Ron, Yeah sort of. I am tempted to expand the oversimplification by saying that physiology is what is; psychology is what it does. I think the analogy to memory is critical and this a point pursued by Michael Tomasello. Physiology is species memory. It is the biologically encoded memory of the experiences of our ancestors. We respond to certain wave lengths of light because those are the ones that were most relevant to the experience of our forbearers.
Psychology is how we respond based on our own personal experiences. Interestingly, Tomasello claims that what sets human cognition apart from other primate cognitive styles is our ability to static latch. He calls it ratcheting or something similar. His point is that no matter what fascinating invention of innovation a chimpanzee makes, it is lost because other chimpanzees do not imitate sufficiently well for it to pass into chimpanzee culture. This rather gives the lie to the Randians out there, who see individuals driving all cultural and social progress. No innovation no matter how brilliantly conceived is meaningful unless its meaning is appreciated and exploited by other. Reminds me of Archimedes, who apparently invented something very like the calculus almost 2000 years before Newton and Leibnitz. But it didn't amount to squat because no one noticed... Krimel ------------------------------------------------- Krimel, This may sound like I'm overly simplifying, but as in the Tao thread With Marsha, they are two aspect of one entity, one that is constantly becoming and returning. Focus on one and something is missed. I believe James observations are exactly that. -Ron --------------------------------------------------- K said to d: It is by physiology that we experience reality. [Krimel] Quit so. D said to k: It is by psychology that we view physiology. Therefore it is by psychology we experience Reality. [Krimel] Psychology arises from physiology interacting with the environment. K said to d: But is important to realize that physiology influences psychology. [Krimel] Yes D said to k: It is also important to realize that psychology also Influences physiology. [Krimel] Yes again. [Ron] Question is, are they one in the same? Or as D suggests, that merely by the virtue That all we experience is interpreted, that Experience ultimately lies with it. Or As k suggests, that experience generates Interpretation. Truly one can not be without the other. Or is there a one or the other? [Krimel] Nature equips us with a range of physiological responses and with a range of options for our interactions with the environment. As part of this process we construct conceptual categories a network of relationship among them. The categories and the patterns of relationship among them are strengthened or weakened through experience. Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
