Is identity an illusion?

[corydoras]

Unfortunately my mrs memory is shot and i hear her talking about my memories i told her in the past thinking they are hers so is she me?

Not sure memory has any credance in anything ,a 100 people could witness an event and you could get 100 variances ,you then cannot trust your memory to be an actual memory or a fabrication you think is a memory.

 

What is real?

That's one of the best posts you've ever made Dave. I wish I could "like" it twice!

[jaa]

Unfortunately my mrs memory is shot and i hear her talking about my memories i told her in the past thinking they are hers so is she me?

Not sure memory has any credance in anything ,a 100 people could witness an event and you could get 100 variances ,you then cannot trust your memory to be an actual memory or a fabrication you think is a memory.

 

What is real?

That's the thing with (episodic) memories, that if you share them with someone, you can end up incorporating what other people saw or recall, that you didn't and then you come to believe it's your own memory. For someone to be you they'd have to have all of your memories from exactly your point of view and all of your DNA as well, so however much shared memory you have no-one will ever be exactly you.

 

It's certainly true that you can't trust your memory as much as you think (and I include myself). If you keep a long term diary or record of anything, and re-read it years later, you'll often find what you wrote about something on the day isn't how you recall it years later.

[chesters1]

That's one of the best posts you've ever made Dave. I wish I could "like" it twice!

Now now just because i showed you my bulls doesnt mean you can 'like' even once

And its chesters1 dave is a different person completely but you can call me chesters a roman fort on hadrians wall if you wish

Edited October 19, 2016 by chesters1

[Phone]

Chesters1,

 

I do believe this thread is an attempt to validate the "50/50" phenomenon.

 

Like Cory, I often compliment you, to myself, on your absolute denial of commitment.

 

Phone

[chesters1]

I absolutely deny denial exists

[The Flying Tench]

Interesting - I can see that Hindu and Buddhist philosophers would be into this. One of the things that puzzle me about re-incarnation is what it really means to say I am the re-incarnation of somebody when there is no memory or conscious continuity.

A favourite subject of Hindu and Buddhist philosophy and one which I'm sure an acquaintance of mine (who used to be a Hindu monk but is now a hippy singer) could discuss for hours.

More recently, it has been addressed by neuroscientists like Sam Harris.

You can disappear up your own backside on this one. Self is a construct of consciousness and doesn't exist outside of that. Consciousness is a product of the workings of a physical brain which changes over time. Does that mean that you are the same person that you were 10 years ago? Are you still responsible for the actions of the you of 10 years ago?

It depends....

[corydoras]

Interesting - I can see that Hindu and Buddhist philosophers would be into this. One of the things that puzzle me about re-incarnation is what it really means to say I am the re-incarnation of somebody when there is no memory or conscious continuity.

It's funny how the faith of another seems bizarre. I have a similar attitude to the mathematics of souls. For example, if a fertilised human egg splits into two and becomes identical twins does only one twin have a soul or do both? If both where does the other soul come from? In exeptional circumstances two fertilized eggs can fuse together to become one, a chimera. Does the resulting embryo have two souls? If not what happens to the other soul?

[Phone]

All,

 

See Newt's last post in "have a laugh". Best answer yet for this thread.

 

Phone

[chesters1]

It's funny how the faith of another seems bizarre. I have a similar attitude to the mathematics of souls. For example, if a fertilised human egg splits into two and becomes identical twins does only one twin have a soul or do both? If both where does the other soul come from? In exeptional circumstances two fertilized eggs can fuse together to become one, a chimera. Does the resulting embryo have two souls? If not what happens to the other soul?

Does the chimeras spare soul not go back into the soul pot to supply the missing twins one ? I am sure the god that supplies such souls will have a stash somewhere incase of population explosion ,gods aint gods if they dont plan ahead ,50/50 somethings right ,souls shortage would be a disaster for worshippers unless you get a IOU perhaps murderers etc forget to collect theirs or lose the IOU in the wash

Edited October 20, 2016 by chesters1

[Phone]

Chesters1.

 

I'm sure you know, however, for the uninformed. The waiting queue for a soul or maybe a sole is purgatory.

Bet many wondered what that was for - now you know. You have to be specific - about your soul request or you may come back a hollow sinner with a fish in toe (for your sole).

 

Phone