X-Message-Number: 16093
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: layered mind model 
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 10:41:17 +0100

Right from a child I had always thought of the layered model as being my
perception of reality.

The reaction to take your hand away from the fire may be learned, but it
happens faster than a considered thought.

People who are successful in life could well be people whose minds control
their bodies more effectively. Terms such as "self discipline" take on
specific meaning in this context. When the mind body link is less effective,
addictions and "bad habits" can take hold. Medical treatments that "require
co-operation of the patient" such as lifestyle changes, keeping up with
medication or diets, or submitting to invasive investigation or treatment
are difficult or maybe even impossible.

The other post quoted below mentions "Farscape". This series has a
biological space ship that has an alien "pilot" which is somehow grafted
into it. The thoughts of the ship are fairly basic and only communicated to
the pilot whereas the pilot can speak but accepts commands from the other
crew.

By analogy, a human could consist of a "ship" and "pilot", the ship being
the body and the pilot the mind. However the analogy with the fiction breaks
down inasmuch as the mind is the program and data in the brain rather than a
separate entity.

Sincerely, John de Rivaz
my homepage links to Longevity Report, Fractal Report, music, Inventors'
report, an autobio and various other projects:
http://www.geocities.com/longevityrpt
http://www.autopsychoice.com - http://www.cryonics-europe.org -
http://www.porthtowan.com

> Message #16080
> From: "George Smith" <>
> References: <>
> Subject: Human Identity - a mix of hardware and software?
<del>
> the evidence actually supports a layered mind model with an "animal"
> physiological platform lying "beneath" a cultural language-based
collection
> of skills.  Only the interplay between the two can result in our
particular
> form of human consciousness and sense of self.
<del>
> Message #16084
> Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 21:59:29 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Scott Badger <>
> Subject: The Identity Issue ... Again
> I enjoy it when I see TV shows deal with the identity
> issue.  Tonight I watched "Farscape" on the Sci-Fi
> channel. One of the main charaters (Chrighton) was



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