Ourcellves? (Identity)

by David Turell , Sunday, April 06, 2014, 23:00 (3666 days ago) @ romansh


> Romansh: So while I might disagree with George's wording when he says:
> >The connections between the cells are indeed of our making. When we think, or undergo any experiences, we rewire the connections between our brain cells.
> Romansh: It is the word we I have a problem with. I might be able to understand intellectually by "reviewing a thought" repetetively I can "manipulate" my underlying brain structure ... but what "manipulated" my brain structure to want to "manipulate" my brain structure ... I don't have a clue. When I use the word manipulate I don't want imply intent of any sort. Just to make sure there is no ambiguity.-But we do actually influence our own brains. George's experiences and education affected his brain to create memories (we still don't know how) and the change the wiring in many areas. Plasticity is shown all through life. The fact you 'don't have a clue'does not negate the fact that the mechanism exists. We make our brains in a sense. From my book "Science vs. Religion", pg. 134: -"The autopsy of Einstein's brain raised a chicken-and-egg type of question. His brain was 15 percent wider on both sides due to a one-centimeter enlargement of an area controlling "visual interpretations, mathematical thought and imagery of movement." (Scientific American, September 1999). As a child he was a left-handed dyslectic. Did his brain adapt to his brilliant thought processes, or did his brain start out with this very unusual anatomy permitting brilliant deductions to appear?"-Romansh:A materialist would have no problem with us having a sense of intent much in the same way she would not have a problem with people having a sense of the colour blue. But the materialist would not assume that blue is actually blue.-Your 'blue' is not my 'blue'. We know that, just as we know if we both have the same thought it will be a different experience in each of us. We are dealing with a property of the brain that is real to each of us, but its quality is assumed in others. That is why materialism won't get you there. I'm with Nagel. There is something more than materialism.