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

by dhw, Wednesday, March 07, 2018, 12:17 (2451 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: […] 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.

DAVID: Please read carefully what I present. My view of the s/s/c is presented above. It functions interfaced with the brain in life and on its own in the afterlife, perhaps slightly different in quantum mechanism. The information, memories and thought processes are the same in both places and in both forms, and you know my theory!

I do know your theory, and you are repeating what I have just said! So if it is the same, how can you argue that intelligence “springs” from the s/s/c being able to use an advanced brain, and yet you still have your intelligence in the afterlife WITHOUT your advanced brain? Or do think your s/s/c (which is the same in both places) can think without its intelligence?

DAVID: The brain IS material and it acts as a receiver for the s/s/c. In dualism part of the issue is always that the material part of the arrangement must play an equal role. Why can't you see that? Part of the brain is running the body, part of it is conceptualizing with the s/s/c.

As you keep agreeing and then disagreeing, the role the brain plays in life is providing information and giving material expression/implementation to the thoughts of the s/s/c. Yes, equally important in life, but the roles are different. The thinker provides the concept, the implementer implements it. THAT is dualism. Part of the brain is running the body, part of it is interfacing with the s/s/c so that it can implement the concepts of the s/s/c. “Conceptualizing WITH” the s/s/c? Do you now think the pfc and the s/s/c hold discussions and come up with a concept for which each is 50% responsible?

DAVID: Don't you realize an s/s/c develops from birth with a living interaction of a developing person? Of course you do. It must be formed and it will contain the personality that appears. It is a material quantum mechanism to be filled with the immaterial characteristics of the 'person'.

No disagreement here.

DAVID: Einstein's thickened area permitted the appearance of his genius s/s/c. Complex thought development (immaterial) requires a more complex material brain. Pure dualism.

Requires the brain to do what? To do the thinking? From your dualist standpoint: Firstly, his genius could not have “appeared” (= material manifestation) without the means to give it material expression (the brain). Secondly, in life all thought, complex or not, requires a brain if it is to be expressed or implemented. If you believe in NDEs, however, thought itself does NOT require a brain. Thought is the province of the s/s/c. So Einstein would still be a genius in an afterlife even without his prefrontal cortex.

DAVID: Further we measure IQ. There is a normal range from below 100 to folks with 150+. Part is difference in training to think, part is in brain structure, as research in genomes for responsible genes testifies. The s/s/c can develop more deep complexity of concepts with a more complex underlying brain in the interface.

IQ tests depend on lots of different factors, as does the self/soul. Stick to dualism v materialism. Concepts are concepts, no matter how deep the complexity, and you have to decide whether it is the s/s/c that does the thinking or the pfc. If you believe the s/s/c cannot THINK without the pfc, you are a materialist. No shame in that, but forget about NDEs.