The Mind / Genetic Hyping

It is always interesting to read these types of articles because it introduces me to another aspect. The new perspective not only allows me to see that there are more critical thinkers than I expected, but it entertains me and challenges me to think critically myself. Marc Hauser introduces the Key Ingredients of the Human Mind being, Generative Computation, promiscuous combination of ideas, mental symbols and abstract thought. Each and every one of them have their own meaning and correlation to the article but it amazes me how one individual could take the time to process these perspectives. He states that recursion is the repeated use of a rule to create new expressions. With that one statement, it was then easy to wonder off and ponder about what kinds of recursive thinking humans do on an everyday basis. He also mentions that how these four ingredients are implemented and used vary from group to group. This reminds me of cultural myths and how every ones thought processes can be altered depending on how they were raised, their environment and their culture itself.

When reading Genetic Hyping I was interested and put more thought into how genes play an important role in our every day lives. There are so many factors that affect behaviors but when you realize your fathers side of the family is completely temperamental and have more of a tendency of being stricken with nerve disorders, you no longer have the tendency of asking yourself why you are the way you are. This goes along with him saying that genes and the environment affect behavior. Being introduced to my biological father and spending time with that side of the family brought out characteristics that I knew lied within me, figuratively speaking, but enabled me to be more comfortable with them.
One random thought is that experiments are always done with lab rats, or in this case, mice; I am now wondering if it will ever take place with a human.