The limitations of science (The limitations of science)

by David Turell , Sunday, February 21, 2010, 17:38 (5171 days ago) @ dhw


> On 7 February at 14.59, under "Identity", I quoted an article in The Guardian about a Belgian who had been in a coma for seven years, > 
>
> I haven't seen any follow-up to this article, but in yesterday's Guardian was another report on a different case which caused a sensation last November. But now one of the doctors treating him has recanted. Herewith the relevant paragraph:
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> this article, along with all the recent revelations of misinformation, errors and cover-ups, serves as a timely reminder that open-mindedness needs to be balanced by an appropriate degree of scepticism.-Just a reminder that there is a situation where there is a 'real' person inside, but they simply cannot communicate except by blinking their eyes. It is called 'locked-in state'. So there are a variety of degrees. Assuming that a scan is telling the observer what the person 'might' be thinking is a huge leap of faith. Memories cover a large network in the brain, and so do religious experiences. Based on my reading I view scans as a very rough tool.