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

by David Turell , Monday, October 17, 2016, 14:41 (2747 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: 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.

Not my concept. I view my brain like a radio receiver, which I can turn it on by my free will as I do my own individual thinking and mold my personality through experience and analysis of my thoughts. I decide what to think and what to conclude. Consciousness is an non-material instrument I use

dhw: 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.

I would turn it around. My brain accepts consciousness for my use.

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.

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

Yes.

DAVID: Yes, my concept of guidelines includes the limitations or boundaries of invention.

dhw: 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.

Not sure of your exact meaning. I start with the concept that God guides evolution, but my concept of His method has more than one possibililty as previously explained.