Terry Smith wrote in message <118_9811061943 at gastro.apana.org.au>...
>> From: "Ray Scanlon" <rscanlon at wsg.net>
>> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 15:33:25 -0500
>>Your `argument' is merly an assertion, and by no stretch of the
>imagiantion a *scientific* argument. This being so, your proposing it as a
>suitable topic of discussion in a science forum, together with the lack of
>any method of testing, any supporting data, or even a hint as to how such
>data may be gathered, isn't merely ineptitude personified, but an outright
>breach of netiquette.
In discussions involving the soul (mind) there is no data. Informed opinion
is divided on whether or not there may or could be data in the future.
Chalmers speaks for those who conjecture that there is a possible future
science of soul (mind). McGill speaks for those who think otherwise. I must
say I stand with McGill.
This group is not moderated. If you are truly offended perhaps you should
read only moderated groups.
>Your need for an `homunculus' was a concept in studies considered until
>the late nineteenth century - an result of the acceptance of `religious'
>ideas as other than wishful thinking and pipe-dreams. For you now to
>suggest that such ideas are part of scientific methodology, and offer the
>source of such untestable phenomena as a viable [and in any way equal]
>alternative to the straw-man you construct is behaviour I find
>intellectually and morally disgusting.
I am sorry for disgusting you, I do the best I can not to offend my fellow
man.
I will state my position again, I find nothing offensive in it.
Many people envision a sophisticated homunculus they call "mind". This
homunculus selects from data proffered by the brain, manipulates the data,
comes to a conclusion, and forwards this decision to the brain for
implementation.
It is my opinion that people who would avoid this homunculus should use the
word "soul" in place of "mind, self, intellect". Using the word "soul"
should warn them that they are leaving science and entering religion when
they do so.
Let the brain do the thinking and deciding.
If you have no need of such an homunculus I invite you to visit my homepage.
I set forth there a model for the mammalian brain that has no need for soul.
It is my further conjecture that toward the end of the next century when the
molecular structure and activity of the brain is fully worked out that man
shall see there is no need of soul in a material universe. He will reject
materialism and turn to religion.
So it goes.
Ray
Those interested in how the brain works might look at
www.wsg.net/~rscanlon/brain.html
