Natural philosophy 　　translated by Patrick Harlan

Several years ago Carl Sagan wrote about the workings of the brain in "Cosmos" (translated by Kimura Shigeru). According to Sagan, the brain stem ｡ﾊR domain｡ﾋ is the primordial brain of all vertebrates, responsible for life support. The cerebral limbic system then developed around the brain stem. The cerebral limbic system controls the means and manner of an animals' daily lifestyle. In order to survive, animals will do and say the most unreasonable things, becoming emotional, even genocidal. This is the work of the cerebral limbic system. The cells that grew surrounding, enclosing the cerebral limbic system became the cerebral cortex, the control center for morality. However, these parts do not act equally. The fact that some of them function while others do not is the source of human tragedy. According to modern science, an electronic pulse travels through the fabric-like network of nerves wrapped around each portion of the brain. This pulse is termed an "impulse." These impulses bunch together here and there into "collumns." At the end of each nerve is a "synapse." Every synapse is capable of sending a signal to the synapse at the end of another nerve. In this system, the R domain sends off a synapse like a firework. The cerebral limbic system catches the spark, and mobilizes an impulse. If that action is morally unacceptable, the spark is received by the synapse of the cerebral cortex and another impulse is formed to control the behavior. That is how an ordinary person's brain functions. However, the R domain synapses of a DEVILISH person will not send a spark to the cerebral cortex, leaving only the impulses of the cerebral limbic system activated, and focusing one's calculations on personal gain or loss (without consideration of morality). By nature, without input from the cerebral cortex, awareness of morality is nonexistent, distinctions of right and wrong, good and evil are impossible. Rather, when pressed for a decision, profit and loss are the only factors considered. Profit is mistaken for goodness, loss for evil. In other words, devilish people do not know true morality. On the other hand, in the brains of GODLIKE people, when the R domain sends a spark to the cerebral limbic system, the synapse immediately fires off a signal to the cerebral cortex which then oversees the cerebral limbic system. Thus, even calculations of profit or loss take place within the framework of good and evil. That thought process itself is anathema to devilish persons, and induces a violent hatred toward the very existence of godlike persons. Cruelty wells up in their gut. This is where the root of tragedy lies. In conflict between devilish persons, the battle will escalate, their power increase. But this is not tragedy. Godlike persons live together in harmony. In the extension of this when godlike persons treat devilish persons with respect and kindness, they are dragged down into a cruel and savage melting pot. That reality is the autobiography "The Devilish and the Godlike," and the principle behind it originates in natural philosophy.