In this chapter, a psychiatrist and former teacher of English shares insights from his book, The Master and His Emissary, diving into the concept of the divided brain and its profound impact on the Western world. The discussion explores the relevance of neuroscience to Western civilization and its potential applications to economics.
Psychiatrist and author Iain McGilchrist talks about his book, The Master and His Emissary, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. McGilchrist argues we have misunderstand the purpose and effect of the divided brain. The left side is focused, concrete, and confident while the right side is about integration of ourselves with the complexity of the world around us. McGilchrist uses this distinction to analyze the history of western civilization. This is a wide-ranging conversation that includes discussions of poetry, philosophy, and economics.