RE: Do Humans Have Compulsary Will? Which best describes your take on 'will'?
May 29, 2015 at 12:10 pm
(May 29, 2015 at 9:34 am)bennyboy Wrote: I'm saying that there is mind or not-mind, with no gradation between. The gradation runs from simplest mind to most complex, but not from nothing to something.
Benny,
I understand your broader argument, even if I can't immediately agree. I am okay with the concept of mind or not-mind, but where in the tree of life do you make this distinction? When I look across all species I see the gradation of cognitive ability that you imply doesn't exist. To invoke the 'mind spark' that goes from mind to no-mind we should attempt to define mind based on the behaviors we see in animals. It's tough. Coming up with an agreed working definition of mind is a bit like nailing jell-o to a wall.
Plants, insects, spiders, jellyfish, and barnacles don't have mind, but I could make room for birds and reptiles depending how mind is defined. I can also accept a more restrictive definition, but cannot accept a position that only humans have mind. To be ostensible as possible, what is the lowest animal form that you would describe as possessing mind?
