Ever wonder what a Hope Tank looks like? Filmmaker Edwin Rutsch joined us recently for a discussion on empathy, and you can see it here! Thank you, Edwin, for the stimulating discussion, and for the video! For further resources on empathy, check out Edwin’s site.
And of course, the audio of the Hope Tank is here as usual, too!
[audio:2010_0219_HT.mp3]-
By: Erika
No biography available at this time
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Gandhian activist from Mexico, May 17 at Metta
Michael Nagler speaking to the Islamic Organization of North America
Hope Tank — April 29, 2011
effervescence of the crowd
interposition
I wish to share two thoughts.
1) Concerning animal emotion.
Behavioral biologist may assert that animals do not have emotions. But evolutionary biologist would assert that at least mammals have emotions. The evolution of the human brain occurred is 3 to 4 distinct phases. The lowest brain is the reptilian brain, which is responsible for keeping the heart beating, and the lungs breathing. Over the reptilian brain developed the mammalian brain, which is common among all mammals. The mammalian brain is responsible for emotion and long term memory, the two being twin sisters in a sense. On top of the mammalian brain developed the cortex which is unique to primate, and in humans there is the neo-cortex. The neo-cortex is what enables you to understand the words I am writing, higher mathematical functions, and language. It is what makes us fancy monkeys.
In this analysis its quite clear that ALL mammals should posses emotions. Though I could have simple said look at a dog. And by looking at her you know what she is feeling.
2) On Michael and his son with musical chairs:
I think that the story of ‘Clever Hans’ might apply here, though this is not to say Michael’s son is of lesser intelligence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clever_Hans
Peace,
Steve