Free Will, Consciousness, Identity (Identity)

by David Turell , Sunday, July 29, 2012, 15:53 (4499 days ago) @ dhw
edited by unknown, Sunday, July 29, 2012, 15:59


> This is indeed a clue that our consciousness depends on biological matter. On the other hand, mystic and psychic experiences (such as NDEs) are a clue that our biological matter acts as a receiver, not a transmitter, and that consciousness and identity can survive the death of the brain. Neither clue is decisive, and so I keep an open mind.-> I don't like the word "supernatural" as it implies that we actually know what is natural. About 90% of the material world is unknown to us (dark matter and dark energy). The quantum world is a mystery. But yes, this discussion boils down to whether all our questions about consciousness (of which free will is one possible manifestation) can be answered materialistically. I don't know. Nor do you. -> "So how can you be so sure that our "ability to make choices" (part of your own definition) is never under our own conscious control?"-This learned article will help the discussion. We are responsible for our bad decisions:-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/neuroscience-and-moral-responsibility.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1343572933-UJSS2bpeIHL8v7C4q/I1ug-And I view this as a misguided attempt to explain consciousness. Again fMRI is a blood flow study, not a neural connection study. Apples and oranges make fruit salad, not sense.-http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120727095555.htm