Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Nu · 05-09-2002, 03:50 AM

For example.

Who am I?

What is thought?

Is what I see real?

What is morality?

What is death?

What is life?

and so on...

Any science buffs out there have something to say about this? I am an undergrad student hoping to go to med school to study Neurology.

cricket · 05-13-2002, 11:47 PM

Then you must read, if you haven't already, VS Ramachandran's Phantoms in the Brain.

Ender · 05-14-2002, 01:16 AM

Assuming that scientific reductionism is the correct path to take. Were one to belabor under such premises, let's not overlook that lovely textbook, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0262530856/qid=1021367639/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-7174023-0473641" target="_blank">Neurophilosophy.</a>

I haven't read it myself, so don't take my word for it.

That book sticks out like a calloused thumb at the philo section in the local Border's and i've managed to overcome the temptation to pull it out and flip through it-for now.

(How many posts will it take before Gurdur storms in here and sticks his finger into everything? Would that depend on who's a gambling man?}

~WiGGiN~

[ May 14, 2002: Message edited by: Ender ]</p>

Nu · 05-14-2002, 02:02 AM

Very interesting.

Especially the Neurophilosophy book, considering that I intend on majoring in Biology and Philosophy...

I just hope I will be able to read and comprehend it, many of its reviews mention that her writing style is rather scientific...

fando · 05-14-2002, 05:06 PM

Ah, philosophy. Having majored in Physics/Astronomy, I tend to have a anti-philosophy bias. Allow me to answer these questions in a scoffing manner.

Who am I?
You are a pile of meat.

What is thought?
It's what a particularily evolved pile of meat does to continue its existence.

Is what I see real?
Yes, unless your vision has been compromised and is being fed false images.

What is morality?
Rules for intercourse between piles of meat, usually intended to maximize the timescale of meat existance in a mutual fashion.

What is death?
The state when a pile of meat ceases to sustain itself.

What is life?
Meat.

I think you're asking all the wrong questions. The more interesting questions are scientific, not philosophical:

What causes consciousness? Can we instill a machine of our own creation with this trait? Can we transfer human consciousness into a machine, and hence gain immortality?

Sorry for that hissy rant.

Nu · 05-15-2002, 05:09 AM

Interesting.

Is consciousness part of that pile of meat, or is it contained in a different kind of matter?

Or is consciousness just an illusion...

Nu · 05-15-2002, 05:22 AM

I did hear an idea that humans exist in order to protect the cells and mitocondria that make up their bodies. That is our meaning in life, to ensure that they survive and reproduce.

Consciousness is just an tool created by evolution to give the cells and mitocondria an edge against animals and other lifeforms.

Gurdur · 05-15-2002, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ender:
...
(How many posts will it take before Gurdur storms in here and sticks his finger into everything? Would that depend on who's a gambling man?}

An Australian will bet on two flies crawling up a wall.

Gurdur · 05-15-2002, 02:35 PM

achwas

[ May 15, 2002: Message edited by: Gurdur ]</p>

Gurdur · 05-15-2002, 02:39 PM

Actually, quite a few philosophical questions have been solved by neurophysiopsychological research;

just for instance:

when we visualize a 3-D object, how do we visualize it ?

is music related to language ?

05-09-2002, 03:50 AM	#1
Nu Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nu Posts: 58	Can Neurology find the answers to philosophical questions? For example. Who am I? What is thought? Is what I see real? What is morality? What is death? What is life? and so on... Any science buffs out there have something to say about this? I am an undergrad student hoping to go to med school to study Neurology.

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05-13-2002, 11:47 PM	#2
cricket Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: St Louis MO USA Posts: 1,188	Then you must read, if you haven't already, VS Ramachandran's Phantoms in the Brain.

05-14-2002, 01:16 AM	#3
Ender Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Lusitania Colony Posts: 658	Assuming that scientific reductionism is the correct path to take. Were one to belabor under such premises, let's not overlook that lovely textbook, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0262530856/qid=1021367639/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-7174023-0473641" target="_blank">Neurophilosophy.</a> I haven't read it myself, so don't take my word for it. That book sticks out like a calloused thumb at the philo section in the local Border's and i've managed to overcome the temptation to pull it out and flip through it-for now. (How many posts will it take before Gurdur storms in here and sticks his finger into everything? Would that depend on who's a gambling man?} ~WiGGiN~ [ May 14, 2002: Message edited by: Ender ]</p>

05-14-2002, 02:02 AM	#4
Nu Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nu Posts: 58	Very interesting. Especially the Neurophilosophy book, considering that I intend on majoring in Biology and Philosophy... I just hope I will be able to read and comprehend it, many of its reviews mention that her writing style is rather scientific...

05-14-2002, 05:06 PM	#5
fando Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Los Angeles Area Posts: 1,372	Ah, philosophy. Having majored in Physics/Astronomy, I tend to have a anti-philosophy bias. Allow me to answer these questions in a scoffing manner. Who am I? You are a pile of meat. What is thought? It's what a particularily evolved pile of meat does to continue its existence. Is what I see real? Yes, unless your vision has been compromised and is being fed false images. What is morality? Rules for intercourse between piles of meat, usually intended to maximize the timescale of meat existance in a mutual fashion. What is death? The state when a pile of meat ceases to sustain itself. What is life? Meat. I think you're asking all the wrong questions. The more interesting questions are scientific, not philosophical: What causes consciousness? Can we instill a machine of our own creation with this trait? Can we transfer human consciousness into a machine, and hence gain immortality? Sorry for that hissy rant.

05-15-2002, 05:09 AM	#6
Nu Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nu Posts: 58	Interesting. Is consciousness part of that pile of meat, or is it contained in a different kind of matter? Or is consciousness just an illusion...

05-15-2002, 05:22 AM	#7
Nu Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nu Posts: 58	I did hear an idea that humans exist in order to protect the cells and mitocondria that make up their bodies. That is our meaning in life, to ensure that they survive and reproduce. Consciousness is just an tool created by evolution to give the cells and mitocondria an edge against animals and other lifeforms.

05-15-2002, 02:35 PM	#9
Gurdur Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Buggered if I know Posts: 12,410	achwas [ May 15, 2002: Message edited by: Gurdur ]</p>

05-15-2002, 02:39 PM	#10
Gurdur Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Buggered if I know Posts: 12,410	Actually, quite a few philosophical questions have been solved by neurophysiopsychological research; just for instance: when we visualize a 3-D object, how do we visualize it ? is music related to language ?

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