Modes of thought

[pmbguy]

Trying to reconcile the idea of a soul with our biological and social reality is problematic. A good person could change “bad” and a bad person could change into a “good” one through damage to the brain. Especially the frontal lobe where our “character” is based. Then consider nature vs. nurture, will a person’s soul be determined by their biological condition? perhaps they mad and bad because of a genetics. Will their soul be determined by their social environment? A person who grows up in a bad environment might become bad him/her self, does this ecological reality which determines their character then negatively affect their soul? So in some respects one could argue that the soul is a product of both nurture and nature, but is the soul in fact determined by these factors, or is the soul independent from nature and nurture? If this is the case then we cannot condemn an individual as having a corrupt soul, for it is nurture, genetics and the environment that potentially corrupts the soul. As a weird conclusion, all souls might be equal regardless of how good or bad you are, which may delete all thoughts of a soul being eater good or bad.

So where does this leave us then? If a soul’s “quality” is not determined by life, then how is it determined to be either good or bad? Perhaps it’s just an energy that goes wherever all souls go regardless of how good or bad the individual may be.

[adrianh]

...ah... you see my problem with religion...

So, does a bipolar, psychotic, schizophrenic sociopath who stabs somebody because "the voices" told him to do so go to heaven or hell ... or is it all ok provided that he believes in a particular story book. It's not his fault that his brain wiring is all wrong, how can he be condemned to hell...he doesn't know any better.

[Dave A]

This very body and mind that can do all you rightfully describe, mere matter or something greater.

The "mere matter" vs "matter + " is the bit I mull over at times.

What really differentiates "inanimate" material from "living" material.
We know the symptoms of that difference, and can manipulate those symptoms in many ways.
There are theories and beliefs as to what that + might be.
But at this point we don't truly understand the real cause (of life).

[wynn]

I have said this before in another thread, If you visit Fiji or remote Borneo there are people living there that years ago (sometimes not so long ago) ate the "Long Pig"
It was socially acceptable, in fact encouraged, at the time.
Was it wrong? sinful?

[adrianh]

Exactly, these are the issues that make the notion of right & wrong so difficult. Another one to think about is this: what about the children of three generations of inbreeding. Those children may have all sorts of genetic problems that may extend to mental problems. What would their lot be in the afterlife given that they got screwed up long before they were even born.

Nah, I'm all for the notion of two processors mirroring one another and claiming to be self aware because the processes are able to converse with one another.

[vieome]

The "mere matter" vs "matter + " is the bit I mull over at times.

What really differentiates "inanimate" material from "living" material.
We know the symptoms of that difference, and can manipulate those symptoms in many ways.
There are theories and beliefs as to what that + might be.
But at this point we don't truly understand the real cause (of life).

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/12/10/meet-the-robot-telemarketer-who-denies-shes-a-robot/

Meet the Robot Telemarketer Who Denies She’s A Robot Our encounter with an all-too-convincing robot.

[pmbguy]

Talking about dam telemarketers. I usually try and pull over when I get a call, I might need to write info down etc. Then to my utter disgust its a dam voice recording sale’s pitch, WTF. I wonder who these people are who will buy a product from a f robot pitch. It’s crazy, I wish there was an app that collects telemarketer numbers and blocks them. If there is a smart guy or girl out there that is in the app racket, Please make it. As a reward I will secure you and your family with fishing rights on all the Sappi dams in the Imvoti valley.

[Dave A]

It’s crazy, I wish there was an app that collects telemarketer numbers and blocks them.

Nope. What you want is an app that will answer the call, cough every now and then, and keep the line open for as long as possible - all without you being disturbed.

When I got those calls, I used to hit the red button. Nowadays I just put my phone down next to me and let the meter run.

[pmbguy]

I like your tactics and app idea. F U telemarketers (the boss not the guy phoning).