Pleasure and Joy

[genkaus]

Nevertheless your conviction would not be based on science.

Actually, the only thing it would be based on is science. We both know that science does not operate in a philosophical vacuum.

In your opinion, brain events generate mental properties. An alternate opinion, one with which I agree, holds that brain states represent mental properties similar to how abacus beads stand for numbers.It would be like erasing a PDF after you read it. The signs that represent meaning would be gone, but the meaning would remain in thought.

The problem with this analogy is that numbers, meanings and thoughts themselves are mental properties. They cannot exist without a mind. Which is why applying the same logic to mind itself is putting the cart before the horse.

In either case, when brain activity ceases, the body would no longer be able to express mental properties. Neither theory is falsifiable nor does either one of them qualify as a proper scientific theory. Thus resolution of the mind-body problem is beyond the reach of neuroscience.

On the contrary, "brain generates mind" is a proper scientific hypothesis precisely because it is testable and falsifiable. If brain generates mind, then alterations in brain would produce changes in consciousness. If it fails to do so, then the hypothesis is falsified. And lo, and behold, we find that it does precisely that.

Your response to this is obvious. You'd argue that consciousness itself is not changed, but the expression of consciousness is. The problem with that is that position is unfalsifiable - as long as you continue to define consciousness in such a way that it remains beyond scientific inquiry. It also goes against the law of identity. If consciousness exists, it'd have a specific nature and its expression would be indicative of that nature. Therefore, any change in its expression would be indicative of a change in consciousness itself. Lastly, it is based on the incorrect assumption that consciousness itself cannot be directly perceived.

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The scientific method is only one means for securing knowledge.

Yes, the other method is rational inquiry.