Who wants a soul?
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Who wants a soul?
The brain creates an electromagnetic field; it’s very weak, but nonetheless real. Like all electromagnetic fields it spreads out, influences and is influenced by everything it encounters. So there is a sphere of influence centred on our head as wide in light years as we are old, which will continue to be part of the universe long after we are dead. It doesn’t seem very likely, but what if that is our soul?
- Resha Caner
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Re: Who wants a soul?
What if?
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Re: Who wants a soul?
If that is your soul, then when you are dead, you are dead. Your consciousness does not survive in such a form does it? Can you consciously feel where these electromagnetic waves of yours are?tillingborn wrote:The brain creates an electromagnetic field; it’s very weak, but nonetheless real. Like all electromagnetic fields it spreads out, influences and is influenced by everything it encounters. So there is a sphere of influence centred on our head as wide in light years as we are old, which will continue to be part of the universe long after we are dead. It doesn’t seem very likely, but what if that is our soul?
Re: Who wants a soul?
tillingborn wrote:The brain creates an electromagnetic field; it’s very weak, but nonetheless real. Like all electromagnetic fields it spreads out, influences and is influenced by everything it encounters. So there is a sphere of influence centred on our head as wide in light years as we are old, which will continue to be part of the universe long after we are dead. It doesn’t seem very likely, but what if that is our soul?
Then the question is 'Does this electromagnetic field' collapse when you die, or does it continue? If it collapses when you die at C, then your after life will be just as long as you have lived.
- vegetariantaxidermy
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Re: Who wants a soul?
If it's conscious and self-aware then I would be a taker. If not then it's not much different from what actually happens when we die.tillingborn wrote:The brain creates an electromagnetic field; it’s very weak, but nonetheless real. Like all electromagnetic fields it spreads out, influences and is influenced by everything it encounters. So there is a sphere of influence centred on our head as wide in light years as we are old, which will continue to be part of the universe long after we are dead. It doesn’t seem very likely, but what if that is our soul?
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Re: Who wants a soul?
Dunno really, it's rather a big if.Resha Caner wrote:What if?
SecularCauses wrote:If that is your soul, then when you are dead, you are dead. Your consciousness does not survive in such a form does it?
The only examples we have of consciousness are associated with living brains, but no one actually knows what consciousness is. Living brains generate electromagnetic fields, it is possible that that is what consciousness is. I personally doubt it, I can't help but feel it would imply my electric toaster, for instance is conscious, but you never know.
Nope.SecularCauses wrote:Can you consciously feel where these electromagnetic waves of yours are?
Not sure I really understand this, but suppose you buy a light, you switch it on and after half a second it blows. By the time someone on the moon sees it, it has been dead longer than it lived.thedoc wrote:Then the question is 'Does this electromagnetic field' collapse when you die, or does it continue? If it collapses when you die at C, then your after life will be just as long as you have lived.
vegetariantaxidermy wrote:If it's conscious and self-aware then I would be a taker. If not then it's not much different from what actually happens when we die.
Well, there's not much chance that I'll win the lottery, but I sometimes buy a ticket.
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Re: Who wants a soul?
Look, an electromagnetic field is created whenever a charged particle moves. You are making the mitake that there is something unique about our brains and electromagetism, and there isn't. A light beam is not conscious, it does not think, it is not alive.tillingborn wrote:Dunno really, it's rather a big if.Resha Caner wrote:What if?SecularCauses wrote:If that is your soul, then when you are dead, you are dead. Your consciousness does not survive in such a form does it?
The only examples we have of consciousness are associated with living brains, but no one actually knows what consciousness is. Living brains generate electromagnetic fields, it is possible that that is what consciousness is. I personally doubt it, I can't help but feel it would imply my electric toaster, for instance is conscious, but you never know.Nope.SecularCauses wrote:Can you consciously feel where these electromagnetic waves of yours are?Not sure I really understand this, but suppose you buy a light, you switch it on and after half a second it blows. By the time someone on the moon sees it, it has been dead longer than it lived.thedoc wrote:Then the question is 'Does this electromagnetic field' collapse when you die, or does it continue? If it collapses when you die at C, then your after life will be just as long as you have lived.vegetariantaxidermy wrote:If it's conscious and self-aware then I would be a taker. If not then it's not much different from what actually happens when we die.
