Evolution and humans: Neanderthal brain difference II (Evolution)

by David Turell , Wednesday, May 02, 2018, 23:28 (2395 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: You simply refuse to accept the point that the s/s/c must work with the brain it is given in any given species. If that brain is wired differently than another brain in complexity, the capacity for complex thought will necessarily differ.

dhw: Exactly. And you have just presented the case for materialism: thought depends on the brain. I suggest we leave discussion of other species' "souls" (s/s/c) for another time. See also the quotes on IQ in my post under “A THEORY OF INTELLIGENCE”.

DAVID: It is obvious from artifacts produced by the brain of any given species. Any s/s/c uses the brain to produce thought. No s/s/c is separate from the brain it resides in. Separation is at death. And the point is obvious in the poor schizophrenic who does not want garbled thought, but must seek medication to fix his brain so his desired thought appears properly. Many mild schizophrenics can recognize their thinking is 'off'.

dhw: If medication fixes the brain, and this leads to “proper” thought, you have clear evidence that the brain is the source of thought – and that is a major problem for dualists. The fact that immaterial thoughts and emotions can change the brain is a major problem for materialists (as are psychic experiences like NDEs, for those open-minded enough to take them seriously). That is the dichotomy you refuse to recognize and which I am trying to resolve.

You have twisted the meaning of my statements. My version of the theory is the s/s/c cannot create thought without using the brain during life. The s/s/c is an immaterial mechanism, which through use of the material brain produces immaterial mentation. This leads to my position that only a more complex brain network can produce more complex thought. I've told you that my form of dualism is not yours. Yours comes across as if the s/s/c sits aside at a distance and instructs the brain what to do, as if they are not connected intimately. The s/s/c mechanism resides completely within the brain structure. The dichotomy is ours.