pg14 Virtual Reality as a Close Analogy to Spirit-Body Relationship. (part 1 of 2)

Assume we have a 3-dimensional video game with a puppy in it.  Suppose somehow we can connect every point of the 3-d puppy with the corresponding point in the brain of the game player (the controller).  If the puppy hits something hard in the 3-d video game by his right hand, the player would also feel hitting something hard with his right hand.  If the puppy sees a blue bird in the game, he sees a blue bird in his brain too (even though there isn’t any blue bird in the real world of the player).  If the puppy is flying, the player would “feel” flying as well, despite the fact that he is not flying in his real world.  His feeling is exactly the same as the 3-d puppy's.  He feels the same world as the puppy does. 

- If, in addition to his puppy eyes in the game, he also keeps his own eyes in the real world, then he knows his feeling of the world in the game is only a simulation rather than real. 

- However, if he cannot keep his own eyes in the real world, then he would not know his feeling of the game world is unreal, rather he would consider the game world as the only world that exists, and he wouldn’t realize that he is actually blind to an outside real world. 

- He might remember there was an outside real world before he got connected to the puppy.  But if he was born to be connected to the puppy and had never seen the outside real world, then he would believe the game world is the only real world and would never realize there is an outside real world which he is actually blinded to. 

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pg13 What is "I"? (part 2 of 2)

2. Identity of “I” is not my brain but my mind.  When someone says "I", what does the "I" mean?  For example, if I hurt my finger, I feel my finger is painful.  Who is feeling the pain?  It doesn't seem to be the finger, because with anesthesia in the brain the painful feeling goes away.  Then, can we identify “I” with the brain?  As we know, at the time of brain pain, there is still “someone” who is feeling the pain but who is “not” the brain itself.  On the other hand, “I” feel pain when I am under verbal attack.  “I” feel sad when a close friend died.  Brain pain is different from “I feel painful”.  It is the psychological pain which is in “me”.  This pain is in “mind”, but not in the “physical” body.  In other words, the real identity of “I” is the mind, which is outside my physical body and is not matter.  But this identity of “I” is feeling all physical and psychological pain/happiness of a human being.  

3. “I” am my spirit/mind.  These days, as technology advances, many body parts can be substituted by artificial ones, such as false teeth.  Suppose one day everything, including brain (because the brain is not myself, nor my mind), in the body can be substituted, and the “artificial body” can act just like a normal man.  In this case, the man is still living and its identity still exists.  Then what is the identity of the man?  Wouldn’t it be the mind/spirit which controls the material body whether it’s natural or artificial?  Also it’s interesting to ask whether this man with artificial body is a living man or a ghost.  Yes, it’s a man as it is changed gradually from a natural man to an artificial man.  But since there is no natural material in the body, the mind acts directly on artificial matter, it is no different from a ghost acting on and moving a desk. 

All three considerations point to the same answer: the identity, “I”, is the mind/spirit rather than the material body. 

We will show “I” is my mind rather than my body using video game as an example next time.

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pg12 What is "I"? (part 1 of 2)

What is the identity “I”?  This question may be tackled in four different ways. 

1. “I” am not my body.  When asked, “What is a man?”  Many may answer, “A man is just the material body of a human being.  There is nothing other than the material body in a human being.”  If that is the case, then why do we say a man is dead when the body still exists and is lying there?  If material body is all there is to a human being, there is no reason to claim he is dead since the matter, the material body, is still there.  How can one differentiate a living body from a dead body?  Obviously there is some difference.  The only way we can properly describe the difference is to say, “A living body is a man with mind/spirit intact, while a dead body is a man whose mind/spirit has given up control of his body.  The identity of a man is actually the mind/spirit, rather than the body.” 

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pg11 Mind is outside the body.

Topic 2 - The Relation Between Mind and Body

Mind is outside the body. 

When someone shouts “fire”, all people would run over to help putting out the fire.  If instead he shouts “Huo” (the Chinese pronounciation of fire) or the “fire” in other languages, people would also run to help.  Obviously, if people’s reactions are due to interactions of physical particles in the body like billiards on a table, then different physical voices of different languages should cause different reactions.  The fact that they all cause the same reactions tells that the reactions are not due to physical interactions of particles in the body (like billiards on a table), but due to certain interpretation by a conscious mind which is outside of our physical bodies.  Similarly, the fact that baby cries when not seeing his or her mother indicates certain activities are triggered not by physical activities, but by inactivity.  This also indicates an interpretation by a conscious mind.  

Like momentum and energy, spirit is not matter, hence does not occupy a spatial dimension and we cannot say it resides in the body.  It is outside the body and outside the spatial world, but it affects matter.  It is in the spirit space.  It affects material world from spirit space in the same way momentum affects matter from momentum space. 

Then is “I” my body or my mind?  We will talk about it next time.

