Free Will, Consciousness, Identity (Identity)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Sunday, August 26, 2012, 23:55 (4260 days ago) @ David Turell

I don't really know what to think on this topic, honestly, which is one of the reasons I have refrained from chiming in on it too much. On one hand I see the brain as part two-way transceiver, part data processor, and part data server. However, I have seen nothing in the biological processes that explains the brains ability to do all of the things that it does. Nor have I seen anything at our current level of understanding that can come remotely close to explaining consciousness, emotion, or experience. Some how, we are capable of building models more rich and more complex than the fastest computers in the world, and do it more efficiently using less energy. While that is amazing enough, there is the question of interpretation. Who interprets those models, and why? -I have lots of theories, and tons of speculation about the who's, why's, and whatfor's, but nothing else aside from my faith and what little we actually know from science. Anything I say would get reduced to 'God did it' and cause another round of circular reasoning that is counter-productive. My position is based on a strange mix of fact, faith, and more recently my own experiences as a designer. While that is certainly true of everyone to some extent, for those with any type of belief in a archetypical deity that does not fit precisely with the norm, getting deep into any details or reasoning for a particular belief generally only drives the subject off topic. (That's not a criticism of anyone here, it is just my general experience.)

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.