ATHENS DIALOGUES :

The Future of the Brain, The Brain of The Future

BY Susan Greenfield

Ancient Greek concepts of the human mind, as presented by great tragedians, show some correspondence to modern neuroscientific concepts.


Do ancient Greek concepts of the human mind have any application to modern neuroscience? This paper examines the ideas of three major Greek tragedians and compares them to current neuroscientific terms. The first concept, genetic determinism, relates to Aeschylus' emphasis on the deterministic force of the chorus. Second, the capacity of thought to leave its mark on and shape the human brain ... View Full Summary