On Aug 30, 6:29 pm, "brian fletcher"
bigpond.net.au> wrote:>> On Aug 30, 9:28 am, "brian fletcher"
bigpond.net.au> wrote:>>> "Scott H"
yahoo.com> wrote in message>
>
>>>> On Aug 28, 11:14 pm, Ed
earthlink.net> wrote:>>>>> I just saw a lecture by Cristoff Koch, professor of Neurobiology at U.
>>>>> of C. on neurobiology and consciousness. Near the end of a very
>>>>> interesting lecture he showed a quote from a prominent turn-of-the-
>>>>> century scientist debunking the idea that life could be completely
>>>>> shaped by genes, then newly discovered. He said "it is inconceivable
>>>>> that the multitudinous features of life could be explained by a few
>>>>> nearly homogenous chemicals." It is obvious now that he did not
>>>>> understand the implications of the microchemistry of complex proteins
>>>>> and especially RNA and DNA.
>
>>>> As philosophers, I think we need the respect of scientists, as they
>>>> make most of the practical discoveries.
>
>>> Agreed. This process keeps the philosophers busy, contemplating the
>>> implications of the discoveries.
>
>>> BOfL
>
>> I would turn that around (but then you know me!)
>
>> As 'philosophers, I think we need to respect the scientists and allow
>> them to contemplate and act on the implications of their discoveries.
>
>> We 'philosopphers' and mustics must stick to our trade. That is-
>> contemplating the implications of what has not been discovered!.
>
> What has not been discovered by whom (or should that be Hume)....
> the philosopppers contemplate what the mystics 'have' discovered. You really
> have to watch your "bracket creep" Z...
> Or you may discover something.
>
>> A more appropriate question for philosophers and mystics is of the
>> type "where does the second surface go when a strip of paper is
>> folded into a single-surface Mobius structure. They can dance around
>> that to their heart's content!
>> Zinnic
>
> That makes you a theoretical scientific
philosopher.Organising dances (ever
> go to the Grafton?..;-)....or was that to much of an o/s adventure.
>
> I used to work there in the late 60's.
>
> BOfL- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
"philosopppers"? Freudian slip or mundane typo?
Grafton? Liverpool or London! My memory fails me!
But back to Neurobiology and consciousness.
If you have not already read "Phantoms in the Brain" by V. S.
Ramachandran and Sandra Blakeslee (1998), you are in for another
"epiphany".
Mapping of bodily areas to brain localities is commonplace. Your
acupuncture meridians are no more real than are geographic meridians.
Needle inserts to the brain and non-invasive techniques (MRI, PET,
etc) reveal the Penfield 'homunculus' pattern of neuronal response to
stimulation of different body areas. By comparison, the concept of
acupuncture meridians have the same scientific standing as do the
imaginary connections of the Zone theory in which 20 specific body
regions respond to stimulation from each of the fingers and toes. It
was claimed in this 'theory' that manipulation of each digit could
effectively diagnose and cure disease in the corresponding body zones.
Rama..... (my Guru) demonstrated that the phantom limb syndrome in
amputees is related to the ability of contiguous neuronal patterns to
encroach on an area that no longer receives stimulation. Thus, hand
and upper arm sensitivity melded into the neuronal pattern previously
associated with stimulation of an attached hand so that stimulation of
these body areas apparently stimulated the missing hand.
Similarly the proximity of the genital and foot neuronal responses in
the Penfield homunculus provides a mundane explanation for the
'mysteriously' common foot fetishes.
Melding of the proximal genital and foot neuronal excitation areas of
the brain also accounts for the apparent stimulation of a phantom limb
during sexual activity. One male amputee reported that his phantom
foot joined in to give him a larger organism than he had ever
experienced before amputation. I guess his foot was much larger than
his you-know-what! If acupuncture can be used for similar enhancement
it has a real future!
Best regards, I'm off on vacation
Talk to you (and Sean) later. I will miss our little 'chats'.
Zinnic.
