Post by michellespencer on Nov 2, 2017 14:31:04 GMT
Who can have feelings?
Review the basic requirements that Damasio suggests an organism must meet in order to experience feelings. Briefly explain each of these. How do these requirements illustrate Damasio's connection between feelings and the process of evolution?
Damasio highlights four requirements an organism must have to experience feelings. The first" "an entity capable of feeling must be an organism that not only has a body but also a means to represent that body inside itself " (Damasio, ). In this statement he is looking at the nervous system a human being has and the ability to not only be a living breathing organism. We are also able to be conscious of what is happening and what we actually are feeling.
The second requirement speaks to the abilities of our nervous system. Yes, having a nervous system is great, but the nervous system must be able to change neural patterns and actually understand what feelings are. They must be able to interpret what we call feelings.
The third requirement is the ability of consciousness. Plants are alive but are they conscious? The ability to interpret feelings requires us to be conscious so we can be aware of the feelings we are having. Damasio also goes on to explain how consciousness and feeling are tied together- some steps to produce feelings also produce consciousness.
The fourth requirement is theexsistance and involvement of the brain. The brain must be not only present but also be able to create the body state in reaction to feelings. The brain would be the "command center" in a sense to create an emotional reaction to a feeling.
Damasio believes that we have evolved to have feelings out of necessity for well-being and survival. All of Damasio's requirements involve things that we, as humans, have that many other species do not. Many species have brains and nervous systems but humans are a few that have the abilities to not only think but to also interpret what we are thinking and seeing into something- ie feelings that create an outward reaction of emotions. Many species can feel fear and happiness but few actually know what it is.
Michelle
Review the basic requirements that Damasio suggests an organism must meet in order to experience feelings. Briefly explain each of these. How do these requirements illustrate Damasio's connection between feelings and the process of evolution?
Damasio highlights four requirements an organism must have to experience feelings. The first" "an entity capable of feeling must be an organism that not only has a body but also a means to represent that body inside itself " (Damasio, ). In this statement he is looking at the nervous system a human being has and the ability to not only be a living breathing organism. We are also able to be conscious of what is happening and what we actually are feeling.
The second requirement speaks to the abilities of our nervous system. Yes, having a nervous system is great, but the nervous system must be able to change neural patterns and actually understand what feelings are. They must be able to interpret what we call feelings.
The third requirement is the ability of consciousness. Plants are alive but are they conscious? The ability to interpret feelings requires us to be conscious so we can be aware of the feelings we are having. Damasio also goes on to explain how consciousness and feeling are tied together- some steps to produce feelings also produce consciousness.
The fourth requirement is theexsistance and involvement of the brain. The brain must be not only present but also be able to create the body state in reaction to feelings. The brain would be the "command center" in a sense to create an emotional reaction to a feeling.
Damasio believes that we have evolved to have feelings out of necessity for well-being and survival. All of Damasio's requirements involve things that we, as humans, have that many other species do not. Many species have brains and nervous systems but humans are a few that have the abilities to not only think but to also interpret what we are thinking and seeing into something- ie feelings that create an outward reaction of emotions. Many species can feel fear and happiness but few actually know what it is.
Michelle