As the philosopher Terence McKenna liked to say, cultures are operating systems for brains. To
continue the metaphor—the shared beliefs, values, and norms of your society are the software running
on the hardware in your head. Of course, the hardware in your head isn’t hard; it’s a goopy
undercooked flan of neurons and supportive cells, but you get the idea. You come hardwired for all
sorts of situations, but that hardware gets modified, enhanced, suppressed, and rerouted by the
cultural milieu into which you were born. Beliefs are the things most people believe to be true
continue the metaphor—the shared beliefs, values, and norms of your society are the software running
on the hardware in your head. Of course, the hardware in your head isn’t hard; it’s a goopy
undercooked flan of neurons and supportive cells, but you get the idea. You come hardwired for all
sorts of situations, but that hardware gets modified, enhanced, suppressed, and rerouted by the
cultural milieu into which you were born. Beliefs are the things most people believe to be true
No comments:
Post a Comment