Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
My fundamental premise about the brain is that its workings - what we sometimes call "mind" - are a consequence of its anatomy and physiology, and nothing more.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The brain's functioning is determined solely by its physical structure and biological processes.
In this quote, Carl Sagan emphasizes the idea that the mind is not separate from the brain but is instead a direct result of the brain's anatomy and physiology. This perspective underscores the importance of biological science in understanding consciousness and cognitive processes, suggesting that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors stem from the physical mechanisms of the brain.
Themes
BrainMindAnatomyPhysiologyScience
In practice
Example use cases
In a neuroscience lecture discussing the relationship between brain anatomy and behavior.
More from Carl Sagan
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There is a reward structure in science that is very interesting: Our highest honors go to those who disprove the findings of the most revered among us. So Einstein is revered not just because he made so many fundamental contributions to science, but because he found an imperfection in the fundamental contribution of Isaac Newton.
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The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
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