Different in degree or kind: Sapiens begin brain use (Introduction)

by dhw, Friday, October 14, 2016, 13:37 (2744 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: You again skip the point that the brain size jumped in big gaps in each successive Homo species as they appeared. Size gap first, plasticity, advanced and expanded use of consciousness second.

dhw: That would only be true if the size of the brain engendered and/or expanded consciousness as opposed to merely receiving it. It may well do so, but then you will have to abandon your dualism. You simply cannot have it both ways. I am currently struggling with an idea to reconcile dualism and materialism, but I need time and I don’t have it at the moment!

DAVID: The larger brain allows better use of the consciousness it receives, not making a larger consciousness. The enlarged use is learned throughout life as we develop our own personalities and experiences. Plasticity is part of the process. Each step in human evolution developed more and more use of consciousness as the brain expanded.

Generally agreed, except that if you are a dualist, I think you need to reconstruct your last sentence. The brain expanded as more and more use of consciousness developed each step in human evolution.