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Author Topic:   Is The Evolution of Consciousness Science?
Doctor Witch
Junior Member (Idle past 4616 days)
Posts: 27
From: Both Sides
Joined: 08-05-2011


Message 1 of 4 (627978)
08-05-2011 9:51 PM


I work on both sides of the Cartesian Divide between the measurable world of science and the particularly with the mind. I know the science of the brain and how little it has to do with any concept of mind in terms of neuro-anatomy, chemistry or electricity.
It is easy to be fooled by the mountain of knowledge about the brain. There is no concept of what a single thought is or where the mind is. There are only associations about chemicals and brain areas without proven causality.
Working with both sides of the brain and mind has led me to the working theory that the brain is like an old fashioned telephone switchboard between the mind and the body. Certain parts connect to certain thoughts. They are refelctions of one another and so the two must move together. Block or change one and the other reflects it.
That places the brain in the hands of science and the mind in the subjects beyond science such as philosophy, theology and clinical psychology.
That would suggest that both sides of the Evolution debate are playing know-it-alls and claiming that the whole of Evolution is their territory. The traditional divide of academia would allow for two separate stories, the Evolution of the Body and the Evolution of Consciousness. And neither side has the right to interfere.
Did something happen to human consciousness only a few thousand years ago? It is consistent with the archeological evidence that something very major happened then to the workings of the human mind. We could say that what we know as human consciousness was created then....
Is that what Genesis is talking about?
And is there a plan for consciousness?
Edited by Doctor Witch, : No reason given.

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Admin, posted 08-06-2011 9:12 AM Doctor Witch has replied

  
Admin
Director
Posts: 12995
From: EvC Forum
Joined: 06-14-2002
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 2 of 4 (628030)
08-06-2011 9:12 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Doctor Witch
08-05-2011 9:51 PM


You set the stage through most of your post for a discussion about the mind/brain relationship, but then conclude by asking about the origins of consciousness. I think you could get rid of everything except the last three paragraphs, then add another paragraph or two outlining your position on the topic.
--Percy

--Percy
EvC Forum Director

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Doctor Witch, posted 08-05-2011 9:51 PM Doctor Witch has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Doctor Witch, posted 08-06-2011 4:12 PM Admin has replied

  
Doctor Witch
Junior Member (Idle past 4616 days)
Posts: 27
From: Both Sides
Joined: 08-05-2011


Message 3 of 4 (628087)
08-06-2011 4:12 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by Admin
08-06-2011 9:12 AM


Updated and hopefully improved version
I work on both sides of the Cartesian Divide between the measurable world of science and the particularly with the mind. I know the science of the brain and how little it has to do with any concept of mind in terms of neuro-anatomy, chemistry or electricity.
It is easy to be fooled by the mountain of knowledge about the brain. There is no concept of what a single thought is or where the mind is. There are only associations about chemicals and brain areas without proven causality.
Working with both sides of the brain and mind has led me to the working theory that the brain is like an old fashioned telephone switchboard between the mind and the body. Certain parts connect to certain thoughts. They are refelctions of one another and so the two must move together. Block or change one and the other reflects it.
That places the brain in the hands of science and the mind in the subjects beyond science such as philosophy, theology and clinical psychology.
That would suggest that both sides of the Evolution debate are playing know-it-alls and claiming that the whole of Evolution is their territory. The traditional divide of academia would allow for two separate stories, the Evolution of the Body and the Evolution of Consciousness. And neither side has the right to interfere. Science sticks to the discussion of the tangible like DNA and proteins and religion sticks to the intangible, the mind, in which there is no need for empirical evidence, only objective and analytic rationality.
In this way I am able to hold two theories of Evolution which may be very different Creation Stories. There is no conflict between them.
Shouldn't we all be able to do that?
Is there really any need to take sides?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Admin, posted 08-06-2011 9:12 AM Admin has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 4 by Admin, posted 08-08-2011 7:34 AM Doctor Witch has not replied

  
Admin
Director
Posts: 12995
From: EvC Forum
Joined: 06-14-2002
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 4 of 4 (628259)
08-08-2011 7:34 AM
Reply to: Message 3 by Doctor Witch
08-06-2011 4:12 PM


Re: Updated and hopefully improved version
Hi Doctor Witch,
I don't see a connection between your characterization of the brain/mind schism in academia, and your sudden shift in the 4th paragraph to a science/religion schism.
You also don't say what the "two theories of evolution" are, or what "creation stories" you're referring to.
If you want to discuss scientific issues of brain/mind, then there's no need to bring religion into this.
And if you want to discuss creation/evolution issues then it's difficult to see the relevance of the brain/mind issues.
If these things are related then you need to make that clear to the reader.
If they're not related then choose one and drop the other.

--Percy
EvC Forum Director

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Doctor Witch, posted 08-06-2011 4:12 PM Doctor Witch has not replied

  
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