My dad on the neocortex

My dad just sent me the following:

On the neocortex,I came up with the ultimate theory ! All creatures function very well without it,they don’t walk into walls,manage to get food,procreate , procreation being the ultimate purpose for being (perpetuation of the species). However,the only time they "feel good" is:
1. Post postprandial satiation.
2. Post coital extasy(mission accomplished)
3. Heat,proper body temperature,hence reptiles happily froliking on rocks.
The sole purpose of the neocortex,therefore,is to be the "feel good" center of the humans.Through billions of synapses we manage to feel good about the crazyest things,music,rollerblades, blowing ourselves up for a cause,believing ! Because we wanted to feel good so badly, the brain developed neocortex and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. Any other function is completely irrelevant in the big realm of nature, it’s just that evolution took one of it’s many dead end side trips, armadillos being another !

Now, technically, none of this "life" stuff is necessary in nature’s terms, is it? You could be a paramecium with no nervous system at all and be just fine as well.

But let’s roll with him for a moment. If the sole purpose of the neocortex is the feelgood center, then why would it evolve in the first place? We wouldn’t have a sense of wanting to feel good in the first place to have required its existence. Perhaps if we found a bunch of suicidal lizards back in the day before the neocortex, i would more readily buy it.

But…it’s still a fun idea to write about. Vonnegut would be proud. ;)

02:10 PM | 0 Comments | Tags: ,