The brain

[Mikal]

It can't be hurting me to not eat meat! I am very resistent to illness, I thrive off any exercise that involves movement like Tai Chi...it keeps me centered and dwelling within a very peaceful and placid inner environment...


Mikal

[David Maes]

Neurons actually send chemical signals to the brain which is not just on/off. Though I am not a subject matter, but I am sure just on/off would not work.

As far as known, neurons MAINLY transmit 'on/off'-messages to cells which are situated downstream in the communications channel. The message simply says whether the neuron that sends a signal is active or inactive.
However the power of the signal is defined by the speed by which the 'on/off'-message is repeated;the faster the repetition, the stronger the signal.

In contrast with the simplicity of the messages, the system by which neurons send a signal, is an intricate electrochemical device.

What happens when a neuron transmits a signal to another neuron?

That's simple. The presynaptic connection has already secreted particular chemicals, neurotransmittors, in almost spherical bags of the membrane. Those are liberated in the synaptic gap, by the arrival of the electrical wave. Next, these chemicals are absorbed near the postsynaptic connection, by which they influence the electrical behaviour of the relevant dendrite and maybe of the entire cell. From that, a new electrical shock wave can arise in the cell which is situated downstream.

Of course this discription of the communication between neurons is ridiculously highly simplified.

[David Maes]

You are right of course David,however some with a brain
are nevertheless brainless!



regards michael.

Yes, that's true, some are, aren't they, Michael?

[David Maes]

As promised, I read some stuff about the brain, consciousness, etc.

Although there are a lot of neurological sources which go for 'THINKING MEAT'; I don't want to make a judgement with that any longer about 'What happens after we die?'

The reason for that is rather simple; I doubt.

[austintorn@aol.com]

Of what of after your death
To no more take in breath,
When you shall be you no more
As that which you were like before?

The brain does not remain
Nor any of life’s hurting pain;
Thee mind lays itself to rest
The time out of it pressed.

[David Maes]

As promised, I read some stuff about the brain, consciousness, etc.

Although there are a lot of neurological sources which go for 'THINKING MEAT'; I don't want to make a judgement with that any longer about 'What happens after we die?'

The reason for that is rather simple; I doubt.

But what must we think now? What must we think then?

First of all, the senses are very unreliable.

For example: Take a cup of tea. And just look. Do you believe you have got a real cup in your hand there?
Or do you have a personal subjective experience of that cup?

Of course, I don't mean that everything we perceive is an illusion.
But I also don't mean that everything we perceive is not.

I simply don't know; all I know is that the senses are very unreliable.

But if I can't believe my own eyes, then what can I believe? Do I have to doubt everything?
What CAN I know?

According to Descartes, there is only one thing we can know: if we think, then we exist.
It's the only thing we can really KNOW.

Personally, I also doubt whether I really have to think to exist.
I also think that the fact that "I" exist, could just be an illusion.

Considering the question "What happens after we die?"; there are two kinds of belief systems:
the first system is religion: which beliefs that we have an afterlife.
The second belief system is atheism, which beliefs that if we are dead, then we are just dead.

Those are both belief systems; the fact is we don't know.

[austintorn@aol.com]

Oh, so many lofty words for God’s sake,
But none of these do any Creator make.
The speaking mammals hide not their pride
That says in them the higher soul must reside.

But the only thing we can ever know
Is that we are starring in this reality show.
“I must know every answer,” says the mind,
Of the makings before our humankind.”

But the mind could not answer in kind
Of the ancient secret left so far behind,
But it must know, for that’s its purpose,
So it ever fills in the blanks before us.

Then it comes to believe the non-sense,
The only way it can try to make sense.
Go along with its imaginings, thoughtlessly
Or give the mind a rest from sowing aimlessly.

[David Maes]

That's a nice poem Austin, but I just would like you to really prove that what you say is true.
I need to be a 100 % sure.

I want to know Austin.

Give me a 100 % certainty that what you say is true.

Scientific knowledge is relative. Science (= what we know) doesn't offer absolute certainty.
Science can never prove that something is not possible, or does not exist.

Science can at most prove that the chance that something happens or exists is very small!

I remain sceptical, Austin.

[austintorn@aol.com]

None can know the truth with any proof
Of this reality show the mind to sooth.
This is not a restriction, since it ever frees
One to live as sensibly as they please.

[David Maes]

Belief systems do not know things, they only believe.

Only science knows things.

But science doesn't offer absolute certainty.

So religious people and atheists are both believers.