Not sure whether to put this in Philosophy or Science.  How a molecule makes us moral:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/27/opinion/zak-moral-molecule/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Right, that’s it! I’m becoming an oxytocin dealer. I hope they never make it legal.

Ecurb Noselrub - 27 December 2011 06:46 AM

Not sure whether to put this in Philosophy or Science.  How a molecule makes us moral:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/27/opinion/zak-moral-molecule/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Makes us trustworthy, eh?  I guess I’ll have to start giving lots more thought to what Rush Limbaugh says….

Very interesting. Not sure of the conclusions though. I mean I have no doubt that chemicals affect/control us but what if by nature we are suspicious of others and Oxytocin is released when begin to feel safe with a person? That would seem to explain a lot of what he observed.

burt - 27 December 2011 08:01 AM

Ecurb Noselrub - 27 December 2011 06:46 AM

Not sure whether to put this in Philosophy or Science.  How a molecule makes us moral:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/27/opinion/zak-moral-molecule/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Makes us trustworthy, eh?  I guess I’ll have to start giving lots more thought to what Rush Limbaugh says….

Ha ha! That’s what he was supposed to be taking, but the pharmacy misread his prescription and gave him oxycontin, instead. Or maybe it was an intentional part of the vast, right-wing conspiracy…

Wrong choice, Bruce, should have put it in Science.

Answerer - 27 December 2011 12:23 PM

Wrong choice, Bruce, should have put it in Science.

Well, that’s a Philosophical question.

Ecurb Noselrub - 27 December 2011 12:25 PM

Answerer - 27 December 2011 12:23 PM

Wrong choice, Bruce, should have put it in Science.

Well, that’s a Philosophical question.

Right, morality is qualia.

Just imagine if the standard greeting was to hug rather than to shake hands or bow. Seriously though that would be a better world just from that.

I was interested in the male vs female difference due to the interaction with testosterone.  Maybe this is why Saralynn and I tend to give certain posters more of a break?  When someone is being smashed, it could stimulate our maternal instincts and the release of oxytocin.

Ymirheim - 27 December 2011 01:28 PM

Just imagine if the standard greeting was to hug rather than to shake hands or bow. Seriously though that would be a better world just from that.

I must be low on oxytocin because I don’t to hug anyone.

GAD, I can help. I’m now a dealer. It’s still legal so no worries about posession etc. I do it by the milliigram. How much do you need?

I bet handshakes or back pats trigger a little oxytocin too.  Probably cat or dog petting as well.

Die fröhliche Wissenschaft (Rob) - 27 December 2011 03:56 PM

GAD, I can help. I’m now a dealer. It’s still legal so no worries about posession etc. I do it by the milliigram. How much do you need?

I don’t know a couple of kilos probably….

hannahfriend - 27 December 2011 03:49 PM

I was interested in the male vs female difference due to the interaction with testosterone.  Maybe this is why Saralynn and I tend to give certain posters more of a break?  When someone is being smashed, it could stimulate our maternal instincts and the release of oxytocin.

I think so. My theory would be when someone is getting smashed you feel sorry for them and want to protect them and this overcomes our innate suspicions of others and starts the bonding process.

HANNAH: I was interested in the male vs female difference due to the interaction with testosterone.  Maybe this is why Saralynn and I tend to give certain posters more of a break?  When someone is being smashed, it could stimulate our maternal instincts and the release of oxytocin.

For whatever reason, women are more tolerant of bad behavior than men.  If they weren’t, there would be a lot of dead two year olds in dumpsters.