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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]I am not sure your PhD friend understands what a neuron actually is. [/quote]

Why not actually critique the point PP made?  That way we can resolve your doubts.  :)

[b]Do *you* understand what a neuron actually is?[/b][/quote]

Certainly not!  I am just a mom.  I have no expertise whatsoever on neurons.  But PP said the replacement would "conduct electricity" like the neuron.  My limited understanding is that neurons #1  do more than conduct electrical impulses  and #2  are living cells, with immense complexity.

But to address the (limited and unfinished) point the PP made:

That philosophical hypothetical does not pose an actual problem for either the materialist or the theist.  If you believe in materialism, there is no more to a human being than matter.  If there were a way to switch out inorganic matter for organic, it is actually all the same.  Human beings are just particles--that is all they are.  The living material humans are comprised of evolved from non-living material, and that is all that there is.  So if the day came that we could switch back and forth, well, that's just what the universe does on its own anyway.

But the theist would not be troubled, either, in this highly hypothetical scenario.  Because theists believe in a material universe AND an immaterial universe.  The laws that rule matter, and energy, and force, and DNA, are all within their own system, the material universe.  Immaterial things are different.

So, what is the philosopher piecing together?  Artificial intelligence?

[/quote]

But wait, you are jumping the gun.  First of all, neurons are more complicated than a simple electrical connection, but they are not so complicated that a replacement neuron can't be built.

OK ,so in your answer you believe that a person with a brain replaced by artificial neurons still has an immaterial component, ie a soul.  Right?[/quote]

Looking forward to PP's next dodge.  Here's a stab at it:

"You know nothing about neurons or brains!  They're made of protein, and electronics are made out of semiconductors, so there!"

:)[/quote]

I do agree that it is not useful to debate the feasibility of replacing neurons.  But it would be interesting to see responses.

BTW this is not meant as a way to pound theists.  I am a Christian.  But I have studied metaphysics, and the mind-body problem is an interesting topic.  I thought this would appeal to other religious people because essentially this area of study is about the difficulty of reconciling consciousness with materialism, and it's pretty tricky stuff for anyone.[/quote]

No, I think you make some great points.  I was just having fun with the idea that "identifying a metaphor" is nor really a rebuttal.[/quote]

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