Introducing the brain: half a brain is just fine (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, March 19, 2020, 19:04 (1499 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: Or, my opposite view, only the newly enlarged brain could develop the new concept/concepts and produce the artifact products.

dhw: I notice you again use the word “develop”. Good. You develop something which exists, and that means the concept existed before the enlargement.

Weird. Where did the concept exist before its appearance in thought? Develop means discover the new concept from thought in a brain that has the capability of allowing the soul to think of it.

dhw: However, you, as a dualist, actually believe your God enlarged the brain before the soul was able to conceive the concept. But since the dualist’s soul only uses the brain to gather information and to make the concept real, this leaves you with the problem of explaining what new information the soul would gather before conceiving the concept.

Again weird discontinuous theorizing. the soul just doesn't just use the brain to gather information . The soul actually thinks up new concepts from recognized need and the information taken in by the brain under the soul's instruction.

dhw: For example, existing information: me hungry – need to kill bison – close up might mean bison kill me...hum...New concept: Maybe me throw something sharp. What new information has required the expansion of the brain, since in your theory it is the soul that does the thinking?

The new brain supplies all sorts of new information under the soul's direction.

DAVID: The bold is still your reversal theory of the series of events archaeologists appear to believe.

dhw: I’ve no idea what they believe. How many of them have specified that God expanded the pre-sapiens brain, and only then was it possible for the soul to conceive of a spear?

DAVID: My thoughts about their beliefs comes from how they produce and present their studies. God is never an issue.

dhw: Then what is their explanation for the brain’s expansion? If that is not an issue either, what theory do they appear to believe which reverses mine?

Silly. They present artifacts as the result of the latest brain enlargement, nothing more. No past brains discussed.