Evolution v Creationism

[Askthepizzaguy]

Once again I didn't say evolution has/does not happen, maybe we humans just had a different starting point is all.

Okay, but where, and why a different starting point? Is it because of the Bible, or because of the idea of being related to other life forms on this planet is somehow distasteful? It's not 100% proven, so you can believe what you like. But why, I ask, do you think humans are special? Other than being intelligent and moral?

I'd argue that a well trained, and well-loved, canine companion is fairly moral, loyal, and intelligent. Dolphins are the same way. There are other, lesser forms of intelligence and morality in this world, and it occurs naturally in animals. Like mothers who instinctively guard their young, in spite of their other instinct to survive. It might be un-intelligent instinct but it's also the morally correct thing to do. Other animals eat their children, and I'm not so sure that's the moral thing to do. And which species survived and became the dominant species? The human being, who is intelligent, moral, and loves their children and does not eat them.

Seems morality is naturally selected for!

It's not surprising our bodies share so much DNA with bananas, its the building block of all life. But then, I like to think there is something which humans have that a banana does not... some kind of soul/consciousness. If we don't, we are really just biological robots.

I'd like to think so too, maybe we do have a spirit form. But in this mortal shell, we are operating "just biological robots" as our mode of transportation and corporeal existence. When we die, the homo sapien that we are dies, not our soul. So isn't that shell... just a biological robot? One that breaks down and stops functioning?

Consider if you have a soul, yes maybe we do. I consider our existence to be very much not confined to our little weak mortal bodies. An everlasting soul? I don't know. But I do know our mortal flesh is not divine or godlike, and it is nothing more than an animal. A biological robot, if you will. I command this robot, just as I command my computer to type things. it's just a shell for your consciousness to float around in. When it is gone, you either disappear and get a new one, or your consciousness is gone as well. I'm not sure which, and since I can't stop it from happening, I don't really care. It will happen, then I will find out.

We are biological robots...but not "just" biological robots.

Ah... indeed. I believe that we are something more, I just know not what.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Ah... indeed. I believe that we are something more, I just know not what.

The problem with saying "robots" is that our robots suck

We would be very complex robots...but clearly there is no metaphysical "me" inside my body/mind anywhere making choices. So in that sense we are just robots.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Yeah don't get me wrong our bodies are just biological machines, I would gladly trade mine for an armoured electronic machine with a jet pack and rocket launchers any day.

But I do think there is more to us that just our bodies and brains. Or maybe our brains could be said to be our consciosness/soul. Hmm... any thoughts?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Yeah don't get me wrong our bodies are just biological machines, I would gladly trade mine for an armoured electronic machine with a jet pack and rocket launchers any day.

But I do think there is more to us that just our bodies and brains. Or maybe our brains could be said to be our consciosness/soul. Hmm... any thoughts?

Our brains being our "soul" is certainly the simpler explanation (why suppose the existence of some sort of ephemeral personality or "ghost in the machine"?) and I believe the correct one. For example, when someones brain is damaged, their personality changes. How can damaging just the physical part damage the soul? And how can the soul affect anything in the mind if it isn't made of substance? The greek's theorized that it "curved atoms" or something like that but that seems like a huge stretch to me.

Seems more accurate to say "we don't have souls, but it's better to act like we do". Especially since that's our natural inclination...