During Patricia Churchland's interview, she was asked, of all the things she was pursing, why she was pursuing the philosophical appeal. Her response was that the traditional questions that philosophers have wanted to answer since the time period when Plato existed have to do with the nature of knowledge and the nature of consciousness. She believes that if we understand the brain we will then be able to understand the nature of knowledge and the nature of consciousness. When she describes the functions of the brain she believes that there is nothing other than the cells and the way they are put together. It is a whole interactive set of neurons that control things such as the feelings associated with pain and falling in love, for example.
She also goes on to speak about a meeting she had with The Dalai Lama, a Buddhist monk and spiritual leader of Tibet. During this meeting her and a few other neuroscientists, gave him a tutorial on the brain because he was interested in knowing what they were working on to be able to understand and think about things more wisely. Patricia Churchland liked the fact that The Dalai Lama was open-minded and didn't only believe in certain things solely based on his religious beliefs, but he was willing to accept the facts presented.
I, much like The Dalai Lama, am able to be a bit open minded about taking in all the facts that say that we are made up of molecules, proteins, and neurons; just matter. Although this explanation can seem fit for someone with a virgin mind, for lack of a better term, it doesn't fit into what I believe in. I am able to take in the information depending on what standpoint I look at it from. I could easily accept this as being the bottom line if I see it from a medical, scientific, or philosophical point of view. However, portions of those explanations are unacceptable facts when I view it in a religious and moral manner.
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