Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Home › Bio 103, Week 13 ›

Reply to comment

cejensen's picture

Love? Free will?

Submitted by cejensen on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 6:49pm.

On Wednesday we discussed the idea that feelings of love are chemical reactions. Although I believe it, I struggled with this idea. After talking with my friends, I realized that it was because to explain a such a strong and complex emotion in terms of chemicals makes it sound clinical, and seems to trivialize it. It's important to remember that even though we can (and should) explain human emotion biologically, this doesn't mean that what we feel isn't there or isn't important. Love is still wonderful, and sadness is still painful, even if they are chemical reactions.
It does make me wonder about the idea of free will though. It seems to me like something "more than the sum of it's parts," and yet I know it must be biologically based. How do we explain the concept of fee will? Do we have a free will?

Reply

To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.
6 + 0 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.

Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities

Scanning electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2

Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities has 50 remote-ready activities, which work for either your classroom or remote teaching.

Narrative is determined not by a desire to narrate but by a desire to exchange. (Roland Barthes, S/Z)

What's New? Subscribe to Serendip Studio