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Learning CANNOT exist without biochemicals. Behaviour CANNOT exist without biochemicals.

Considering the fact that we are made of biochemical components, everything we do "cannot exist without biochemicals", but this is a tautology.

There are many causality chains that converge to produce a given behaviour. Some of them are biochemical or genetic, that doesn't mean they are the main causes.

I cannot go somewhere by car without a functioning engine, that doesn't mean it's the engine that determines the destination of my trip...  

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

by Melanchthon on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 11:34:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Precisely. And though mechanical or computer analogies are every limited, I think you would agree that a functioning engine limits the possible destinations to a 1000 km radius, on roads, not up inclines of greater than 45, not underwater, past houses and not through them, in the air etc etc. and that your ultimate destination might be influenced by these limitations. The sense of freedom a car gives is an illusion. It depends on infrastructure.

You can't be me, I'm taken
by Sven Triloqvist on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 12:26:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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