HELP! Mind is a machine?

[HillsongUnited]

NOTE: I would only like Catholic/Protestant takes on this question.

Now then, in terms of our minds–which I believe are immaterial–someone once drew an analogy between a computer. This person, a materialist, said that our minds are like the lyrics/sound of an mp3 song stored in the computer. We can’t see the lyrics just like our thoughts so this person asserted that our minds are like computers. Can you find a way around this?

Thank you and God bless!

 

[Michael19682]

NOTE: I would only like Catholic/Protestant takes on this question.

Now then, in terms of our minds–which I believe are immaterial–someone once drew an analogy between a computer. This person, a materialist, said that our minds are like the lyrics/sound of an mp3 song stored in the computer. We can’t see the lyrics just like our thoughts so this person asserted that our minds are like computers. Can you find a way around this?

Thank you and God bless!

I’m sorry, HillsongUnited. I believe all religions, not only the Catholic Protestant opinions that you solicit, will be “united” in saying that only faith can tell us otherwise. We just can’t see our spirit self. Therefore, we walk by faith in this matter, not by sight.

 

[Joe_5859]

NOTE: I would only like Catholic/Protestant takes on this question.

Now then, in terms of our minds–which I believe are immaterial–someone once drew an analogy between a computer. This person, a materialist, said that our minds are like the lyrics/sound of an mp3 song stored in the computer. We can’t see the lyrics just like our thoughts so this person asserted that our minds are like computers. Can you find a way around this?

Thank you and God bless!

If we open up the computer, can’t we see evidence of the data even if we can’t read it?

 

[GEddie]

Or more likely, the head is the radio set, and the mind is the music.

During a power outage, although nothing is heard, the music remains in existence.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Aloysium]

. . . Can you find a way around this? . . .

nope. It is like a computer.
It’s an analogy, which fails very quickly, but speaks vaguely to the mind’s ability to organize information.
An ant hill is like a small city. The earth is like a shining blue ball in space. Certain political systems resemble a brood of vipers.
Now if your friend says he is a computer, and is serious, that is sounding like schizophrenia.

 

[HillsongUnited]

Never mind everyone, I was able to get Edward Feser to answer the question, lol. Thank you!

 

[HillsongUnited]

nope. It is like a computer.
It’s an analogy, which fails very quickly, but speaks vaguely to the mind’s ability to organize information.
An ant hill is like a small city. The earth is like a shining blue ball in space. Certain political systems resemble a brood of vipers.
Now if your friend says he is a computer, and is serious, that is sounding like schizophrenia.

Lol, I love your comment. So true.

 

[grannymh]

Never mind everyone, I was able to get Edward Feser to answer the question, lol. Thank you!

On the other hand, I am interested in how ordinary folk describe the mind as the intellective faculty of our spiritual soul.

 

[SecretCatholic]

To materialists, everything is a “machine”, because all things are just collections of particles functioning together. The mind is just a product of this interaction, as they see it. Some call it a computer, others a heat engine. The computer is the closest thing we have to compare the brain or mind to.

The day that computers can do everything the mind can, though, they’ll no more be computers than abacuses are computers. It’s just another analogy and another way to psychologically “put down” the transcendental human being. One day we’re just “smart animals”, another day we’re “computers”.

 

[TarkanAttila]

In some respects it may well be. Chemicals affect the brain, and can affect how you think and what you think about.

That said, your mind also contains things that are not likely to be found materially in your brain. For example, love. I mean Christian love rather than erotic or emotional love, which are partially chemical reactions. But Christian love is not merely an act of the intellect, but sometimes an act contrary to the intellect, yet perfectly rational.

 

[GEddie]

In some respects it may well be. Chemicals affect the brain, and can affect how you think and what you think about.

That said, your mind also contains things that are not likely to be found materially in your brain. For example, love. I mean Christian love rather than erotic or emotional love, which are partially chemical reactions. But Christian love is not merely an act of the intellect, but sometimes an act contrary to the intellect, yet perfectly rational.

Sorry to buzz you, but if any action is contrary to the intellect, ISTM that it would be perforce irrational, even if perfectly justified.

ICXC NIKA

 

[ynotzap]

The brain can store sense memories, experiments have proven this, electrodes have been attached to the brain and people heard symphonies. The ability to abstract concepts from sense impressions, and then proceed to abstract concepts from concepts which are not material is the power of the soul, the intellective agent. Science will never discover an idea, a concept, knowledge, love, truth, math, law, these truths can only be understood, not examined physically. The osciloscope can detect activity in the brain but that is because the intellect is active, and the physcal effects are signs of that activity, the intellect a spiritual faculty in our present mode of existence it is dependent (extrinsically) on matter, the brain for its info on the outside world through the senses Self-consciosness is a feat that can’t be duplicated by matter, it can be produced by a spritual entity, the soul through its power of intelligence Understanding is spiritual, a computer can only record what an understanding programs into it,by a programmer

 

[GEddie]

On the other hand, I am interested in how ordinary folk describe the mind as the intellective faculty of our spiritual soul.

When my little nephew was curious about the difference between our mind and our brain, I told him, “Your brain is part of your head; your mind is part of your soul.”

(I understand that, philosophically, the soul does not have “parts.” But I was not at all sure how to explain “process” or “faculty” to a seven-year old!)

ICXC NIKA