X-Message-Number: 26622
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2005 08:02:33 -0700
Subject: Ear Plugs & Thomas
From: <>

I'm going to make an exception to my usual policy and reply to you 
Thomas, because your 'argument' has been referenced by Flavonoid.

> The critical idea which convinces me that he believes in a soul 
is 
> that a direct and exact copy of a human brain, when revived, does 
not 
> bring the same soul with it.

So you have become convinced that I believe in a soul, because I 
say that a copy does not bring the same soul with it? Well, that 
would be true. I don't think a copy has the same 'soul' as the 
original because I don't believe in souls. I don't think the 
original has a soul, and I don't think the copy has a soul. Nothing 
has a soul.

Unplug your ears and listen carefully: I do not believe in souls. I 
believe in brains. A copy of a brain is not the original brain; 
which is to say, there are statements true of the original, which 
are not true of the copy, and visa versa. Were a copy of a brain 
the original brain, we would count one brain, and not two, because 
they would be the same brain: indeed, this is the only case in 
which every statement true for the 'original' would be true for the 
'copy', and visa versa.

> AS for RBR, it may be best to let him sort out his belief in a 
soul
> for himself.

Do me a favor, Thomas. Ask Mike Perry if I believe in souls. Mike 
and I do not agree. But Mike is an intelligent guy and can 
understand the gist of what I am trying to say. You cannot. Since 
you obviously cannot trust this coming from me, I am asking you to 
take the word of someone you do trust. So ask Mike Perry if I 
believe in souls. And then allow your trust in him to override the 
faulty reasoning of your brain.

Richard B. Riddick

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