As an addition to the "vegan mercy" thread, from the Paleo-Food list I post
the following with permission:
Best, Peter
[log in to unmask]
====================================================
DEN ENSAMME APEN, instinkt p avveie (The Lonely Ape, instinct gone
astray), by Bergljot B rresen (Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, Oslo, 1996. ISBN
82-05-23817-0. This book is in Norwegian, but any Swede or Dane can read
it.) Ms. B rresen's book is a must. Her references are cutting edge,
ranging from neurology to zoology to music. B rresen explores a very
important element of man's instinctual apparatus: the "hunter's
insensitivity switch" (an instinct is, metaphorically, an emotional switch
that can go on/off, and feelings
GUIDE decision making). This "switch" is responsible for creating an
emotionless, numb state of mind in the hunter: then he will feel no
compassion, and thus benumbed he can kill his prey without suffering
adverse psychological effects (we all know the story of the wounded deer
that suddenly LOOKS at the hunter with its big, round eyes, effectively
switching ON the normal empathic mind set, and this makes it impossible
for the hunter to make the kill).
The "normal" state of mind is one where we experience bodily
identification with other living beings, and this makes us able to
navigate socially with ease; an emotionally numb person could not do
this.
B rresen suggests that for some people the switch can get stuck in the
"off" position, perpetually making them emotionally, instinctually and
carnally dead. These people, in turn, stop making any sense. E.g. you may
hear them say: "animals doesn't feel any pain", "animals are mindless
automatons", "humans are special and are NOT animals". These people
become dualists and Xtoids! This cuts directly into the ground-breaking
work of the top neurologist Antonio Damasio, author of "Descartes'
error": people who are SPLIT from their carnal selves and their feelings,
CANNOT arrive at logic or make clever decisions. Ms. B rresen's book is
ammo against those who cannot feel, the living dead and the
thanatos-driven. You just have to apply it.
|
