Posted by Noctillucent on July 03, 19101 at 20:16:20:
In Reply to: Material vs. arrangement. posted by John Tchoe on July 03, 19101 at 13:51:27:
I see what you’re saying, although it's hard to take it literally and not invoke problems. For example, when I perceive a blue sky, are the very atoms or their configuration the blue color I see? And why don’t I perceive atoms, or have direct knowledge of their configuration? The truth is, I have no direct insight into what atoms look like (other than in books) or how the cortex is physically configured. Why is this if consciousness is that very fact?
Still, let’s accept your claim that the mind IS a configuration of atoms, and specifically, a configuration of atoms in the cortex.
If this is your understanding as well, let me pose this question:
If your cortex were made of a different set of atoms, but was otherwise the same, would you still BE you? Or, would it be someone who only ACTS like you?
Regarding your question if the mind were separate from the brain, and whether or not I could choose NOT to experience the effect of a probe.
This depends on whether or not the brain can effect the mind. If the mind cannot be effected by the brain, then the neurologist, the probe, and the room in which I perceive myself to be, is all an illusion. If I’m convinced by the illusion, it’s entirely possible that I will experience some effect, even if it's due to a false belief. Whether such is true or not, I don’t see how that can be disproved. To my knowledge, philosophy has never been able to make a satisfactory argument showing why that can’t be the case.
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