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1.4 Existence of Minds: Souls and Free WillVersion 1.2 August 2016                              (Previous Version) The questions in the introduction (Section 0.1.1, paragraph 4) may be refined as we write the Chapter: Are our minds real things? Are they different from the matter of the universe? Are our minds separate from our brains? Are they made of the same stuff as matter but still fundamentally different? How can we explain consciousness? Do we have souls? Where do souls come from? Where were our souls before we were born? Where do they go when we die? Do we go to heaven or hell? Does our soul get reincarnated? Is this life all there is? See 1.4 This chapter covers the mind-body problem, the philosophy of mind, the question of free will and the possibility of the existence of minds without bodies or brains. Chapter 2.7, on Neuroscience, covers in some detail the scientific explanations of how minds evolved from simple sensory systems, to nervous systems, lizard and bird brains and mammalian brains. It explains how the brain stem and evolutionary older parts of the brain provide feedback loops between bodily sensations and visceral emotions and an awareness of self and consciousness. Evolutionary recent parts of the brain, such as the neo-cortex add additional richness to our awareness, language, better planning and more self-control over our primitive selves. Science can't yet fully explain consciousness, and nor do we have a theory of intelligence and emotion, but we are getting there. This Chapter focusses on the philosophical aspects, that are conceptual rather than observational; or common observations that don't require a scientific background.  It refers to scientific results to reinforce points rather be the sole basis of them and to show where some philosophical speculations must be constrained by our understanding of reality. We have a draft plan to discuss minds and brains under the following topic headings:
This is the current summary of our conclusions in this area: Mental events are physical events, our minds and our consciousness are our brains working, physical processes subject to the natural laws of the universe, causal or chaotic: there are other minds like us, but no spirits, no soul, no reincarnation, no ‘transcendental’ free will, yet we struggle on and value this life.  more                                                             Statement 4
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