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pg10 Spirit space

While momentum is not visible and cannot be drawn in ordinary space, it can be drawn graphically in a space called momentum space.  Similarly spirits are not visible in ordinary space but also should be represented in a space called spirit space.  (Actually, the analogy between spirit and momentum makes sense as materialism simply considers the act of spirit/mind as the accumulated act of the momenta of numerous particles.)  The characteristics and rules governing spirit operations in spirit space is a scientific subject.  When being studied, it should be under rigorous scientific rules, rather than under the doctrine of morality, belief or religion.  Nevertheless, it is also unscientific to deny involvement of morality, belief or religion if it is in fact a result of scientific conclusion. 

We will talk about the relations between mind and body next time.

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pg09 Mind is manifested through its effect, like energy and temperature

How do we know energy exist?  We know through its effects on visible objects, like water boiled.  How do we know mind exist?  We also know through its effects on visible objects, e.g. astronauts landing on the moon.  We do not say energy does not exist because we cannot see it.  Similarly, we have no reason to claim mind does not exist simply because it’s invisible.  Energy is as invisible as mind.  Some scientifically minded claim “I don’t believe it exists unless I see it”.  This isn’t a very scientific statement.  Numerous things in Nature exist but cannot be seen.  For example, energy, momentum, time, temperature, interest rate, culture, etc., they all exist but are not visible.  No one would deny their existence.  We don’t see them directly but we recognize their existence through their effects on visible objects.  For example, by seeing objects moving you know the object is under the influence of momentum and energy.  By seeing water freezing or vaporizing you know temperature is low or high.  Similarly, you know there is mind acting on an object when you see it acts differently from non-living objects, such as astronaut flying to the moon. 

Then where is mind?  We will talk about it next time.

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pg08 Arguments for the Existence of mind according to our definition

Materialism believes that there is no mind or spirit in Nature and that all activities in Nature are the movements of particles (protons, neutrons, etc.) governed by physics laws like billiards on a table.  However, one can easily see that Eiffel tower cannot come into existence with only randomly moving particles without intentional will.  Obviously, no real scientist would deny that the tower could not be built without minds’ intervention.  Similarly, no astronaut can fly from earth to the moon without minds' accurate calculations.  There is no way a stone can suddenly be shot up to the moon accidentally by wind or anything whatsoever.  Likewise, every year the developed countries buy a great deal of oil from oil exporters.  Oil doesn’t flow randomly to all countries over the world, but flow in concentration to the developed countries only.  If there were no spirit or mind in Nature, oil should flow randomly to all places evenly on the globe.  The existence of Eiffel Tower, the landing of astronauts on the moon, oil flow etc. all prove that minds exist. 

Some will naturally ask why we don’t see mind if it exists?  We will discuss this question next time.

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pg07 Definition of Mind

Part I Understand who I am?

Topic 1 - Does Mind Exist?  What are its characteristics?  

Definition of Mind

Before answering whether mind exists, let’s first make a concrete definition of what is meant by “mind” under our discussion.  What we mean by “mind” in our discussions is “the being which causes the difference between intentional effects and non-intentional effects”.  Hence, animal, insects, germs and even plants are considered to possess mind.  Anything that strives for life, or protects itself from being attacked is considered to possess mind.  Based on this definition, there is no question that creatures with mind/spirits (mind and spirit are considered the same thing here and are interchangeable) exist on planet earth, because there is clear indication that living creatures exist on earth which possess intentional will.  The behavior of non-living objects is that their actions follow physics laws only and don’t indicate intention, while living things do.  At this time, there appears to be no mind or living objects on the planet of Mercury. 

We will show next whether mind exists in nature according to this definition.

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pg06 Introduction (part 6 of 6)

Based on the key observations above, the discussions here try to recognize modern observational facts and be as objective and logical as possible.  At the end, a hypothetical mind-matter theory which combines materialism with idealism can be deduced from region B and expanded to region A and region C, even down to the particle level.  Some critical questions tackled are: 

1. Is everything which is invisible not existing?  How about energy, momentum, temperature? 

2. Why is everything following physics laws, but few biological or chemical laws can be derived from physics laws? 

3. What is the reality of a human body, a molecule, or an elementary particle?  Drop-offs and Two layers of reality – Form and Concrete objects. 

4. The illusory and objective natures of objects. 

5. Quantum uncertainty and what “observation” means in quantum mechanics. 

6. How are the identities of a molecule, a human body or an elementary particle established?  Primitive mind.   

7. Non-quantum uncertainty. 

8. Personal view of the origins of matter, quantum mechanics and particles.   

The topics are broadly divided into two major parts:  The first part, “Understand who I am?”  The second, “Understand what my body is?” 

 

Our discussion will be as objective and logical as possible.  It would be meaningless to talk about the mechanism between mind and body if one doesn’t even believe mind exist.  Therefore we will show the evidence of mind next. 

