COMMENSAL ISSUE 90
The Newsletter of the Philosophical Discussion Group
Of British Mensa
Number 90 : January 1998
ARTICLES
11th December 1997 : Nina Burton
PHILOSOPHY AND EVOLUTION
It’s taken me a while to get round to writing, but I have
been reading the newsletter with interest. I must admit I was
a little intimidated about contributing as I know little about
anything, but I like the idea of new members raising questions
so here's a sort of (rather long winded) question.
Most religious ideas, and much of the philosophy I have
read, start from the basic premise that man is the ultimate
form of evolution. I have always believed this is not the case
and that human beings are just a step (albeit an import one, as
we are the first truly self aware form of life) in the evolutionary
ladder. This then leaves me with a slight dilemma on my beliefs
and understanding of the existence of a human soul or spirit.
After all why would we have an existence beyond are physical
selves if we are just a passing stage ? I would be interested
to hear members’ views on this matter, and if anyone can recommend
any good books etc.
Nina Burton
Nina : Glad to hear from you, at last ! My own view is that
there is no such thing as a soul or spirit, if something separate
from the brain is intended. I’m supposed to be leading a special
project within ISPE (International Society for Philosophical Enquiry)
on Eternal Soul : Is there such a thing , or will our soul die with
the body ? but we haven’t got far yet ! There are books beyond
counting on the issue, if you take it to include seeking to explain
how our minds are made up, what consciousness is and whether there’s
more to us that our bodies & brains. A stimulating little book is
Paul Davies’ Are we Alone ? Implications of the Discovery of
Extraterrestrial Life (Penguin, 1995). More directly relevant is
Terence Penelhum’s Survival and Disembodied Existence
(RKP, 1980).
Then, there are such as :-
- Daniel Dennett : Consciousness Explained (Penguin, 1991);
Kinds of Minds - Towards an Understanding of Consciousness
(Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1996)
- Roger Penrose : The Emperor’s New Mind - Concerning
Computers, Minds and the Laws of Physics (Vintage, 1990);
Shadows of the Mind - a Search for the Missing Science
of Consciousness (Vintage, 1995)
- John Searle : The Rediscovery of the Mind (MIT Press, 1994)
- Francis Crick : The Astonishing Hypothesis - The
Scientific Search for the Soul (Simon & Schuster, 1994)
- Colin Blakemore & Susan Greenfield (Eds) : Mindwaves
(Basil Blackwell, 1989).
..... and much else besides !
Theo