On Mon, 13 Mar 2000, Jeff Ricker wrote:
> I think the deeper problem is that we try to explain in naturalistic
> terms phenomena that have traditionally been explained in
> supernaturalistic terms. For example, many of us try to explain all
> mental events (thoughts, emotions, perceptions, etc.) and behaviors
> as being caused by neural activity (mostly in the brain).
And hormonal activity, ultimately controlled by the brain.
> My
> students tend to realize the implications of such an approach for
> their beliefs in a supernatural basis for their mind (i.e., that the
> major part of conscious mental processes is due to "activity" of the
> soul).
Good for them! Let's hope they abandon such supernatural ideas.
> In an earlier post, I wrote:
>
> >> What we call science, they are arguing, must be expanded:
> >> it must include methods and techniques that allow us to study this
> >> transcendent realm. The natural sciences (including physics,chemistry,
> >> and biology) do not need to incorporate such methods and techniques
> >> because they focus on the physical.
>
> And Paul Brandon responded:
>
> >Again, if something is not physical it does not exist in the sense that
> >science defines existence.
>
> If this is true, then most of psychology is not science: whenever we
> speak of mental events, we are speaking of something that does not
> exist physically. No, science cannot be defined in terms of the
> physical versus the nonphysical. I wish it were this simple.
I don't follow your argument here; whenever -I- speak of 'mental events'
I'm speaking either (1) as a shorthand for neural and chemical events in
the body-mostly-brain, or (2) metaphorically, referring to as-yet
sketchily understood physical events in the body-mostly-brain.
I believe it -is- that simple. Science can only deal with the physical
(matter & energy). What else is there?
bob k.
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Robert Keefer Associate Professor
Psychology Department Office Phone:
Mt. St. Mary's College (301) 447-5394, Ext. 4251
Emmitsburg, MD 21727 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[Speaking for myself.] fax: 301-447-5021
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