More about how evolution works: multicellularity (Evolution)

by David Turell , Thursday, February 08, 2018, 18:36 (2263 days ago) @ dhw
edited by David Turell, Thursday, February 08, 2018, 19:04

DAVID: You state that as a fact. My view is the smaller brain was incapable of the concept. Only the larger brain had both concept and implementation.

dhw: Sorry, I should keep repeating that it is my hypothesis. You keep harping on about size, and the question actually boils down to whether ideas are the product of the dualist’s soul or his brain. If you believe it is the soul that thinks/remembers/conceptualizes (dualism), clearly the size of the brain makes no difference except to the potential for implementation. If you believe the soul cannot think/remember/conceptualize without a functioning brain (as you keep saying on the “big brain evolution” thread), and cannot think bigger without a bigger brain, you are a materialist. Please make up your mind.

My mind has a concept about the relationship of brain and s/s/c you do not seem to recognize. I know when I open up my mind to thought. There is a temporal progression from no thought to thinking. I can be in a reverie without productive thought, which indicates my control. I am material and I can only approach my s/s/c when I start to think. I can only use my brain to make contact with my s/s/c. I=s s/s/c. You and I cannot get around the material brain is the gateway to the s/s/c. And I am convinced a more complex cortex must be present to allow the s/s/c to perform more complex thinking. Every development in the evolution of Homo shows us that. Complex cortex always results in more complex artifacts. Your hypothesis that a small brain can have a concept, but must enlarge to implement it has no basis in what we know about Homo evolution. Our discussion always deals with a material brain and an immaterial s/s/c, dual entities. Materialism always has to part of the discussion. Can you show me complete separation which you seem to imply?

NDE's show us the s/s/c can be separate from the brain and be entirely functional, and when reattached to the brain transmit all of its newly received information. This tells me there are two separate entities, brain and s/s/c which work together when attached. This also tells me the brain can receive information, can transmit information which is more than functional implementation, which you imply is all the brain does. It modifies to help with handling new concepts. Can you describe what you think implementation entails?