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And now, we start muddling definitions. I suppose that would be dependent on what you define as "you". As a presumed materialist I assume your definition of you is the sum of your physical parts and their functions. As a dualist my definition would be the sum of the parts and their functions (physical or otherwise). Or to reference Locke "two thinking Substances may make but one Person."It's simply that we're attempting to define that other substance and how it thinks.
Your brain does store memories and thoughts. They can be lost if brain is damaged. Hence the reason for NDEs. If thoughts can form without brain activity, then perhaps it's just a HDD not the computer and the computer has a BIOS.
No, a soul being able to see doesn't break any laws. It's a function. "We" physically see (function) with physical eyes (measurable, quantifiable, sensory). An other "We" that (for this conversation) we call Soul may have the same function of seeing just with different methods. Much like blind people being able to imagine objects or "see" with their other senses.
(January 29, 2020 at 2:37 pm)Gae Bolga Wrote:
OK I believe I'm seeing your point. As I referenced above, the method with which a soul sees could very clearly be natural, thus making souls natural and not supernatural. As a theist, I do contend that a soul is natural being created by God. In a world where there is a soul, and where that soul is posited yet unknown, and where it goes on NDE trips that have sensory content, there might still be things that I think are soul which are in fact natural, like a brain. As a substance dualist I de believe that the mind and body are distinct and separable. I'm not sure if a pluralist would be a better definition of my stance in that because I'm not sure how deep I can dive into Aristotle's hylomorphism in 15-30 minutes at a time. But if we can keep it cursory and simple enough for me I'd be happy to continue exploring. If you think I was double-talking, it wasn't my intent and I hope this clarifies better.
"There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted by fundamentalists that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry." -- Philip Stater, Huffington Post
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari