Jonah Lehrer’s main argument is that art will improve and progress science. He talks about many scientific branches and various forms of art, including metaphor, imagery, and poetry. I found that the majority of Lehrer’s article discussed the science more than the art, which I found odd because the main point of the paper was to convey the importance of art in science. I also found that Lehrer often contradicted himself a great deal in the first page or so of his writing. I noted the word “naysayer” in the margins once, then twice, then again. It was helpful, though, because naysayer arguments are something I want to get better at so I can use them in my own writing.

Reductionism is defined as “the practice of analyzing and describing a complex phenomenon in terms of phenomena that are held to represent a simpler or more fundamental level, especially when this is said to provide a sufficient explanation”.

A synapse is a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter.

Epiphenomenon is described as a secondary effect or byproduct that arises from but does not causally influence a process.