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pg05 Introduction (part 5 of 6)

Key observation 1:  All biological bodies, such as human bodies, refresh its content cells constantly.  This means the body of an 80 year old man is totally different from the body when he was 10 years old.  From physics point of view, it is an entirely different body, just like in a relay run the last person is a completely different person from the first one, even though it’s said to be the same team. This implies that normal physics laws don’t apply to the ever changing bodies.  Different laws must be established.  From physics point of view, a human body (region C) is an illusory concept, like a relay team.  The same is true to molecules (region B) and atoms (region A).  It is observed that not only human body, but “every” object in the world has two levels of reality - form (concept) and concrete-objects, from human bodies, to molecules, atoms, down to elementary particles - electrons, protons and neutrons.  Thus, every object is illusory when viewed from a different level of hierarchy.

Key observation 2:  A human body (region C) is not completely an illusion, because it has its objective existence which cannot be changed subjectively by a conscious mind.  The same is true to molecules (region B) and atoms (region A).  That is, each has its objective identity.  The mystery is how they leave physics viewpoint behind and established their objective identity. 

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. . . . . . . . . above posted on 10/29/2011 . . . . . . . . . .

pg04 Introduction (part 4 of 6)

Since materialism believes everything in the universe follows physics laws only and hence the laws in region A should apply to regions B and C alike.  But it’s hard because there are obvious non-physics laws implemented in region C, which cannot be explained.  On the other hand, idealism believes mind is the originator of everything in the world, and hence region C should apply to regions A and B as well.  But it’s also hard, because no particles or atoms show mind influence (other than claiming they are like objects created in a dream, which is another topic not considered here, as we are here primarily concerned with the mind caused by complexity).   

Instead of sticking to either materialism or idealism completely, the study here tackles the problem from the middle region B: What happened in region B, where nature changes gradually from A to C?  It recognizes the merit of both materialism (regions A) and idealism (region C), and attempts to find a theory which works for region B and extends smoothly to both regions A and C. 

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pg03 Introduction (part 3 of 6)

What is lacking is a theory pieced together organically from all these observations.  This is what is attempted here.  Let’s look at the graph below. 

                    A                                      B                                                        C    

      Simple structures                 medium structures                        Complex structures

      (particles, atoms, . . .)            (molecules, . . . )                     (Plants, animals, societies, . . .) 

      __________________|____________________________|_______________________

Physics laws governing    What laws are governing ????                       mind

              (no mind)

Region A is for simple objects, like particles and atoms, where only physics laws are governing, without mind influence.  Region C is for complex objects showing tendency of mind influence, like animals, societies, even nations.  Although nothing violates physics laws here, there is no proof that other laws cannot be implemented here.  In fact, other laws, such as the economical law of supply and demand, are actually implemented, and there is no proof that they can be derived from physics laws.  In other words, the laws in region C are very different from physics laws in region A.  That is, regions A and C are quite different from each other.  Region B is for intermediate objects between A and C, such as molecules, where chemical laws are implemented along with physics laws.  The boundaries between the three regions are not clearly defined though.

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pg02 Introduction (part 2 of 6)

With the discovery of quantum uncertainty in the 1920s, a door is opened in materialism for mind to manipulate.  Some philosophically minded physicists start to search for theories to incorporate mind into matter, although the quantum uncertainty seems to be too small for mind manipulation to cause sufficient effect in human bodies. 

In his inspiring book “God and the New Physics”, Paul Davies gave an excellent survey of modern observations of mind involvement in matter activities.  The notables include: 1) Reductionism vs. holism: While traditionally it is thought all activities in nature can be reduced to particles under physics laws in the same way as billiards on a table, it is mysterious why life doesn’t show up in each atom but surfaces in a collection of atoms.  A novel tells a lot and may even have tremendous impact on us, but no meaning can be found in each letter.  It is a mystery at what point meaningfulness starts to impact a mind.  There is clearly something which is present when considered as a whole but does not exist in each individual atomic part.  2) Quantum mechanics dictates that the state of matter being observed depends on the observer’s act of measurement.  3) Mind has ability to increase order at one location, although at the price of reducing order elsewhere.  Etc.

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pg01 Introduction (part 1 of 6)

Mind and matter are one of the central philosophical quests of the greatest thinkers for thousands of years (http://www.enotes.com/science-religion-encyclopedia/mind-body-theories). Other than religious thoughts, there are two major branches: Materialism doesn’t admit existence of mind.  It believes everything, including human body activities, is predetermined according to physics laws, but can hardly explain obvious life/conscious phenomenon.  Idealism believes everything in the world is a subjective creation of mind.  But the objectivity of a man or a tree cannot be denied and is beyond mind’s control.  While there is truth in each of the schools, none is realistic.  Also, there are dualism theories (e.g. Plato and Aristotle) which believe both mind and body exist.  However, none of them proceeded to explore how mind and body work together, which is exactly what is sought for in this research.   

That it remains controversial may be because the materialists cannot find any violation of physics laws in the world, while idealists see obvious mind manipulation and can always claim the world being no different from one created in a dream.  Nevertheless, unlike ethics or political philosophy which may be subjective, problem of mind and matter is objective and non-personal and hence should be a scientific subject rather than a philosophical one (in my opinion).  That it still remains as a philosophical subject is because there is no definite evidence to support either of the schools. 

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