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

by dhw, Monday, October 17, 2016, 12:33 (2746 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: What do you mean by “use of consciousness”? I have tried to point out the implications of your dualism, according to which the brain does not give rise to consciousness but implements instructions given by consciousness.
DAVID: In my view, with no strict training in the philosophy of dualism, consciousness is an instrument our brain receives to use as we will through our ability to use our brain. (dhw’s bold) This implies my belief in free will. Plasticity of our brain magnifies the individuality of our personal consciousness. Our brain is material but consciousness remains immaterial, but a part of human consciousness (Sheldrake), and a part of universal consciousness (God).

I am not a philosopher either, but I am basing my arguments on YOUR concept of dualism: namely, that consciousness has no material source and all its attributes that make up our personal identity (knowledge, memories, characteristics, emotions etc.) survive the death of the brain and body.

What you call “our ability to use our brain” IS our consciousness. Your belief in free will is precisely your belief that your consciousness controls your brain, not the other way round. Your consciousness, with all its attributes, IS you, if the immaterial mind can be independent of the material body. That can only mean that consciousness uses the brain to give itself physical expression in the material world.

dhw: And yes, I am suggesting the cell communities respond to the demands made by consciousness.
DAVID: And I agree that we consciously modify our brains through plasticity.

A very important factor in this discussion. The plasticity responds, it does not initiate.

dhw: You say God changed the genome in advance and that gave rise to new needs and opportunities (= humans learned how to use the new structure); I suggest (theistic version) that God gave organisms the means to change their genome in response to new needs and opportunities.
DAVID: And we have agreed there might be an inventive mechanism given by God, mine with guidelines, yours entirely autonomous.

We have dealt with “guidelines” under “Wikileaks":
dhw: The only guidelines would then have to be limitations. If we equate autonomy with free will in humans, we can only take decisions within the limitations imposed on us by our nature and our environment. If I am in a prison cell, I cannot decide to fly away into the forest.
DAVID: Yes, my concept of guidelines includes the limitations or boundaries of invention.

No disagreement here. Autonomy does not mean that you can do anything you like! It means that when an organism takes a decision, camouflages itself, builds a nest, it is not preprogrammed or dabbled with or guided. And so either the organism does the inventing or your God does it. No wishy-washy in-betweens.