[jennyp]

How does one explain why we humans can abstractually consider what forces, both atomic and subatomic, cause one to fall, can propose the theory of gravitation and Newtonian physics, can then refine Newtonian physics with quantum physics, and can search for a GUT. This is not a simple, "I drop a rock on my toe, my toe hurts, therefore I won't drop rocks on my toes." This is a pure abstraction. And far from recognizing natural phenomenon, we actually create natural events via superconductors and things like this to test our abstractions.

Being able to think up pure abstractions is a difference in degree of sophistication from "rock dropped on toe is bad", not a difference in kind. A four-year old learns about rocks & toes, and slowly but surely their brain develops to the point where their mind is able to wonder about emergent properties, to what extent they make the supernatural superfluous, etc.

Why would you think it's fundamentally different in kind?

[PatrickHenry]

You just don't understand. A ghost-powered brain is obviously far superior to a brain which is merely a natural phenomenon, because we can have confidence only in ghost-generated thoughts.
</anti-materialist mode>

[SmartCitizen]

Being able to think up pure abstractions is a difference in degree of sophistication from "rock dropped on toe is bad", not a difference in kind. A four-year old learns about rocks & toes, and slowly but surely their brain develops to the point where their mind is able to wonder about emergent properties, to what extent they make the supernatural superfluous, etc.

There is no scientific reason to believe that. Monarch butterflies know to migrate - is that abstract thought in their little insect brains?