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32Getting Scientific with Religion:A Darwinian Solution... Or Not?Journal of Consciousness Studies 17 (3-4): 192-230. 2010.Introducing non-Darwinian mind as a nonaptation I argue that Darwinian mind evolved from non-Darwinian mind through the evolution of desire and aversion. The subject position within Darwinian mind is Darwinian self and is inherently selfish. However the cathexis whereby the subject prioritises motivations of desire and aversion is not an inherent property of mind. Instead it is proposed to be an adaptation, a predisposition to respond to pleasant/unpleasant sensations with desire/aversion. This …Read more
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25Sex differences in human aggression: The interaction between early developmental and later activational testosteroneBehavioral and Brain Sciences 32 (3-4). 2009.The relation between testosterone levels and aggressive behavior is well established. From an evolutionary viewpoint, testosterone can explain at least part of the sex differences found in aggressive behavior. This explanation, however, is mediated by factors such as prenatal testosterone levels and basal levels of cortisol. Especially regarding sex differences in aggression during adolescence, these mediators have great influence. Based on developmental brain structure research we argue that se…Read more
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70Raw feeling: A model for affective consciousnessBehavioral and Brain Sciences 30 (1): 107-108. 2007.Seeking to unlock the secrets of consciousness, neuroscientists have been studying neural correlates of sensory awareness, such as meaningless randomly moving dots. But in the natural world of species' survival, “raw feelings” mediate conscious adaptive responses. Merker connects the brainstem with vigilance, orientating, and emotional consciousness. However, depending on the brain's phylogenetic level, raw feeling takes particular forms. (Published Online May 1 2007)
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University of Cape TownResearcher
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa