Re: Deconversion

On Fri, 14 Jul 2006 00:51:17 -0700, Simon Robinson
<email@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

John Blake wrote:

Before we go any further, would
you explain what you mean by 'consciousness' as I'm beginning to think
that perhaps we could be talking about two different things.

Good question. I'm getting that suspicion too. What I mean by
consciousness is the fact that I'm aware of my existence.


That's a relief! I was beginning to think I would have to reconsider
everything.

As far as the study of mysteries such as self-awareness are concerned
scientists are only at the beginning; so to claim that it is a divine
phenomenon is, as I mentioned elsewhere, premature. I can't quote any
sources at the moment, except for possibly Peter Singer, but I have
read that the severely mentally handicapped are often deficient in
self-awareness. Now that immediately points to a defect in brain
function IMO. If self-awareness were not dependent on the physical
brain then it should be unaltered by the brain's condition; don't you
agree?


JB
.