Well, there's not much chance that I'll win the lottery, but I sometimes buy a ticket.
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Re: Who wants a soul?
SecularCauses wrote:Look, an electromagnetic field is created whenever a charged particle moves.
I know.
Could you point out the words I have used that make you think this, please?SecularCauses wrote:You are making the mitake that there is something unique about our brains and electromagetism, and there isn't.
Again, where did I say it was?SecularCauses wrote:A light beam is not conscious, it does not think, it is not alive.
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Re: Who wants a soul?
tillingborn wrote:The brain creates an electromagnetic field; it’s very weak, but nonetheless real. Like all electromagnetic fields it spreads out, influences and is influenced by everything it encounters. So there is a sphere of influence centred on our head as wide in light years as we are old, which will continue to be part of the universe long after we are dead. It doesn’t seem very likely, but what if that is our soul?
When the brain dies so does the electromagnetic field that it generates.
So if "it" is the soul, then that dies with us.
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Re: Who wants a soul?
His point was it continues on even after the body stops generating it.chaz wyman wrote:tillingborn wrote:The brain creates an electromagnetic field; it’s very weak, but nonetheless real. Like all electromagnetic fields it spreads out, influences and is influenced by everything it encounters. So there is a sphere of influence centred on our head as wide in light years as we are old, which will continue to be part of the universe long after we are dead. It doesn’t seem very likely, but what if that is our soul?
When the brain dies so does the electromagnetic field that it generates.
So if "it" is the soul, then that dies with us.
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Re: Who wants a soul?
His point was false.SecularCauses wrote:His point was it continues on even after the body stops generating it.chaz wyman wrote:tillingborn wrote:The brain creates an electromagnetic field; it’s very weak, but nonetheless real. Like all electromagnetic fields it spreads out, influences and is influenced by everything it encounters. So there is a sphere of influence centred on our head as wide in light years as we are old, which will continue to be part of the universe long after we are dead. It doesn’t seem very likely, but what if that is our soul?
When the brain dies so does the electromagnetic field that it generates.
So if "it" is the soul, then that dies with us.
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Re: Who wants a soul?
chaz wyman wrote:When the brain dies so does the electromagnetic field that it generates.
So if "it" is the soul, then that dies with us.
SecularCauses wrote:His point was it continues on even after the body stops generating it.
I hope I have made it clear that I don't actually believe that the electromagnetic field generated by our brain is our consciousness, it is possible, but extremely unlikely in my view. Our brain is made of the same stuff as the rest of the (visible) universe; there is nothing 'supernatural' about the way it behaves. So it is a fact that the electromagnetic field it generates persists beyond our physical death, just as we (through telescopes) see stars that blew up long ago. My point was not false.chaz wyman wrote:His point was false.
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Re: Who wants a soul?
If that wasn't your point, then you may as well state that atoms have souls, since they give off radiation as their electrons move about in different orbits. Is that what you are claiming? If so, then why limit your comment to the human brain?tillingborn wrote:SecularCauses wrote:Look, an electromagnetic field is created whenever a charged particle moves.
I know.Could you point out the words I have used that make you think this, please?SecularCauses wrote:You are making the mitake that there is something unique about our brains and electromagetism, and there isn't.Again, where did I say it was?SecularCauses wrote:A light beam is not conscious, it does not think, it is not alive.
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Re: Who wants a soul?
I know, but so was yours, even on a purely physical level. Death does not stop the laws of physics from producing radiation from the brain.chaz wyman wrote:
[His point was false.
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Re: Who wants a soul?
noSecularCauses wrote:I know, but so was yours,.chaz wyman wrote:
[His point was false.