Today I read about spooky occurrences that have happened in the lives of others. Most of them started out with a disclaimer, "I do not believe in the paranormal," or, "I do not believe in religion, ghosts, or any of that mumbo-jumbo." One user, in response to these remarks, stated that he was quite surprised at the majority of disbelief. Imagine a situation, he said, in which scientists are one day able to recreate a human body, void of using human sperm or ovum. What would that look like to you? Don't you feel like you are more than just cells working together in some perfect unison?
As I showered this morning, I really pondered this question. I imagined a body, laying there in some white-walled lab, naked and pale. An endotracheal tube hooked up to a metal ventilator, circulatory access running intravenous nutrition. All of it lifeless. Dead, but "alive." At the very basic level of this human being were cells. Are these all that we are? What is cognition? What is feeling? Are our thoughts just a result of a cellular actions working there way up to a level in which our brains recognize them as x or y? I would have to say, nope. I'm curious to see what a brain transplant would look like someday. Would it be possible? Even if everything were reconnected properly, would it be possible? Does our brain even dictate who we are? I wonder if partial brain transplants could be completed - that would seem to give us better insight as to what is and what is not. I'm reminded of craniotomies, in which a persons "character" changes with the tampering of their brain tissue. Maybe that's all we are? Who knows. If that is so, how does the cell know when to fire? What tells that cell to work in a certain way so that I may continue with a thought for longer than the milliseconds in which that cell creates an action potential?
However, to say that we are more than just cells running there "intelligent" course is to accept a separation of body and mind. Yet, the function of the brain is very well-studied, and has demonstrated detectable activity with cognition through countless studies. Maybe our brain reacts to our spirit, our mind, our thoughts?
This is all a bit too confusing for me, and it seems that the more I "think" about it, the more and more I run myself into endless circles.
On a side note, today was a great day. I look forward to the winter season. I'm hoping for snow, and this "La Nina" thing pulls through. Nothing like the feeling of soft snow under your feet. The refreshing air, the snow covered trees, it's such a beautiful gift.
p.s. Hope to write again soon.
As I showered this morning, I really pondered this question. I imagined a body, laying there in some white-walled lab, naked and pale. An endotracheal tube hooked up to a metal ventilator, circulatory access running intravenous nutrition. All of it lifeless. Dead, but "alive." At the very basic level of this human being were cells. Are these all that we are? What is cognition? What is feeling? Are our thoughts just a result of a cellular actions working there way up to a level in which our brains recognize them as x or y? I would have to say, nope. I'm curious to see what a brain transplant would look like someday. Would it be possible? Even if everything were reconnected properly, would it be possible? Does our brain even dictate who we are? I wonder if partial brain transplants could be completed - that would seem to give us better insight as to what is and what is not. I'm reminded of craniotomies, in which a persons "character" changes with the tampering of their brain tissue. Maybe that's all we are? Who knows. If that is so, how does the cell know when to fire? What tells that cell to work in a certain way so that I may continue with a thought for longer than the milliseconds in which that cell creates an action potential?
However, to say that we are more than just cells running there "intelligent" course is to accept a separation of body and mind. Yet, the function of the brain is very well-studied, and has demonstrated detectable activity with cognition through countless studies. Maybe our brain reacts to our spirit, our mind, our thoughts?
This is all a bit too confusing for me, and it seems that the more I "think" about it, the more and more I run myself into endless circles.
On a side note, today was a great day. I look forward to the winter season. I'm hoping for snow, and this "La Nina" thing pulls through. Nothing like the feeling of soft snow under your feet. The refreshing air, the snow covered trees, it's such a beautiful gift.
p.s. Hope to write again soon.
