Many people have been intimidated into notion that they must do battle
against anyone who calls themselves a "creationist"--or anyone like me who
refuses to denounce creationists. The neo Darwinist establishment has
managed to convince the public that any criticism of neo Darwinism is
"creationism", that "science" should denounce anyone criticizing the
slightest aspect of Darwinism, that such strident criticism is a noble battle
against ignorance and superstition.
Now to those thought of yours which I find interesting.
Kevin:
>For me, the question of the soul is very simple.
Bertvan:
Surely you don't mean that!!! You might have firm beliefs on the subject,
but surely you don't consider the matter simple.
Kevin:
>Like any other property of our physical bodies, the mind is subject to
>evolution, but unlike the brain itself it is not limited to physical
>evolution. I believe that the mind undergoes what I call cognitive
>evolution, which is much faster than either physical evolution or cultural
>evolution. However, I believe that cognitive evolution works very much the
>same as physical evolution. Just as their are physical traits that are
>selected for on the basis of which enhance physical survivability, so too
are
>there cognitive traits that can be selected for to enhance cognitive
>survivability. Freedom is one of these traits that has been selected for
>because it enhances cognitive survivability. I tend to believe that
>cognitive traits, like physical traits, are created by unconscious cognitive
>processes, but I would not say that they are the result of "random
mutation".
>Rather I believe they are a pre-determined result of our mind as it is
>currently structured. However, that does not mean that we have no choice as
>to what traits we accept. Out of all the many traits that exist, we tend to
>select only those few that best enhance our own cogntive survivability. (I
>cannot as yet adequately define this term. In essence it is a combination
of
>mental well-being, intellectual capacity and emotional well-being.) For
>example, many of us tend to select freedom, because it gives us the ability
>and the confidence to deal with life as we see fit, but there are those who
>believe that freedom is a handicap. They see freedom as chaotic and prefer
>some form of ideology to guide them through life. In other words, whereas
>most of us prefer to handle the aspects of life in whatever manner best
suits
>us at the time, others prefer to use a pre-determined set of instructions.
>The manner in which we select which traits we want to have is partially
>conscious, but it is also partially sub- or unconscious. Some of it is
based
>on our unique personalities, some of it on how we are raised and what we are
>taught, and some of it on our conscious thoughts and desires.
Bertvan
I like you thoughts on the evolution of the mind, but why do you insist
physical evolution must have been the result of random processes, but believe
spiritual evolution was not? I agree with you that choice is part of
spiritual evolution, and even those who "reject freedom" exercise a choice.
Do you believe "mind" can sometimes effect physical matter-the body? If so,
how can they belong to "different universes"?
Bertvan