Soul Searching 2

The second of three extracts from the two-part documentary broadcast on Channel 4 in 2004, in which neuroscientists, philosophers, mathematicians and monks discussed whether there was still a meaning to the idea of the soul. These clips feature Michael Gazzaniga, Iain McGilchrist and Louis Sass. For those who are interested, you can see further clips or buy the whole DVD at www.becauseyouthink.tv.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Gazzaniga
• McGilchrist
• Sass
• mind
• brain
• hemisphere
• soul
• searching
• neuroscience
• philosophy

[CambridgeHeights]

@southsydney The one stumbling block is subjective experience or qualia. How can the physical create something so seemingly unphysical?

[southsydney]

what if the schizophrenic's view is right?

the world is a mechanical place subject to mechanical laws. why is that a problem?

maybe there isnt such thing as a self, if the universe is subject to physical laws and we're made of the same stuff then why should we be any less mechanical in our being?

[saleri]

hold on, his description of what schizophrenics do is exactly what i do. I think about thinking i am constantly analyzing and i feel like i am watching my thoughts. Constantly self-conscious, it's horrible...but surely im not the only one who feels they are schizophrenic...right?

[Xenostrobe]

@Consciousish Hmmm... yes, well... I see you've been sitting at the feet of Heraclitus.

[Consciousish]

∞

[Consciousish]

You can't put your finger on it because you can't bite your own teeth, taste your own tongue or see behind your eyes.

You can't see the nothingness, the blackness which is watching, unless you look in a mirror.

[Consciousish]

You are a witness.

But you are witnessing yourself.

[Xenostrobe]

"A witness". Grandiosity and Impotence, the modern sense of self. This strange disease of modern life with its sick hurry and divided aims... I read Thucydides not so long back, speaking of 'witness', it is rather instructive and disturbing with it.

[Michigan1985]

Did anyone else as a kid sit in bed and wonder "why does anything exist" , "why am I here" , "why is there anything" " who am I" etc..? And as you think about it, you get this very strange feeling/awareness and thought process that you don't normally have. I loved that! This series will probably make me revisit those thoughts.

It's insane all the things we're discovering and researching these days.

[jarwraj]

Absolutely fascinating background for anyone who has read McGilchrist's brilliant book, 'The Master and his Emissary'.

Addresses matters of the very first importance to the modern world.