Big brain evolution: changes in sapiens skull shape;addendum (Evolution)

by dhw, Tuesday, March 06, 2018, 15:43 (2452 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: You see, you’ve understood perfectly that the s/s/c does the thinking, but manifestation can only occur when the brain gives material implementation to the immaterial thoughts. So why do you keep insisting that your mind cannot THINK its thoughts without the functioning brain?
DAVID: You keep forgetting I have two views of the state of the s/s/c. In life it MUST use the brain, but in the afterlife it is independent.
DAVID (later): My s/s/c has dual roles in life and in death, with brain and without brain. Its underlying mechanism of action may be slightly different in each role. I don't think of the s/s/c as you do, seemingly one neat package.

I haven’t forgotten it at all, but you have forgotten our exchange on 2 March: “If NDEs are to be believed, the s/s/c plays the same role in life and in death: it is the thinking, experiencing, remembering, decision-making YOU. Yes or no?” You answered yes. But now, since you believe that intelligence ”springs from the s/s/c being able to use an advanced brain in size and complexity”, you can only believe that without your advanced brain, your soul will leave its intelligence behind! A thinking, decision-making you without your intelligence. A fine prospect.

Dhw: Next we move to the complete contrast between the dementia victim's dualism (the s/s/c is normal but can't express itself) and Einstein's materialism (his brain is the source of his genius):
DAVID: Severely demented may be total vegetables. So?
dhw: So when the vegetable thinks he/she is now a child, or the doctor wants to kill him/her, or he/she wants to kill the doctor, are you saying the s/s/c is perfectly normal but can’t communicate its normal thoughts because the receiver isn’t working properly?If not, what ARE you saying?
DAVID: Of course, the receiver is not working properly.

So the vegetable who thinks he/she is a child actually knows he/she is her normal self but his/her brain is doing all the talking? The other example I used earlier related to your claim that judgement is impaired until the prefrontal cortex is fully mature at around the age of 25. I asked if that meant anyone under the age of 25 was not responsible for their criminal actions. You have now posted an article on that very subject, but extending the question to brain damage at all ages. You comment: “The brain is the seat of operations for the s/s/c. There is no way around it. Normal s/s/c requires a normal brain. But this is a legal slippery slope.” It is also a philosophical slippery slope. It hinges on the debate between dualism and materialism. You continue to favour dualism while arguing for materialism, as below:

DAVID: And the only way there can be advanced thinking, as Einstein shows, is through brain complexity.
dhw: So did Einstein show us that the complexities of his brain were the source of his great thoughts, thereby embracing materialism, or did he show us that his great thoughts resulted in increased brain complexity, thereby embracing dualism?
DAVID: The thickened area allowed the more complex thoughts to be developed. Why do IQ levels differ in different people? It must be the individual complexity of the prefrontal cortex.

You’re off again with “allowed”. What is the source of Einstein’s genius or of intelligence in general: the soul/self or the prefrontal cortex? If your answer is the latter, welcome once more to the world of materialism. And you may well be right. I’m not taking sides. However, NDEs suggest that there is an immaterial self that uses the brain and body to express and implement its thoughts. And so I don’t understand how anyone can believe that a person’s thoughts (including intelligence) are dependent on a functioning brain, and yet at the same time believe that when the functioning brain dies, the person’s thoughts (including intelligence) continue without it. Has your yes to my question of 2 March now turned into a no on 5 March?