Why We Feel: The Science of Human Emotions (Helix Books)

An excellent study [that] draws new connections between emotions and intelligence.Why do we think some people are beautiful? Why do orgasms feel good? Why do we get angry? Anxious? In this intriguing book, biopsychologist Victor Johnston explores the origins of human emotions. Drawing on computer science, neurobiology, and evolutionary psychology, he shows us that emotions are not some strange accident of nature, but are instead the basis of learning and reasoning, and help us to adapt to a complex, rapidly changing environment. In the process, he offers a radical new view of reality: What we see, hear, smell, feel -- even what we consider beautiful -- is not an accurate representation of the world around us; rather, our feelings are illusions, shaped by millions of years of evolution. In clear and colorful prose, Johnston helps us navigate the intimate relationship between our private conscious feelings and our biological survival -- and tells us what this means for human creativity, innovation, and free will. We know that our physical form bears the thumbprint of evolution, but rarely do we stop to consider the effect of natural selection on our conscious feelings - the essence of our humanity. Drawing on a full range of disciplines, from computer science and neurobiology to complexity and evolutionary psychology, Johnston makes the case that feelings evolved - much like any other biological phenomenon - to ensure the survival of our genes. We are all preoccupied, to some extent, with how we feel. Victor Johnston explains why we feel at all, and argues that our feelings - both good and bad - are crucial to our survival. In clear and colorful prose, Johnston helps us navigate the intimate relationship between our emotions and our biological survival - and tells us what this means for human creativity, innovation, and, ultimately, free will. Annotation Why do we think some people are beautiful? Why do orgasms feel good? Why do we get angry? Anxious? In this intriguing book, biopsychologist Victor Johnston explores the origin of human feelings and shows us that they are not some strange accident of human nature, but are instead the basis of learning and reasoning. In the process, he offers a radical new view of reality: What we see, hear, smell, feel -- even what we consider beautiful -- is not an accurate representation of the world around us; rather, our feelings are illusions, shaped by millions of years of evolution. ln clear and colorful prose, Johnston helps us navigate the intimate relationship between our emotions and our biological survival -- and tells us what this means for human creativity, innovation, and, ultimately, free will

a New Theory Explains Why We Have Feelings—and Why We Need Them To Survive.

booknews

johnston (psychobiology, New Mexico State U.-las Cruces) Writes For The Serious Non-specialist Who Wants To Explore The Ways In Which, As The Author Phrases It In His Preface, Our Conscious Experiences Depend On The Nature Of Our Evolved Neural Processes And Not On The Nature Of The Events In The World That Activate Those Processes. His Discussion Of The Evolution Of Human Feelings Draws On A Full Range Of Disciplinesfrom Computer Science, Neurobiology, Complexity, And Evolutionshary Psychology; His Thesis Is That Feelings Evolved Like Other Biological Phenomenon To Ensure The Survival Of Our Genes. Annotation C. Book News, Inc., Portland, Or (booknews.com)

Biopsychologist Victor Johnston explores the origins of human emotions. Drawing on computer science, neurobiology, and evolutionary psychology, he argues that emotions are not an accident of nature, but are instead the basis of learning and reasoning, and help us to adapt to a complex, rapidly changing environment. In the process, he offers a new view of reality - what we see, hear, smell and feel is not an accurate representation of the world around us; rather, our feelings are illusions, shaped by millions of years of evolution. Drawing on computer science, neurobiology, and evolutionary psychology, this study argues that emotions are not an accident of nature, but are instead the basis of learning and reasoning, and help humans to adapt to a complex, rapidly changing environment. WHEN I FIRST MET DAVID, HE WAS SITTING NERvously on a small wooden chair in a psychiatrist's office. Describes the evolutionary processes which resulted in the development of human senses and emotions