Consciousness: only half brain needed (General)

by dhw, Wednesday, November 27, 2019, 08:55 (1822 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: Your analysis means a material evolution developed an immaterial form in our consciousness. Incredulous!

dhw: We have been over the arguments for and against materialism and dualism many times, and I am surprised that you are now surprised that materialists believe that consciousness has a material source. I am also surprised at your failure to answer the points I have made above in relation to the article, which you claimed provided evidence for dualism.

DAVID: I was being sarcastic. None of us know how the material creates the immaterial. And its persistence no matter how many neurons are left, means if one thinks of consciousness having a functional active size, that means in materialism each neuron is capable of doing more and more work.

None of us know how the immaterial works anyway, and dualism raises just as many questions as materialism! It’s clear from the article that the neurons are indeed capable of more and more work, but there must presumably be a limit, and if that is reached, the patient will no longer be able to see, hear, or think. I’m sure that during your long career as a doctor you will have seen many such patients!