Page |101 . . social brain to achieve an understandin —-, Minds Where None of God and what God wants. This kind an Be Seen ; of anthropomorphism can be taken to The social brain seeks different metaphoric extremes in connections with others. But what is the personifying God as father or friend. foundation that we use to build such But an overly concrete personification connections? We experience empathy as may have costs perhaps diminishing the a form of emotional resonance and universality and pervasiveness of God in understanding of other people. This other religions. Thus religions may connection allows us to comfort and differ in theological perspective on the support and celebrate with others. Being value of the anthropomorphic impulse in tune with emotional states of others inherent in the social brain. allows us to respond in ways that strengthen a group. But how do we understand the thoughts and goals of others? How do we predict choices and decisions to facilitate cooperation in groups? Anthropomorphism is the basis for predicting behavior and thoughts and goals. Nick Epley discusses how anthropomorphism is rooted in an egocentric view of others. Moreover our view of others is not confined to the others that are people. It is perhaps reflective of the deep and fundamental nature of anthropomorphism in the social brain that its anthropomorphic inferences about agents can be derived from observed behavior, allowing us to understand “minds” where none may exist, as in mechanical toys or alarm clocks. Of course we tend to understand those minds by thinking they are just like us. Even when there is no agent to be seen, events in the world may be understood by attributing them to unseen agents. During World War II, the bombing of London was demonstrably random, but citizens of London could not help but discern intentional patterns in the attacks. As Epley points out, hurricanes and floods are even today attributed to the hand of God, perhaps an angry God. Clark