Self Awareness
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- Published on Thursday, 10 November 2011 07:07
- Written by John Draper
- Hits: 1832
Because we are "self-aware", religious people argue that we therefore have a soul. Since a soul cannot be found in our body, it must be spiritual and not material so could have a separate existence e.g. in heaven or hell and for eternity. There is nothing to wear out! I wish I could believe it. But does self-awareness prove we have a soul? Biological science has shown that we can think with our brain - no soul is needed. (See neurophilosopher Patricia Churchland and Morality comes from the brain, not a soul) but where does self-awareness come from? First, how do we know that we are self-aware? It seems to be self-evident because we think, we know we exist, we can talk about it and hear others tell about their self-awareness. Perhaps persuasive. But why would we think that we are unique? Why would we think that animals are not self-aware? Maybe they are but because they have not developed a form of communicating that we can understand, we don't know about it. Have you ever watched a dog chasing a rabbit or sheep? The dog will anticipate where the rabbit/sheep are headed and run towards that spot. He is clearly thinking and applying some form of logic. Other animals such as chimpanzees will often act just like humans so clearly demonstrate an ability to think abstractly. If animals think logically and abstractly, are they also self-aware? Based on their behaviour self-awareness would be quite possible. So do they have a soul too? Are they capable of sin too? Or was there no original sin for them so they are "good" and destined for animal heaven?
Some animals are obviously smarter than others so is there a point at which they become self-aware and have a soul? Seems likely. The alternative of course is that there is no such thing as a soul - thinking is just a result of chemical and electrical reactions in our biological brains. A pity - if I could only work up a belief in a soul then I'd be able to live forever in heaven. Another problem, I'd first have to believe that believing in something, by itself, makes it true. Unfortunately, that's too much to ask of anyone who bothers to think.
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2012-05-09 01:05:54 | Vulcan Eager - Supposing that animals too are self-aware...
Supposing that animals too are self-aware, what then? That still does not explain where this awareness comes from.
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2012-10-01 01:29:00 | Paran Haslett - Seeds of self awareness
Being a christian, I belive that some form of self-awareness was present at the creation of the universe (i.e it has always existed). Where does an atheist claim that self-awareness comes from?
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2012-10-01 03:24:19 | John Draper
Self awareness is related to the brain that we have and does not come from anything else. There is no evidence to suppose that it exists independently of our brain nor that it exists independently of the individual who is self aware. I don't know how self-awareness happens nor do I need to know. So I cannot answer the question "Where does it come from?". But not knowing where it came from in no way proves anything in particular about it and it certainly does not prove the existence of a creator. However, feel free to believe what you want. But remember that wanting something to be true, does not make it true.
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2012-10-02 00:41:59 | Paran Haslett
Please note that I am not making the strong claim that there must be a creator, I am makeing the lesser claim that at least the allowance for something to become self-aware must have been present at all stages in our history (including the very beginning). I think to say differently would be like changing the rules for a board-game halfway through or invoking the laws of magic. If you agree to these premises then what could athiests concievably claim that allowance to look like, what form could it take?
I realise that knowing almost anything for certain is a problem (too much exposure to Descartes) but I am encouraging to speculate and present a theory that meets the criteria.
Some animals can recognise their own image in a mirror including magpies and monkeys.