Hey @sco :D , how nice to see you here ! It pleases me very much that this post has provided you with an enjoyable read.

I have been mulling your comment over for a little while now. I was particularly drawn to how you described psychology here:

It is the extension of biology with different methods to explain human behavior.

What an interesting perspective. Thank you for presenting it to me.

And then, of course, you also pointed out the following (which struck me a bit to begin with, as I first interpreted as a “one-way-road” perspective of addressing the human condition):

also social and psychological phenomena, result from biochemical reactions.

You see, psychologists tend to adopt a more back and forth approach. You know, brain/mind, mind/brain – psychological phenomenon/society – society/psychological phenomenon. You get it. One of the reasons for this being the way with which, for instance, it has been seen that not only our neurobiological mechanisms yield certain moods and their corresponding behaviours, but also how behaviour also changes neural networks, consequently changing how we feel and so forth.^ref.,ref.. A two way-way road, if you will.

Had you made the above remark about non-human animals I wouldn’t have blinked. But, I assumed you’re talking about us, humans (or, at least about also us! 😊). Then, I thought of higher-order cognitive processes, and even metacognition. Still, what are these processes if not the manifestation of a synaptic self? As LeDoux puts it. And it is because of such functions that for us, humans, these “feel” psychological and social, as you suggest. Rhum …

Yet, I believe we aren’t prepared to abandon this categorical breakdown: biological, psychological, social. For the very reason you pointed out here: “molecular-biologic systems involved are much too complex and tiny to be understood (and I doubt science will ever do).”

Then, the way I see this is, while all that encompasses the human condition might depart from one single point : biochemical reactions. It does so intertwining all the multi-dimensions that give rise to who we are, those that can be explained, and those that can not. To and fro, to and fro.

Thank you for taking the time to write this comment here @sco. You definitely intrigued me, and got me thinking today.

With Respect,
Abigail

PS: Thank you for the re-esteem! :)