Could the human brain be the source of the human soul?

[sun rise]

A discussion like this automatically turns into a debate between those who are materialists and believe there is nothing beyond the physical universe and those who believe there is.

There is at least one study that might bear on this although from a clinical view it did not measure brain waves which would be seriously hard to do with current technology:

[Cardiac arrest] survivors commonly experience a broad range of cognitive themes, with 2% exhibiting full awareness. This supports other recent studies that have indicated consciousness may be present despite clinically undetectable consciousness. This together with fearful experiences may contribute to PTSD and other cognitive deficits post CA.

http://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572(14)00739-4/fulltext

 

[Eliab ben Benjamin]

Wait, you were brain dead?

So the medical records say, and i returned to my body on the way to the morgue after my parents said
no to my body being used for spare parts ..

 

[LukeS]

Is water the source of steam?

 

[HonestJoe]

A discussion like this automatically turns into a debate between those who are materialists and believe there is nothing beyond the physical universe and those who believe there is.

Sadly true. There’s actually no reason for anyone to make such a distinction. If something matching the traditional definition of “a soul” does actually exist, it would exist in the “physical universe” by definition. It’s something defined as having physical effects and being detectable by physical means (even if those means are purported to be limited to direct human observation).

There is much distraction around the word “physical”, with people assuming or asserting that it much mean things that could be touched when it’s actually just within the scope of the laws of physics. For example, electromagnetic radiation exists in the “physical universe” even though we often can’t personally sense it by any means. Interestingly, it’s also the kind of thing discovered to be a cause for some phenomena once called “supernatural” by out ancestors.

There is actually zero justification for treated phenomena defined as “supernatural” any differently to any other phenomena. It should all be subject to the normal observation, hypothesis, experiment and conclusion processes by which we seek to understand the universe in which we live.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

That's a laugh. You don't need any evidence that God does not exist, yet you believe He doesn't.

What does evidence that something doesn't exist look like?
Where is your evidence that Tiddalik doesn't exist, for example? What would it look like?

 

[DavidFirth]

What does evidence that something doesn't exist look like?
Where is your evidence that Tiddalik doesn't exist, for example? What would it look like?

That's exactly my point. How can you be sure no god exists yet you demand evidence that the soul exists? What you should be thinking is that maybe both God and the soul exist, you just don't know.

 

[DavidFirth]

The claim isn't "god doesn't exist." The claim is "god exists." You don't need evidence of a negative to not hold a belief in something. You don't need evidence to believe in something. But you need evidence to prove something exist.

It isn't self evident. Not only is that a very poor argument, there is so much of who we are as a person that depends on our brain, genetics, hormones, and culture that to me it becomes problematic for the concept of a soul that is most commonly accepted, practically impossibly to argue if this idea of a soul includes any sort of judgment.

I have to disagree because there is evidence that God exists, even if you reject it.

 

[DavidFirth]

A lack of evidence = a lack of belief. That's how the burden of proof works.

There is plenty of evidence, you just choose to reject it.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Is water the source of steam?

Not by itself.

 

[SalixIncendium]

There is plenty of evidence, you just choose to reject it.

Really? You have this ever so evasive esoteric evidence that no one else until now has been able to produce?! Had I known you 40 years ago, I could have saved myself a lot of time and energy in seeking!

Please share here so we can all convert immediately!

 

[blü 2]

Is it possible that the human brain is the source of the human soul?

Not in any supernatural sense. Perhaps, if some analogy with 'mind' is meant (since 'mind', as you know, is a vaguely defined assortment of brain functions.)

Is there anything that we know about the soul which could not possibility come from the brain?

We know only tales about the soul. One tale says the soul can survive death, which working brains are notoriously bad at. Another says that souls are 'immaterial', ie non-physical, outside the realm of the physical sciences, so they can at best be imaginary and in general non-existent.

There are a great many things that the tales don't explain, though. Such as why a soul would need a body in the first place. Or why a body might need a soul.

Indeed, if we imagine an immaterial thing (which is the only way it could exist), how could it perceive the external world, or (having no biochemistry) have emotions, or desires, or thoughts, or memories, or communication, or movement?

And since it'd be immune to gravity and momentum, how could it stay with its body as the earth rotates, orbits the sun, moves relative to the milky way, moves relative to our galactic cluster, moves relative to our supercluster, moves relative to other superclusters?

Is it more probable that the soul comes from elsewhere other than the brain? Please explain.

Nowhere but the brain, which is the only known site of imaginings.

 

[SalixIncendium]

"American Dr Stuart Hameroff and British physicist Sir Roger Penrose developed a quantum theory of consciousness asserting that our souls are contained inside structures called microtubules which live within our brain cells."

Scientists offer 'proof' soul exists

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I have to disagree because there is evidence that God exists, even if you reject it.

If that is all you can provide, I can just as easily say there is evidence of invisible pink leprechaun unicorn gorgons. They're very scary, and you really don't want feed that wild life.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

"American Dr Stuart Hameroff and British physicist Sir Roger Penrose developed a quantum theory of consciousness asserting that our souls are contained inside structures called microtubules which live within our brain cells."

Scientists offer 'proof' soul exists

Some people just don't want to believe, they are too desperate, eager, and willing to believe.

 

[SalixIncendium]

there is evidence of invisible pink leprechaun unicorn gorgons.

I can corroborate this.

There ya go, @DavidFirth, all the evidence you'll ever need.

 

[Muffled]

What then do people do with the concept of demon possession?

 

[Twilight Hue]

Is it possible that the human brain is the source of the human soul? Is there anything that we know about the soul which could not possibility come from the brain? Is it more probable that the soul comes from elsewhere other than the brain? Please explain.

People get all sorts of ideas without really examining if the ideas actually have any substance to them.

The brain obviously thinks up of things like souls and such, so in a way one could say the brain is the organ responsible for bringing up the idea of a soul.

 

[Kenny]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, especially since there is no way of recovering from being brain dead.

apparently, evidence has proven you wrong - he was brain dead.

 

[Mister Silver]

apparently, evidence has proven you wrong - he was brain dead.

You clearly do not understand what the word evidence means.

 

[Kenny]

Apparently verifiable and empirical evidence as he was transported to the morgue and verified by the doctors is not the science you subscribe to.