Thoughts are created chemically and and electrically. There are physical for sure and we are learning a ton about them.
"Advances in brain imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), along with electro-encephalography (EEG), an earlier technique for monitoring brain activity are enabling scientists to produce remarkably detailed computer-screen images of brain structures and to observe neurochemical changes that occur in the brain as it processes information or responds to various stimuli and the formation of emotions ranging from love and lust to anger and disgust. "
For example
10 out of 10 pictures right by looking at the scans not the pictures.
Evidence builds that meditation strengthens the brain, UCLA researchers say
Evidence builds that meditation strengthens the brain, UCLA researchers say | UCLA
Its the meditation and can be explained within psychophysiological.
See you completely get it! You're providing the objective evidence right not. The problem is that we have become far to strictly physicalist / materialist. These things do, objectively exist, you have goddamn pictures of them! Yet because they don't exist in the same way as, say, a chair we assign a lesser value to them. Well guess what, without human minds there would be no chairs, and I bet you could capture imaging showing an individual imaging a chair they wish to build. In fact, the power in the chair and its existence is only secondary to the power of the thought, which then forced actions, which then caused objective change. Considering that Gods are less physically useful and have had the massive impact they have had it would be silly for us to say they do not exist or that the idea should be abandoned.
Is it accurate to say that there is a concept that gods don't exist? Plug that into your syllogism and see how it works out.
No we don't. You've handily provided the solution to hard solipsism:
Of course there is no concept of gods that don't exist. Even if we are arguing against the existence of gods we have a conception of the gods we are arguing against.
1.) Other people are concepts.
2.) Concepts exist.
3.) Therefore, other people exist.
I cannot believe that centuries of professional philosophers have missed this! Alert the Nobel Prize folks!
There's way more evidence behind other people existing than thoughts... for example, our very communication is proof against the idea of solipsism to anyone but the absolute skeptic. In other words, you just made an *** of yourself
1.) That other people have thoughts and ideas just as we do is a concept.
2.) Concepts exist.
3.) Therefore, other people's thoughts and ideas exist.
You're just trolling now.
Yet thoughts are utterly dependent on the physical brain. And mental activity is certainly detectable.
I know, and I never said otherwise.
[/quote]Wouldn't you need to demonstrate that thoughts can exist beyond the brain for that assertion to be given even an iota of credence?[/quote]
See that magical box you're using to communicate with me? That does not magically form from the abyss, but rather it requires intelligent thought and conceptualization. Thank you, once again, for supporting my point,
Again: Mental activity
is detectable in living brains. Why not demonstrate that corpses have thoughts?
1.) Some cars are concepts and they never get off the drawing board. The concept exists, but the car itself never exists except as a drawing (and in fact may never have been intended for production).
So what?
2.) Square circles are concepts. Do square circles exist?
Actually we cannot conceive of a square circle, such a thing does not, by definition, exist. Just as we cannot conceive of a world where logic does not exist. We can talk about them in theory but you cannot actually conceive of them. This makes your example off topic.
1.) Concepts exist.
2. ) Gods are concepts.
3.) Gods exist
as concepts.[/quote]
Why would I repeat premise 2 in the conclusion?
Who in their right mind would argue that gods don't exist conceptually?
You'd think that nobody would, and yet when we discuss the implication of the fact they go back on it!
Smurfs, Leprechauns and Fairies all exist as concepts as well. What is this supposed to prove?
Sure, the concept of gods exists. So what?
So what? Please read the OP before posting.
I have studied and worked with a lot of top research doctors on meditation, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, andf other techniques and neuroscience. Some of this, even prayer have some similar psychophysiological benefits.
Also love stimulates some of the same brain parts as cocaine. I believe religion can be addictive and addicts sometimes become religious because it helps by some of the same brain pathways and feelings.
Likewise you can take antidepressants and it affects the brain pathways and feelings of the individual in positive ways. Once again you are right on track.
1. "Space aliens are among us" is a concept.
2. Concepts exist.
3. Look more carefully at the people around you....
Actually the space aliens is a valid point. While not comparable to the impact of gods the concept of aliens has certainly had a large impact on the world. Likewise it has a great impact as a tool, as can be fully seen in the dude with the crazy hair on Ancient Aliens being rich.
The statue would be real, but the idea behind the statue is still the artist's rendition. Right? How many blond/blue eyed depictions of Jesus do we see? lol Stuff like that bugs me, actually.
No, you can put your ideas onto the statue. The color red gives off different feelings than the color of sky blue. I can design the eyes on my red statue to look angry, have my god holding a weapon, have him wearing a belt with different gods on it such as Aries and Mars, and if the individuals don't understand it is a god of aggression / war then it's hardly my fault.
The scary thing is ...how many nations have gone to war over concepts? How much money has been made of concepts? How much strife has been waged and caused over concepts?
My point exactly. The key here is in getting away from these negative conceptions. They problem here is people think that their gods exist objectively and need humans to do their will, something not even slightly supported. The gods are rather tools that can be manipulated, and we need to get these tools out of the hands of the un-ready (don't let children play with guns) and strengthen their benefits (because guns aren't inherently bad, bad things just happen when you give them to children!).
