There is reluctance, in biology, to postulate an information world to help with problems about genetic and other determination. Generally, we are not keen on admissions of anything non-material (though then hack off down the multiverse routes or ideas that the ultimate reality is holographic, expanding at us from the edge of the universe). Words like soul and god have been around for a long time - the questions for me are whether something like them can help with more modern adjudication on evidence. Yes, genetics provides information about the range of possibilities. But clearly, regulation of the genetic expression involves interpretation. And this is epigenetic. It seems that those were right who called for a middle ground, with some predetermination that interacts with some form of epigenetic development. Perhaps it is as Thomas Hunt Morgan suggested, “a process of pure epigenetic development, as generally understood nowadays, may also be predetermined in the egg” . The nowadays of the 21st century may take us back to some of the understanding and insights of the early 20th, a time when a balance of epigenesis and preformation seemed likely, a time for a bit of predeterminism and a bit of cellular free will. I am agnostic about the non-physical as I can't disprove it, but it does seem worth some pondering and we don't have theories that fully explain the evidence - we rarely do, if at all.
On 6 Sep, 16:36, Simon Ewins <[email protected]> wrote: > 2009/9/6 Vam <[email protected]>: > > > > > " Well, that is interesting. So where is this 'self' waiting for the > > brain? Why is there no memory of self before conception? How do you > > measure its longevity? How long has it been waiting? How does this > > self without a brain begin to exist? What does it do while it is > > waiting ?" > > > These questions are best ( and perhaps more immediately ) answered > > through one's own effort because they pertain to you, your self, your > > mind. Why should you require another person to pry open or reveal what > > is yours, what you are ? > > Well, I have zero experience of anything for which I would want to use > the word 'soul' (compounded by the fact that I don't know exactly what > people mean when they use the word). I have no concept of soul or self > that isn't simply the result of brain function. I exist, I make > assumptions that others exist as I do. > > However, the questions I asked are because I have no idea what people > are talking about when they make statements that seem to indicate that > self precedes conception. It sounds, frankly, fanciful and without any > basis at all. So, if you and others can answer those questions perhaps > the use of the words will make sense to me. Care to answer them for > yourself? > > Thanks. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/minds-eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
