The Ideological Brain

February 1, 2025
Much of the world's population seems to be at odds, seriously questioning how some people can hold such ridiculously inaccurate misconceptions. This book considers philosophical and political viewpoints in relation to current neurological research. Do deeply rooted elements in the brain determine rigidity or flexibility, or is it social conditioning? Are there neurological indicators that determine susceptibility to conspiracy theories and radicalization, or is it recruitment propaganda? Neuroscientist Zmigrod ushers readers through evolving -isms (eighteenth-century idealism, nineteenth-century Marxism, etc.) and identifies how each appealed to basic cognitive functions like prediction, communication, and order. She considers the influences of additional factors, such as perception, genetics, and faith, and unsurprisingly, things get progressively murkier as more factors come into play, especially considering neurological research that reveals unexpected connections between spontaneous physical reactions, emotional responses, thought processes, justifications, and actions. The text can get fairly technical at times, but Zmigrod effectively plays seemingly disparate notions off each other, offering balanced perspectives, identifying conundrums, and raising topics worthy of further investigation. A thought-provoking and eloquent offering for science-oriented social observers.

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