In a message dated 8/26/2004 4:07:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Gene space arguments are fine if you're discussing creatures with no clear >sense of self-awareness or consequences for actions, such as bacteria or >tobacco company attorneys. Once you install a sense of "I", things change.
Keep in mind, that a sense of "I" is limited entirely to the "I". Why do you think that? If we behave in the same way as an animal that lacks our intelligence and consciousness (it has a more limited sense or absent sense of "I") then maybe our consciousness really isn't the thing that is controlling our behavior. One way to think of consciousness is an biographer who looks at the actions of the subject and then makes up a story to explain why the subject did such and so. Many "split brain experiments" have documented that the conscious self will make up reasons for actions that aren't so. Split brain person is someone who has had the left and right hemispheres disconnected to treat seizure disorders or psychosis. Experiment. Cover the right eye (so that the left hemisphere can't see what is going on. Show a card that says "pick up that chair to the person".. Now ask the person why he/she picked it up. The person will make up a story (because I like that chair more than the one I am sitting in). _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
