Sensible things can be divided. Or at least, they can if they are physical things - that is, if they take up space. For anything that takes up some space can be divided in two. One can have half a mug, half a piece of cheese, half a molecule, and so on. But not half a mind. Well, if all things that are extended in space can, by their very nature, be divided and one's mind cannot be divided, then one's mind is not extended in space and is thus not a sensible object. (This venerable argument, versions of which can be found in Plato, Descartes and Berkeley among others, seems by itself sufficient to establish that the mind is immaterial, not material). — Bartricks
Of course. What else could I do? These were and are my senses. What's the use or purpose doubting them? What could I gain from such a thing? In fact, if I did such a thing, on a constant basis, I wouldn't be able to write these lines, or any lines, for that matter. I would be living in an asylum! :smile:ll your life you've depended on your senses, never doubted them — TheMadFool
What's there not to undestand?normal mental state
— Alkis Piskas
How do we know that we are normal? — TheMadFool
Certainly they can. But then, these indicate an abnormal condition, as I said. And certainly, one cannot trust his senses in such a condition. (I have already explained all that. Most probably you have not read my whole post ...)TheMadFool makes a good point and they can all happen to an entirely healthy person — Mark Nyquist
Significantly, both mug and mind are concepts. — praxis
Moving on to minds, it just so happens that there are brains that have been medically split. — praxis
ll your life you've depended on your senses, never doubted them
— TheMadFool
Of course. What else could I do? These were and are my senses. What's the use or purpose doubting them? What could I gain from such a thing? In fact, if I did such a thing, on a constant basis, I wouldn't be able to write these lines, or any lines, for that matter. I would be living in an asylum! :smile:
normal mental state
— Alkis Piskas
How do we know that we are normal?
— TheMadFool
What's there not to undestand?
Normal = "Conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected" (Oxford LEXICO)
And I talked about our normal state, not normal state in general. Our personality, the basic characteristics of our behaviour and all that depend on and are dictated by our mental state. Which, i a sane person, is stable in general and under normal conditions. Not only ourselves but also others can recognize it. (I warn you: Don't ask me what do I mean by "normal conditions" because I won't answer it! :grin: — Alkis Piskas
We have the idea of a mug. But the mug itself is not an idea. — Bartricks
minds are not ideas — Bartricks
Again, what the hell do you mean by half a mind? — Bartricks
You'd sense or in some other way acquire information about the world through both. But there's still one 'you' right. — Bartricks
I mean, here's a thought experiment for you. Let's say I owe you $1m. I then go and have half my brain removed and destroyed. Do I now owe you half a million? — Bartricks
I wrote that ‘mind’ is a concept. — praxis
I didn’t say anything about half a mind. — praxis
That’s about it, apparently. You seem to believe that a mind is only a mind if it possesses human self-awareness and identity. — praxis
Under the circumstances $500k seems fair to me. — praxis
Think of a mug. That thought is an idea. It's not a mug. If you don't believe me, try and pour some tea in it. — Bartricks
do you think minds can be divided? — Bartricks
If my concept of a mug is not a mug then how can I reliably recognize mugs? — praxis
Maybe you don’t think I can tell the difference between a mug and an idea? — praxis
I can appreciate Lizzie Schechter’s conclusion about split-brains, that “The impression that a split-brain subject has two minds is correct”, because I don’t think that a mind requires human self-awareness and identity. Please don’t ask me to repeat this again. — praxis
How do these points answer my question "Should I be in a constant doubt of my senses"? Sould I doubt that I see a tree in front of me? Should I doubt about the existence of these exact words I am writing just now? I can't make it simpler than that. Sorry.Two points:
1. Skepticism (Are you sure?)
2. Plato's allegory of the cave (Who is normal?) — TheMadFool
To trust them or not makes absolutely no sense. — Alkis Piskas
I don't mean to burst your bubble and I know this is hard but [...] — TheMadFool
Well, you still didn't burst my bubble and it was still not hard! (Or maybe, did it turn as a boomerang against yourself? :smile:)
For me, this is just a discussion, which, besides other things, makes me know you better! :smile: — Alkis Piskas
I mean, here's a thought experiment for you. Let's say I owe you $1m. I then go and have half my brain removed and destroyed. Do I now owe you half a million?
No, right? I owe you $1m still. And that's because I haven't been split. — Bartricks
A person thinks. Not a brain.
I've never seen a brain think, or reflect or cognize. But people, on the other hand, do all these things. — Manuel
Minds causally interact with the sensible world. That much seems clear to everyone. — Bartricks
The concept of a mug is not a mug. — Bartricks
Have you tried pouring tea into it yet? — Bartricks
Be clear: do you think minds can be divided? — Bartricks
I, a person, am my mind — Bartricks
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