This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“Understanding hemisphere difference offers a perspective on the structure of mind which is not available merely by introspection. If in everyday life we were aware of the discrepancies in the view, or ‘take’, on the world each hemisphere offers, it would render the immediate business of survival impracticable. For this reason, nature has taken care that these discrepancies should not be part of our everyday awareness. Even on sustained introspection, we can be only indirectly aware of the fact that reality is constructed from two incompatible world views. This fact becomes manifest, however, in the disputes of philosophers and theologians over the ages about the very nature of reality.” – Iain McGilchrist, Preface to the New Expanded Edition, Page 28
“The kind of attention we bring to bear on the world changes the nature of the world we attend to, the very nature of the world in which those “functions” would be carried out, and in which those “things” would exist. Attention changes what kind of a thing comes into being for us: in that way it changes the world.” – Iain McGilchrist, Chapter 1: Asymmetry and the brain, Page 69
“There is even some evidence that we identify projectively with people with whom we share a common purpose – when we are co-operating in a task, for example – to such a degree that we seem to merge identity with them. In ingeniously designed experiments where two participants are sitting next to one another, sharing a combined task, but with functionally independent roles, the two individuals appear spontaneously to function as one agent with a unified action plan.” – Iain McGilchrist, Chapter, Page 350
Is This An Overview?
The brain has hemispheres that are involved in every
task. But, the way in which the
hemispheres are involved are different.
Their roles are different. They
deal with the same information in different ways. The different roles of the hemispheres enable
the brain to function effectively, but the differences also provide different
experiences of reality which creates conflict.
They have different values and priorities. They function well when cooperating, but
their competition with each other creates friction. Problems occur when giving prominence to a
hemisphere over another. The problems
occurring due to the conflict are felt indirectly, through culture. Social problems develop through lack of
tolerance at other methods of thinking, as they appear incompatible, with the
other being wrong.
Caveats?
This book contains a myriad of
different cultural and philosophical references. Prior knowledge of the references would
enable the reader to better understand the book. References that can be interpreted to favor
the primary claims about the hemispheric differences.
