully soon to be published hopefully publish-worthy contribution to a book on stress, I am trying to argue that the stress system can be understood as modular like evolutionary psychology argues regarding cognitive adaptations. If I am not mistaken, this equals an extension of the modularity of the mind-idea to ALL neuronal-based, processual adaptations which meet the usual definition of a "mental" module (domain specifity, quasi-algorithmic processing and, arguably, informational independence).
All complications regarding the modularity (or, as Fodor puts it with evps in view, massive modularity) concept aside, what do you think about this? Is this really something new? (Well, in this light, the modularity-concept seems somewhat obsolete, since it is only a description for an adaptation affecting the nervous system (processes instead of structures)) Or do I have to elaborate this question?
Björn
--- To unsubscribe from the Virus list go to <http://www.lucifer.com/cgi-bin/virus-l>
|
Othello. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear A stranger to thy thoughts.
|
|
|
rhinoceros
Archon
Gender:
Posts: 1318 Reputation: 8.06 Rate rhinoceros
My point is ...
|
|
Re:virus: consulting the experts
« Reply #1 on: 2004-11-19 09:51:09 » |
|
[hell-kite] In a hopefully soon to be published hopefully publish-worthy contribution to a book on stress, I am trying to argue that the stress system can be understood as modular like evolutionary psychology argues regarding cognitive adaptations. If I am not mistaken, this equals an extension of the modularity of the mind-idea to ALL neuronal-based, processual adaptations which meet the usual definition of a "mental" module (domain specifity, quasi-algorithmic processing and, arguably, informational independence).
All complications regarding the modularity (or, as Fodor puts it with evps in view, massive modularity) concept aside, what do you think about this? Is this really something new? (Well, in this light, the modularity-concept seems somewhat obsolete, since it is only a description for an adaptation affecting the nervous system (processes instead of structures)) Or do I have to elaborate this question?
Björn
[rhinoceros] Hello, Björn
I found your message a bit too condensed to understand what you want to do. I also did not understand whether it is an argument from first principles or from empirical observations or from logical analysis. Some more clarification would be good.
We do have people here with an interest in these matters who, with some help from google, could offer useful feedback. However, if this is about a serious book, there is something more you could do.
There is a very active mailing list in yahoo groups, "evolutionary-psychology". Its members are largely scholars and writers. It is a "closed" list (only members can read it) because they often use it as a "testing field" for bashing each other's ideas before they air them. They scrutinize each other's theories, empirically, logically, or just from different outlooks (for example, traditional psychologists, empirical anthropologist, cognitive scientists etc). Well... maybe sometimes out of "self-importance" too... you know how it is...
To join that list, you have to follow an unusual procedure. You go to another yahoo groop called "evolutionarypsychology2" (it is open, but not a real one)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evolutionarypsychology2
and you send a mesage asking to join the "evolutionary-psychology" group. The moderator reads it and sends you an invitation. I had no problem joining, although I don't have any academic titles at any field related to evolutionary psychology. And it's well worth it.
I hope this helps.
|
|
|
|
the.bricoleur
Archon
Posts: 341 Reputation: 8.29 Rate the.bricoleur
making sense of change
|
|
Re:virus: consulting the experts
« Reply #2 on: 2004-11-19 10:02:56 » |
|
Quote:The moderator reads it and sends you an invitation. I had no problem joining, although I don't have any academic titles at any field related to evolutionary psychology. And it's well worth it. |
I am a member of this group, although I do not remember having to go through the procedure you describe rhino.
Interesting list, and yes, well worth it.
|
|
|
|
rhinoceros
Archon
Gender:
Posts: 1318 Reputation: 8.06 Rate rhinoceros
My point is ...
|
|
Re:virus: consulting the experts
« Reply #3 on: 2004-11-19 10:19:05 » |
|
[rhinoceros] The moderator reads it and sends you an invitation. I had no problem joining, although I don't have any academic titles at any field related to evolutionary psychology. And it's well worth it.
[Iolo Morganwg] I am a member of this group, although I do not remember having to go through the procedure you describe rhino.
[rhinoceros] Neither did I. It is a new procedure -- they started it a few months ago. They said that it was only for technical reasons, so I hope it doesn't make membership more difficult.
|
|
|
|
hell-kite
Initiate
Gender:
Posts: 73 Reputation: 5.03 Rate hell-kite
feed me!
|
|
Re: virus: consulting the experts
« Reply #4 on: 2004-11-20 16:38:59 » |
|
Thanks for your advice, rhino!
It seems like my problem dissolved in today's reading... "modularity" was never meant to include only cognitive processes, but other physiological processes as well. Thanks anyway, next time I know where to turn to.
As to the "Some more clarification would be good": I will get back to this, but later. So much: I am essentially promoting some concepts used in evolutionary psychology (modularity, the environments of evolutionary adaptedness and ontogenetic adjustment etc.) to be applied in research on stress (or rather, to integrate the explanations of different fields of research); furthermore, I attempt to introduce some alternative evolutionary explanations on how to judge the adaptive status of the stress reaction (in case someone is acquainted with Randolph Nesse's argumentation, it is pretty much along those lines...).
No research, some original ideas, but most of all original combinations of old ideas...
Good night then!
Björn
--- To unsubscribe from the Virus list go to <http://www.lucifer.com/cgi-bin/virus-l>
|
Othello. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear A stranger to thy thoughts.
|
|
|
|