The Philosophy Discussion Forum

The fact that everything feels immediately "there" like a virtual reality simulator isn't evidence against an interface—it's proof of how successful evolution was at building one! Why do you feel like you need to describe the lack of an interface in our experiences as an "interface&q...

As I stated previously, biology is the measure and the meaning of all things, and in its absence the physical world is meaningless. Biology is, if you like, independent islands of meaning creation, the only source of meaning in the world. Your framework heavily echoes Schopenhauer (whom you mention...

It's kind of interesting to hear someone use the word "interface" in relation to the brain. There really is no "interface" that I am ever aware of. Everything is immediately "there" for lack of a better word. It's like a virtual reality simulator. That observation abou...

I believe much confusion and/or abstraction arises from the fact that presence/being, whether annate or inannate, is cause to all other presences/beings through reciprocal causation... The bodymind is the receiver of the energies surrounding us, the body the mind's interface to the myriad of energi...

Anyone else enjoy exploring the different theories of Consciousness? I'd like to be able to understand as many of them as I can. For the most part, they can be broken down into 3 main theories. Materialism - the mind is the brain (or created by the brain). Brain states=mind states. It appears that ...

Anyone else enjoy exploring the different theories of Consciousness? I'd like to be able to understand as many of them as I can. For the most part, they can be broken down into 3 main theories. Materialism - the mind is the brain (or created by the brain). Brain states=mind states. It appears that ...

None of this stuff is addressable by science because consciousness on Nagel's use and on Chalmers' use of that term is entirely non-empirical. There is an epistemic constraint here in that nothing arising within consciousness that can "get outside" of consciousness to find out what, if an...

Substance dualism - there are 2 types of stuff - mind stuff (or soul stuff) and physical stuff. This appears to be the least popular right now - but there are a few reputable philosophers (i.e. Richard Swinburne) who defend the idea. This is the traditional idea that humans have an immortal soul. P...

I know this topic is old and sort of ran itself out after 3 weeks, but I just now see it and wasn't planning on reading it all. I would call the 3 main options M, SD, and PD respectively, M for Monism since materialism is an unlikely subset of what I'll call scientific naturalism. Anyone else enjoy...

On the other hand, I've recently come to realize just how many movies I've seen that were based on the writings of Philip K. Dick...(Predestination, Blade Runner, The Man in the High Castle tv series, Minority Report, The Matrix series of movies, Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, The Adjustment Bureau...

Isn't it possible that some professional philosophers are drawn to philosophy "because of its internal logic" and because of this mindset, or perhaps even incidentally, they become prestigious and wealthy? Are you talking about 'monetary wealth, here? On the other hand, I don't care how p...

When I first started getting into philosophy, I had the idea that philosophers, because they focused on rational arguments, were somehow more than human - I thought they would be kind, thoughtful, not swayed by strong emotion. But, having gotten to know a few philosophy professors, and meeting with...

There is an article in the latest issue of Philosophy Now (164) that considers emergence. It's called - From Birds to Brains. "Jonathan Moens considers whether emergence can explain minds from brains." Here are the last 2 paragraphs "But perhaps there's a simpler explanation for the m...

Part of the OP's problem is using professional philosophers as his benchmark. Doing something for money or prestige or both as incentives will lead to a different mindset than those who are drawn to a mindset because it suits them because of it's internal logic. Isn't it possible that some professi...

When I first started getting into philosophy, I had the idea that philosophers, because they focused on rational arguments, were somehow more than human - I thought they would be kind, thoughtful, not swayed by strong emotion. But, having gotten to know a few philosophy professors, and meeting with ...