I know it seems like a dumb question, but I was thinking about it when I was reading an introduction to Public Choice Theory. In particular, I was considering how do equally ‘opposing’ neural pathways overcome each other (in the same manner how do equally independent voters in a direct democracies come to a supermajority). I’m not necessarily trying to say that neurons are some how self-aware, but I do think there’s something to the behavior of neurons that suggest they may be acting in accordance to internal ‘initiatives’ (Whatever those initiatives may be).
Yes. The prime example is the metaphorical ascription of purposive behavior to evolutionary entities or processes. As an example, an evolutionist may say that a gene “tries to preserve its existence” despite that genes do not act purposively whatsoever.