The problem of the soul

[HappySkeptic]

I think there is something in the nature of our brain that makes is think of the "self" as separate from the body. This leads to us imagining a soul.

Those religions that believe in reincarnation separate the soul from the ego. The reincarnated being has no memories or knowledge of past lives. Everything that made you uniquely "you" is lost. The immortal part of you that lives on is beyond the mere ego and self, and those who escape the wheel or rebirth (in Buddhism) still leave their ego behind.

Religions that worship ancestors or believe in eternal life go a different direction, but I find the idea that the ego lives on after death is ridiculous. It will barely live on through dementia or stroke. When the brain is damaged, it damages the self. When the brain dies, so does the self. Case closed.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Sam & Dave is the only proof you need for the existence of soul.

Boru

[WinterHold]

I personally think that the soul was discovered in our age: it's the "electrical current" operating our brains.
All aspects of our "personality" is controlled by the brain and the electrical current operating it. Nothing more, nothing less.

For example, if you had an accident and your "personality" changed after it, then it means that the electrical current in your brain is operating in a different pattern dictated by your "new set of neuro pathways" that came to be after the trauma you had.

The soul is the electricity in your head. Its pathways -or how it operates- is dictated by the way your neurons are wired.
You can change many aspects of how the neurons are wired: for example if you "rob people for a living" your brain will be wired as thieve. If you kill for a living, your brain will be wired as a killer.

Our brains are plastic not "static".
That's the soul.

[vulcanlogician]

I think metaphysical dualism is problematic. But I think it's possible to retain an idea of "the soul" even after one accepts materialism. As Nietzsche playfully posits: "soul is only a word for something about the body."

***

"Body am I, and soul" — thus speaks the child. And
why should one not speak like children?

But the awakened and knowing say: body am I entirely,
and nothing else; and soul is only a word for
something about the body.

The body is a great reason, a plurality with one
sense, a war and a peace, a herd and a shepherd. An
instrument of your body is also your little reason, my
brother, which you call "spirit" — a little instrument
and toy of your great reason.

"I," you say, and are proud of the word. But greater
is that in which you do not wish to have faith — your
body and its great reason: that does not say "I," but
does "I."

--Friedrich Nietzsche

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I personally think that the soul was discovered in our age: it's the "electrical current" operating our brains.
All aspects of our "personality" is controlled by the brain and the electrical current operating it. Nothing more, nothing less.

For example, if you had an accident and your "personality" changed after it, then it means that the electrical current in your brain is operating in a different pattern dictated by your "new set of neuro pathways" that came to be after the trauma you had.

The soul is the electricity in your head. Its pathways -or how it operates- is dictated by the way your neurons are wired.
You can change many aspects of how the neurons are wired: for example if you "rob people for a living" your brain will be wired as thieve. If you kill for a living, your brain will be wired as a killer.

Our brains are plastic not "static".
That's the soul.

So when you die, your electricity goes to Heaven? That place must be buzzin’.

Boru

[AniKoferBo]

The idea of a soul is kind of horrible, isn't it? The implications are dreadful to consider.

Like, what is going on with the soul if I get a head injury and my personality changes as a result? What if I was Christian before but after the injury, I become an atheist? Which version of me is my soul? Does the soul get "damaged" and impacted by the injury also? So, is it physical or not? Or does my real personality and true self stay inside me somewhere, locked away while my new brain injury personality heals and continues living? Where does the new personality come from?

The only reason someone would believe they have a soul is because they're scared that death is the complete cessation of existence. It makes people feel good that when their bodies die they will live on in some form. Which in itself isn't a bad thing, I guess, but it can become quite bad when all the other religious bits are added on

[WinterHold]

I personally think that the soul was discovered in our age: it's the "electrical current" operating our brains.
All aspects of our "personality" is controlled by the brain and the electrical current operating it. Nothing more, nothing less.

For example, if you had an accident and your "personality" changed after it, then it means that the electrical current in your brain is operating in a different pattern dictated by your "new set of neuro pathways" that came to be after the trauma you had.

The soul is the electricity in your head. Its pathways -or how it operates- is dictated by the way your neurons are wired.
You can change many aspects of how the neurons are wired: for example if you "rob people for a living" your brain will be wired as thieve. If you kill for a living, your brain will be wired as a killer.

Our brains are plastic not "static".
That's the soul.

So when you die, your electricity goes to Heaven? That place must be buzzin’.

Boru

The one who made flesh produce electrical current can indeed make a replica of it. Or a new creation that does a similar job.
Just like a programmer having a source code, with all the logs of the applications stored in the hard drive.

In Islam, angels are writing my deeds and your deeds. Just like "logs" in your PC.

Humans replicated that mechanism in your inernet browser for example; you can visit "history" and see your deeds on the web.
But unlike the human made web; God's domain is only controlled by him.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

So when you die, your electricity goes to Heaven? That place must be buzzin’.

Boru

The one who made flesh produce electrical current can indeed make a replica of it. Or a new creation that does a similar job.
Just like a programmer having a source code, with all the logs of the applications stored in the hard drive.

In Islam, angels are writing my deeds and your deeds. Just like "logs" in your PC.

Humans replicated that mechanism in your inernet browser for example; you can visit "history" and see your deeds on the web.
But unlike the human made web; God's domain is only controlled by him.

There are no such things as angels, but if there were, a question leaps to mind: Why are they writing MY deeds? I’m not (and never will be) a Muslim - I have heard the message and rejected it. Since I’m already eternally damned, why are the angels bothering with me?

Boru

[WinterHold]

The one who made flesh produce electrical current can indeed make a replica of it. Or a new creation that does a similar job.
Just like a programmer having a source code, with all the logs of the applications stored in the hard drive.

In Islam, angels are writing my deeds and your deeds. Just like "logs" in your PC.

Humans replicated that mechanism in your inernet browser for example; you can visit "history" and see your deeds on the web.
But unlike the human made web; God's domain is only controlled by him.

There are no such things as angels, but if there were, a question leaps to mind: Why are they writing MY deeds? I’m not (and never will be) a Muslim - I have heard the message and rejected it. Since I’m already eternally damned, why are the angels bothering with me?

Boru

Bold mine: "In Islam".
+ In Islam, God is our lord and creator, even if we disbelief in him. Or in other words we are his "slaves";his "property".

Before feeling angry, remember that we are dependant 100% on environments we never contributed to..we are slaves.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

There are no such things as angels, but if there were, a question leaps to mind: Why are they writing MY deeds? I’m not (and never will be) a Muslim - I have heard the message and rejected it. Since I’m already eternally damned, why are the angels bothering with me?

Boru

Bold mine: "In Islam".
+ In Islam, God is our lord and creator, even if we disbelief in him. Or in other words we are his "slaves";his "property".

Before feeling angry, remember that we are dependant 100% on environments we never contributed to..we are slaves.

That doesn't come remotely close to answering my question.
________

Edit: Also, why are angels ‘writing’ anything at all? Is Allah’s memory so slipshod that he can’t remember my deeds?

Boru