Cheerskep's points are important. Damasio bases is whole career on the evidence that there is no rational thinking independent of feeling.
To construct the mechanics of the brain would seem to require some measurement of how feelings do affect cognition. But feelings are based in the brain stem, below the brain proper. Their physical components interact with brain neurons. Another problem might be the issue of memory. How can a model of the brain include all possible memories? I'm with Cheerskep on this and wonder what Damasio, and others, would say. There is a divide, I believe, in te world of neurology, between those who see the brain as wholly mechanistic, like hardware or a computer, and those who, like Damasio, find much more subtle substances and structures. wc ----- Original Message ---- From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, October 16, 2012 9:33:34 AM Subject: Re: Human Brain Project In principle this is a worthy thing. I'm in favor of anything that might enhance the ability of our medical world to cope with brain injuries and ailments. They seem to have recruited a large number of presumably smart people to join in the effort, though I notice that not among them are the likes of Damasio and Chambers. Two immediate fundamental project-challenges come to mind. For a dualist like me (and Chambers etal), the first is this: Will the model be able to FEEL anything at all? How will we be able to tell? The second: A quick glance at the plan suggests it will end up with a single proto-model used to "explain" and diagnose all aspects of all brains. But all brains differ structurally, and in accumulated experience/information. Still, if they can find the money and the people to pursue this project (without hindering the pursuit of different concepts) I'm all for it.
