fMRI: a very critical review, again (Introduction)

by David Turell , Saturday, May 05, 2018, 14:42 (2396 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: Three cheers. I hate the compartmentalization theory. The brain is a community of cell communities which all work together. I’d like to know more about the “cognitive networks”. Usual question: does the s/s/c arise out of these networks, or is it part of your God’s consciousness?

DAVID: I view the s/s/c as having to use these cognitive networks. I think it is part of God's consciousness.

dhw: Or of course it may be that the s/s/c emerges from the interplay between the cognitive networks. That is the starting-point of the dichotomy we have been discussing for so long.

Under “Observed memory formation”:

DAVID’s comment: we have evolved from lower animals and they are conscious, but without our consciousness. Our s/s/c has followed these routes of brain connections as we have developed more thinking mind areas. It just shows how the s/s/c interlocks with brain networks.

dhw: I would love to know where you draw the line between conscious “lower animals” and robotic, pre-preprogrammed “lower animals”. At the moment we have mice as conscious and ants and weaverbirds as robots. There is no question that the s/s/c interlocks with brain networks. Same question as above: does the s/s/c have its source in the brain networks, or did your God “give it us” and it will pop out again when the brain is dead?

DAVID: Instincts exist at all levels of development, but I am sure ants, weaverbirds and mice are conscious. I view some instincts as learned behavior when they are simple and some as given instincts by God when they are too complex for simple adaptation. Of course God gave us consciousness which survives brain death.

dhw: You always leave out the all-important origin of what you call instincts. The complexities of the ant hill and the weaverbird’s nest can only have originated through the work of combined intelligences in the one, and individual intelligence in the other (unless a flock of weavers got together to invent the knots). The explanation you give is that in both cases, the intelligence(s) came directly from your God either programming the first living cells with ALL the complex innovations 3.8 billion years ago, or dabbling personally to insert a nest-building programme which all forthcoming ants/weavers would be compelled to switch on. Ah, if only he’d thought of inventing a programme that would enable all organisms to work it out for themselves! Or maybe he did...

We see the results of organisms activities, but must interpret them, as we cannot know how they were devolved. We both have our separate theories. God may have given the organisms the ability you desire them to have. I've admitted that, but have always insisted He supplied guidelines, since His purpose in evolution is to eventually produce us.