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To: jennyp
You obviously still haven't read post 111. The atoms in my brain are organized in such a way that the higher-level structure they comprise produces thoughts, which eventually turn out to be accurate or not based on their compatibility with objective reality.

I've read post 111 but that does not insulate you against defending your metaphysical statement. You are defending materialism with metaphysics, which is self-refuting on its face. You have not explained what this mystical "higher-level structure" is - what is it? Is it material or non-material? If it is non-material, then materialism is false. Making an unsupported unscientific assertion doesn't cut it - especially from an evo. How does it work from chemical processes? How does it produce personality? Where is the hard scientific data to support what you are saying?

But, there is another problem with your statement. How do you know that your brain chemicals are perceiving true "objective reality?" You can't know. It is this precise dilemma that discredited the philosophy of logical positivism - it's a dead philosophy - haven't you heard? You cannot be sure you are perceiving correctly. The viewer is ALWAYS subjective to some degree. Gotcha.

The atoms themselves, being totally non-thinking, have no choice but to come along for the ride. In considering the actions that the person takes, it only makes sense to think about the decisions & judgement of the mind as a whole.

Did your "higher level structure" tell you this or is there scientific proof of it? JennyP - come on - this is metaphysics du jour. Those are some amazing atoms - they produce personality, indeed, a self-aware cognitive agent that tells your other mental atoms what to do! Wow! But, is this "mind" made of matter itself? If it is, then perhaps you can point to the area of your brain that houses your personality and your mind, hmm?

238 posted on 10/03/2005 1:33:03 PM PDT by SmartCitizen
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To: SmartCitizen
I've read post 111 but that does not insulate you against defending your metaphysical statement. You are defending materialism with metaphysics, which is self-refuting on its face. You have not explained what this mystical "higher-level structure" is - what is it? Is it material or non-material? If it is non-material, then materialism is false. Making an unsupported unscientific assertion doesn't cut it - especially from an evo.
A rock falls from the top of a bookcase onto a table, breaking into 3 smaller rocks, which form a triangle. How many items are there? FOUR: Three rocks and one triangle. But where did that triangle "come from"? How much does it weigh? Is the triangle material? If not, then is it supernatural? If so, then is there some angel whose job it is to take a Triangle from the Big Pile O' Platonic Forms and attach it to the three rocks at the moment the bigger rock breaks apart?
How does it work from chemical processes? How does it produce personality? Where is the hard scientific data to support what you are saying?
Those are fine questions, but they're not metaphysical questions. They're biological questions. You think it's metaphysically impossible, and I'm trying to make you understand why it's not metaphysically impossible. One step at a time. :-)
But, there is another problem with your statement. How do you know that your brain chemicals are perceiving true "objective reality?" You can't know. It is this precise dilemma that discredited the philosophy of logical positivism - it's a dead philosophy - haven't you heard? You cannot be sure you are perceiving correctly. The viewer is ALWAYS subjective to some degree. Gotcha.
Within the artificial confines of a purely deductive syllogism, perhaps. But we live in the real world, which is perceived & understood via the senses and induction as well as by deduction. Man does not understand by deduction alone.
Those are some amazing atoms - they produce personality, indeed, a self-aware cognitive agent that tells your other mental atoms what to do! Wow!
Hmmm, there it is again: A spirited defense of supernaturalism that's based on the fallacy of composition, and now "mental atoms". Exmarine, is that you?
244 posted on 10/03/2005 2:32:07 PM PDT by jennyp (WHAT I'M READING NOW: my sterling prose)
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