The Two Dogmas of Materialism

Materialism, as a philosophy of mind, is the thesis that consciousness and mind are entirely dependent on the brain, they could not exist without the brain and, in its strongest form, consciousness and mind are held to be reducible to the brain and its electro-chemical processes. But even its most steadfast proponents acknowledge that materialism cannot account for the fact of consciousness and that it involves extremely unpalatable consequences for our sense of autonomy and moral responsibility. Moreover, close analysis shows that the cognitive dissonance inherent in materialism makes it virtually untenable as a coherent theory of mind. How then should we account for its resilience as the default mainstream theory in contemporary neuroscience, cognitive psychology and the philosophy of mind?

This resilience stems from the seeming plausibility of two central dogmas. First, that impairment to critical brain regions causes a degradation of corresponding cognitive function and that this proves that mind is dependent on the brain. Second, the physical domain is presumed to be causally closed, which is taken to imply that mind is either reducible to the brain or else epiphenomenal and irrelevant. In this paper, I propose to show that neither of these dogmas stands up to critical scrutiny, and that the result of this scrutiny can help delineate the outlines of a transmission model of the mind/brain interaction, in terms of quantum field theory.

In my concluding section, I discuss the consciousness-based paradigm as the proper framework for resolving the mind-body problem. This paradigm is preferable to neutral monism for a variety of reasons. Moreover, it provides a theoretical background for understanding mental causation, spatiotemporal anomalies uncovered by advanced physics, and for a variety of psi phenomena and instances of synchronicity.

Surely the central dogma is that animals (and their brains) are made of the same ‘star stuff’ elements as everything else in the universe

Surely the central dogma is that animals (and their brains) are made of the same ‘star stuff’ elements as everything else in the universe

Which are made of what??

Which are made of what??

Star stuff. As enumerated in the Periodic Table table of Elements.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composit...human_body

Surely the central dogma is that animals (and their brains) are made of the same ‘star stuff’ elements as everything else in the universe

Yes, of course.  We can measure all their physics attributes with the units of measure specified as SI units.

 International System of Units

noun
plural noun: SI units

1. a system of physical units ( SI units ) based on the meter, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, candela, and mole, together with a set of prefixes to indicate multiplication or division by a power of ten.
   

Of course, biological "units" generate measurable informational values that are not found in stars.  Stars don't alter their course based on detection of affordances in their local environments and a stars' self-interest.

Yes, of course.  We can measure all their physics attributes with the units of measure specified as SI units.


Of course, biological "units" generate measurable informational values that are not found in stars.  Stars don't alter their course based on detection of affordances in their local environments and a stars' self-interest.

How to SI units describe and measure interactions in the quantum realm?

How do SI units describe and measure interactions in the quantum realm?

Thanks for the response.  I enjoy our back and forth. 

Great question, which I am not qualified to answer with any confidence.

I do think that SI units are the bedrocks of Schrodinger's equation.  Plank's constant is a physical value and is expressed in SI units.

 Planck's constant, symbolized h, relates the energy in one quantum (photon) of electromagnetic radiation to the frequency of that radiation. In the International System of units (SI), the constant is equal to approximately 6.626176 x 10-34 joule-seconds.

Position and time are covered by SI units and so is the Hamiltonian as the sum of energy values.  Hertz is a derivative SI unit.  Again, maybe in ignorance, I think all values of the four forces in physics are measured in SI units or their derivatives.



Maybe there are others on this forum with professional training, who will weigh in?

Surely the central dogma is that animals (and their brains) are made of the same ‘star stuff’ elements as everything else in the universe

I think the "dogma" referred to in the OP reflects anti-Materialism, rather than Materialism (i.e. don't look to the needs of Materialism when judging its correctness).

Linda

What is "anti-materialism"?  Seems an incoherent term in this discussion since materialism is just an 'ism' after all.

The basic materialist stance, as I understand it and am open to being further educated here, is that consciousness is a purely physical emergent phenomena.  This, in spite of, our complete lack of understanding of what consciousness is and how it actually emerges from "star stuff".  It sorta sits right next to all the other 'isms' on this point as its purely faith-based.

I should add I don't think it is an unreasonable world view.  I just take issue when folks put it forth as a better or superior world view.  There is simply no basis on which to position it as such.

I should add I don't think it is an unreasonable world view.  I just take issue when folks put it forth as a better or superior world view.  There is simply no basis on which to position it as such.

Spot on!