Mindfulness or Mindlessness?

[Ahriman]

Yeah. Someone claimed to have solved the Theseus's boat and the mind-body problem. I was hoping to see a coherent hypothesis.

No brain = no mind.

How do you explain near death experiences?

[DLJ]

Still waiting for a coherent presentation of promised solutions...

Ah. Gimme a question.

The writer's block I'm having (hence seeking help here) is 'start point' or more accurately, too many start points.

I can't decide the best way to do this... bottom-up (evolution), top-down (god-like design of a model human / human model) or middle-out (generic framework first).

[Neo-Scholastic]

Oh. That's it? Not really a fleshed out hypothesis like functionlism or epiphenomenalism.

[Jehanne]

No brain = no mind.

How do you explain near death experiences?

There is nothing about them that needs explaining. In fact, all aspects of NDEs can be reproduced under artificial conditions without exception. Finally, a number of controlled experiments have tried to demonstrate veridicality; none have succeeded.

[Ahriman]

How do you explain near death experiences?

There is nothing about them that needs explaining.  In fact, all aspects of NDEs can be reproduced under artificial conditions without exception.  Finally, a number of controlled experiments have tried to demonstrate veridicality; none have succeeded.

How do you know that?

[DLJ]

Maybe we should start thinking in terms of how useful our thoughts really are......perhaps most thoughts are stupid and useless. Of course, that could just be my own mind expressing itself. But I really feel like thoughts are strange things, which ought to be ignored. If you should have a thought that actually seems intelligent, it should be recorded, in some form, as soon as possible.

Dreams are much more important than thoughts, in terms of indicators of the inner workings of one's mind. Dreams should be recorded, ideally in a dream journal. Freud had it right with the dream analysis stuff.......given more time to come to fruition, dream analysis could've very well proved to be an indispensable part of modern psychiatry.

Interesting thoughts.  Thanks.  

A key aspect of human development is 'Controlled Environment'.  Consciousness as a governance/monitoring system helps support this control.

The "undiscovered country" as far as governance control are concerned ... yup... dreams.  

Could dream-control indeed be the next level of consciousness?  

And then there's the relationship between dreams and

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Oh. That's it? Not really a fleshed out hypothesis like functionlism or epiphenomenalism.

It doesn't have a name yet.

[LostLocke]

There is nothing about them that needs explaining.  In fact, all aspects of NDEs can be reproduced under artificial conditions without exception.  Finally, a number of controlled experiments have tried to demonstrate veridicality; none have succeeded.

How do you know that?

NDEs themselves aren't the greatest way to "prove" minds are separate from bodies. The key word here is *near*, death experience. If you could present a mind that continues on after a *death* experience, then you might be on to something.

[DLJ]

...
The key word here is *near*, death experience. If you could present a mind that continues on after a *death* experience, then you might be on to something.

Indeed.

NDE = Not Dead Experience.

[brewer]

There is nothing about them that needs explaining.  In fact, all aspects of NDEs can be reproduced under artificial conditions without exception.  Finally, a number of controlled experiments have tried to demonstrate veridicality; none have succeeded.

How do you know that?

Jehanne failed David Carradine's practical exam final.

[Jehanne]

There is nothing about them that needs explaining.  In fact, all aspects of NDEs can be reproduced under artificial conditions without exception.  Finally, a number of controlled experiments have tried to demonstrate veridicality; none have succeeded.

How do you know that?

Dr. Michael Shermer discusses a meta-analysis of this; lots of studies (such as the AWARE studies) have looked for veridicality; nothing has been found. NDEs are worse than Big Foot.