Lewis and Occam's Razor -- more exact quote?

Right, but referring to the input of information, as when one perceives
a situation ( lights, music, hunger) that the synapses fire to relay
the message to the brain, what are called afferent messages, to then
decipher/interpret and choose an action (efferent message) whereby one
then acts.
My understanding is basic, anatomy and physiology on the blackboard
many years ago.
It is a fascinating occurance, though, the medium whereby we are
conscious...the mechanism that one perceives a situation, then
implements what one sees as just , what one wills. It is I think the
means where ideally, we can understand God and act from within the
framework of a loving presence, acting from the awareness of a deep
love for humanity.
It is somewhat bold to assume one always knows/ acts from such ideal
standards but worth striving for.
Human conciousness is a fascinating topic , probably ouside our ability
to fully comprehend.
Not sure this is the right post but will remain.

I have begun to re-read the Screwtape Letters after a first read many
moons past. Maybe worth starting a new thread on the book if there's
an interest. Has anyone else read it?

JP
 >> Stay informed about: Lewis and Occam's Razor -- more exact quote? 

"JP" <janetska.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in news:1166711517.311239.135010
@i12g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

....
> Human conciousness is a fascinating topic , probably ouside our ability
> to fully comprehend.
> Not sure this is the right post but will remain.
>
> I have begun to re-read the Screwtape Letters after a first read many
> moons past. Maybe worth starting a new thread on the book if there's
> an interest. Has anyone else read it?
>
> JP

As to the mechanism of human consciousness:

"Myself when young did eagerly frequent
Doctor and Saint, and heard great Argument
About it and about: but evermore
Came out by the same Door as in I went."
- Fizerald's Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Perhaps it is not as futile as that, but at this point in my life, I am
starting to come to the very reluctant conclusion that how isn't quite so
important as what -- we *are* conscious, and for the most part should
concentrate on what we can do to become better and happier (or at least
less miserable) examples of consciousness.

That being said, I support the end of this thread and the substitution of
one on Screwtape, which I (and most people in the group, I suspect) have
read more than once.

First off, it's one of the most widely read Christian apologetics, because
of its form -- people like reading about devils a lot more than saints or
angels (perhaps because they can be made more believable characters). Also
the device of negative example (with an occasional truth breaking through
the 'Lowerarchy' party line) is novel and effective, certainly more than
most exhortations...

RA
 >> Stay informed about: Lewis and Occam's Razor -- more exact quote? 

On 19 Dec 2006 22:25:15 -0800, darylgene.RemoveThis@aol.com wrote:

> It is so intriquing, the point at which after the
>> synapses fire and action/thought occur that one then has the ability to
>> choose, direct, intend one's course of thought or action by being aware
>> of multiple factors and the innumerable other influences that go into
>> decisions.
>>
>> very intriquing...JP
>
> If the thought occurs after the synapses fire how could you direct it?
> The thought has to be prior, causing the synapses to fire, doesn't it?
> Otherwise the synapse firing, the phisio-chemical nature of the neuron
> would be doing the directing, not the thought that resulted.
>
> Daryl


I don't recall who besides Rand (prob Aristotle and maybe Lewis said
that the only real free will choice we have is whether to let the current
thought run a little further or not.

This fits with some of my yoga experience. Hm, and Plato's metaphor about
the chariot with a good horse and a bad one, and the soul as the driver.
The yogic traditions have a similar metaphor, more complicated.

Stimulus/response, kneejerk responses, some go through the judgement part
of the brain and some not. Oh, and Lewis's metaphor in DISCARDED IMAGE
about the belly as citizens, the heart as police, and the head as
philsophers/executives. Most 'choices' and actions the citizens can handle
themselves, some need the police; some need the higher
judgement/intuition/wisdom, the buck stops there.


Bree
 >> Stay informed about: Lewis and Occam's Razor -- more exact quote?