Self, intelligence, soul
October 18th 2006 08:55
In terms of sense of self, I think people feel that what is most them is lasting. Perhaps there is also a sense that it will survive death. It's not a hard step to go from "self" to "soul".
We imagine the spirit reveals itself in the material.
Consciousness and intelligence are felt to be lasting. How you think, what you think, how you see the world... Bizarrely, therefore, we imagine intelligence is the essence of spirit.
In practice, perhaps my appearance will outlive my brains -- does this mean that looks are more central to who I am? Or am I a different person once my IQ drops below a certain point?
It is always shocking when I damage your brain and make you mistake your wife for a hat. We still carry the "substance dualist" belief that mind is different from matter, so we can still be disappointed.
We imagine the spirit reveals itself in the material.
Consciousness and intelligence are felt to be lasting. How you think, what you think, how you see the world... Bizarrely, therefore, we imagine intelligence is the essence of spirit.
In practice, perhaps my appearance will outlive my brains -- does this mean that looks are more central to who I am? Or am I a different person once my IQ drops below a certain point?
It is always shocking when I damage your brain and make you mistake your wife for a hat. We still carry the "substance dualist" belief that mind is different from matter, so we can still be disappointed.
| 119 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Deorre
Stress Alive
Man Lessons
Ah how I long for a simple life.
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
If you mean that questions of dualism (in whatever form) are our biggest problem, I think I'd probably disagree. Like free will vs determinism, perhaps the answers don't make that much difference.
But if you mean that the problem of dualism, or the belief in dualism, is central to human nature, and is an essential part of our consciousness and existence... I think you might be on to something profound...