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Author Topic:   Atheist and agnostic views on reincarnation and consciousness
sidelined
Member (Idle past 5934 days)
Posts: 3435
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Joined: 08-30-2003


Message 5 of 21 (346023)
09-02-2006 12:12 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Ben!
09-02-2006 1:50 AM


Ben
is it possible, then, that death is simply an instantaneous blip until we regain consciousness?
I would say not. Since conciousness is a result of the activity of complex molecular interplay and that when deacy occurs after death the structure that supports conciousness is destroyed irrevocbly.

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 Message 1 by Ben!, posted 09-02-2006 1:50 AM Ben! has replied

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sidelined
Member (Idle past 5934 days)
Posts: 3435
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Joined: 08-30-2003


Message 10 of 21 (346060)
09-02-2006 2:33 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by Ben!
09-02-2006 1:43 PM


Ben
Seems to me that a materialist who believes consciousness emerges from structure is stuck believing that consciousness is not tied to only one specific hardware.
Consciousness requires a physical structure as well. Once the physical structure decays your consciousness is at an end. I assume you are trying to establish a consciousness seperate from the physical structure that houses it and thus open the possibilty of consciousness that can take residence in another brain with a similar structure for consciousness?

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 Message 7 by Ben!, posted 09-02-2006 1:43 PM Ben! has replied

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sidelined
Member (Idle past 5934 days)
Posts: 3435
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Joined: 08-30-2003


Message 20 of 21 (346187)
09-03-2006 8:42 AM
Reply to: Message 13 by Ben!
09-02-2006 3:40 PM


Ben
Rather, if you have two systems that are physically similar enough to produce similar consciousnesses, I think we're obligated to call them the same
The two physically similar systems are called brains so, yes, we would call them the same.
The "I" is not reincarnated (the "I" would be tied irrevocably to the body), but consciousness seems not so fickle.
But this is not odd at all since consciousness, being a function of the brain, will arise in any such structure. Thus, each new person has the potential for achieving consciousness as a result of possesing a brain. Reincarnation { the rebirth of a person in a new body after death} is not something I would apply here since you also make it clear that the "I" would not reincarnate.
Edited by sidelined, : No reason given.

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