Identity (Identity)

by George Jelliss , Crewe, Friday, September 04, 2009, 10:50 (5558 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: "I'm finding it increasingly difficult to follow George's replies, because they do not relate to my questions! For instance:-1) dhw: HOW do my atoms change their own connections?
George: The connections are changed by our experiences.
/// I do not understand HOW the fact that I have an experience enables my atoms to change their connections. ///
 
2) dhw: HOW do my atoms give "me" this control?
George: You are the history of your experiences.
Your answer does not tell me how my physical atoms create control over the way in which my physical atoms connect themselves."-
You need to read up on the science that has been done. It is diffcult to describe what happens in brief sentences that use only broad philosophical concepts. This may be helpful (there are preceding pages too that give a broader introduction):-http://www.web-us.com/brain/bio_org.html-I'm sure there are many other sites on this subject. This is just one that I have found gives a clear exposition.-Nature has a discussion board on Brain physiology, cognition and consciousness:-http://network.nature.com/groups/bpcc-
dhw: "The materialist view is that there has to be a physical explanation, but nobody knows it (yet)."-But we do know it to a considerable extent! You need to update your knowledge. We've come a long way since Descartes!-dhw: "The non-materialist view is that we have a non-physical identity, which some call the soul and some say is part of a universal intelligence. There is no evidence for this. So there we have two theories, neither of which has any known basis."-The "materialist" view as you call it, I would prefer to call it something like the "scientific" view, does have a very sound basis.-dhw: "Not believing is one side of agnosticism. The other side is not disbelieving." Exactly, but you need to proportion your degree of belief to the degree of evidence! Just because two different views of a subject can be presented does not mean that they are equally valid, 50:50.

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GPJ