Re: [UUPoly-L] UUPoly-L Digest, Vol 38, Issue 14

[Linda Fingerson <slyypper@hotmail.com>]

I really appreciate David Hall's postings about the chemistry of love; and I find myself wondering what is needed to treat each other better, to act more loving toward one another in these tough situations.  As David notes, we can't mistake explanation for justification, and I would add that how we treat each other is a choice, even when the hormones are juicing us up.  

Knowledge is power, and the use of that power is still governed by choice.

I live in Westchester County, NY, attending a UU congregation there, and I feel very safe on this list.

Peace to all,

Slyypper


----------------------------------------
> From: uupoly-l-request@uupa.org
> Subject: UUPoly-L Digest, Vol 38, Issue 14
> To: uupoly-l@uupa.org
> Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:23 -0500
> 
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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. Re: Neuroscience, Insanity, and Comprehension (David Hall)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 18 Nov 2007 23:46:38 -0800
> From: "David Hall" <airsafe1@comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: [UUPoly-L] Neuroscience, Insanity, and Comprehension
> To: <uupoly-l@uupa.org>
> Message-ID: <007501c82a80$52cd8400$2402a8c0@davey>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"
> 
> I copied this from the web site of Dorothy Tennov, it sums it up very well
> 
> "Dorothy Tennov, Ph.D.
> Independent Scholar (1928 - 2007)
> 
>     As a critic and observer of science, Dorothy Tennov liked to take on big
> issues, not necessarily popular issues. The common theme unifying her
> thinking and writing was a call for improvement of the human condition
> through science and great dissatisfaction with the human sciences during her
> lifetime.
> 
>     She didn't see limerence (a term she invented, which is now part of the
> lexicon) as particularly "functional" for its victims, but rather one of the
> many tricks evolution has played on us that cause us to operate
> independently of our own welfare as defined by our conscious and reasoned
> goals, our pleasures and reasoned fears. It takes over."
> 
> I will add a big AMEN to that, been there, done that.
> 
> Dave Hall 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: uupoly-l-bounces+airsafe1=comcast.net@uupa.org
> [mailto:uupoly-l-bounces+airsafe1=comcast.net@uupa.org] On Behalf Of Fritz
> Neumann
> Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 5:24 PM
> To: uupoly-l@uupa.org
> Subject: Re: [UUPoly-L] Neuroscience, Insanity, and Comprehension
> 
> Ah - Don't mistake explanation for justification!
> 
> I was merely trying to at least give some comprehensible idea of why and how
> a trusted loved one could seem to turn so alien and nasty, Jekyll-and-Hyde
> like, which is what seemed to be baffling both you and Penna. I've seen it
> happen with others. And it's happened to me too, although not to the extreme
> levels you guys saw. Heck, I'm sure I've even been guilty of it myself...
> although, again, perhaps not to these extremes. But isn't it just a matter
> of degree?
> 
> What is important to recognize, I think, is the raw power that these
> reptile-level drives like limerence have over us. They are more ancient than
> anything going on in our rational/emotional neocortex, and to think we can
> simply brush them aside and ignore them is hubris and denial at its most
> naive.
> 

> 
> Nietszche said, "Beware hunting monsters lest you become a monster
> yourself."
> Let's not make a monster of these aspects of human behavior, but come to
> understand where they come from, so that we may both transcend and include
> them into ourselves, instead of becoming the very monster we set out to
> hunt.
> 
>   >*< Fritz
> 

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