Philosophy Now Forum

Do you believe that you have a soul?

If yes, how would you explain and describe it scientificly?

Does it survive death?

If yes, what happens to it after death?

Consciousness is a faculty of the soul. I can't explain consciousness scientifically but I am conscious.

It isn't scientifically known what happens to the soul after death but many people have opinions.

QuantumT wrote: ↑Fri May 18, 2018 7:41 pmDo you believe that you have a soul?

Short answer: no.

QuantumT wrote: ↑Fri May 18, 2018 7:41 pmIf yes, how would you explain and describe it scientificly?

However, I don't think science rules it out. We don't know how consciousness works, but the only examples we know of are associated with electromagnetic activity in brains. It is conceivable that consciousness is essentially some part of the field created by that activity. If so, then there is no reason to think that such a field is different to any other electromagnetic field and that like all electromagnetic fields, it is part of the universe, spreading out more or less eternally.
The mechanics of it are laid out in my book http://willijbouwman.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... st_16.html

QuantumT wrote: ↑Fri May 18, 2018 7:41 pmDoes it survive death?

The field doesn't 'die', it just carries on mingling and interacting with anything it meets.

QuantumT wrote: ↑Fri May 18, 2018 7:41 pmIf yes, what happens to it after death?

Well, it's very weak, so probably not much, but you never know.

I do not do belief of any kind so do not believe in the soul which is something that there is no evidence for at all
Rather like that other non falsifiable concept known as God it was born out of the totally irrational fear of death
When you overcome this fear and simply accept death as a natural phenomenon there is no more need for a soul

A person who has a near death experience will understandably find the experience provocative and compelling. A scientist will not and wants to determine the science of the experience. But what does he think if there is no science, only hypotheses?

No NDE can be properly investigated by science because they are all based on single person interpretations
Which means there is no way of either inter subjectively or objectively determining how accurate they are
More specifically because the degree of emotional or psychological bias cannot be minimised or eliminated

QuantumT wrote: ↑Fri May 18, 2018 7:41 pm Do you believe that you have a soul?

If yes, how would you explain and describe it scientificly?

Does it survive death?

If yes, what happens to it after death?

Yes, I had out of body experience. We are minds though who have souls and bodies.

A scientist might report that hypothetically NDEs are the result of inadequate oxygenation of the brain and the effect that has on specific neurons in the brain. No studies have been performed as of yet to support or negate this hypothesis. Conducting such a study would be problematic, to say the least.

I have a psyche, a character, at least two personalities at any given time, several public, private and on-line personae and a multifaceted interface with the universe at large.
All of them will certainly die when my body does; many of the personae and facets have already died and no doubt a few more will drop off before I do.
No soul.