Shadow Matter,Psi-phenomena and Survival

[Alexander1304]

This is not evidence at all. Hydro- or even microcephalic conditions have many causes and features. High IQ individuals with hydrocephaly are evidence for the adaptability of brain function.

Examples like this are clear indications that the proponent is grabbing at straws. As Stokes has adequately pointed out in the second paragraph you cite any shadow brain under Wassermann's hypothesis would faithfully replicate the normal matter brain. It is nonsensical to advocate that shadow matter brains change in personality and memory in line with the normal matter brain (they would have to otherwise how could he account for personality change and memory loss over time?) yet claim that when the normal matter brain is damaged the shadow matter brain takes over.

In addition how can he account for conditions that, unlike hydrocephaly, do not develop gradually? If his hypothesis that; shadow matter brains follow our normal ones around, disconnect to live on separately after our death and take on brain function during brain damage was true then we would never see brain damage. Indeed that would be good evidence that the brain is not the seat of the mind.

Wassermann is just becoming desperate to protect his faith in the paranormal and life after death by modifying his hypothesis in an ad hoc manner that often contradicts his previous statements.

Ryan,
Thanks for the reply and I agree with what you said.The only thing,the second paragraph you mentioned is not of Stolkes,but of Richard Carrier from infidels - his kind direct reply to me when I asked his opinion about this hypothesis.I wish I could e-mail to Douglas Stokes! - just don't have his e-mail address
But that's minor point
And regarding to Wassermann's claim that this would demonstrate that shadow matter brain could develop normally Stoke writes in his review: "He does not explain how this is supposed to occur if the SMB is constructed as an exact copy of the ordinary matter body."

 

[Alexander1304]

Wassermann is just becoming desperate to protect his faith in the paranormal and life after death by modifying his hypothesis in an ad hoc manner that often contradicts his previous statements.

Douglas Stokes also noted this in his review,pointing that "In general, he seems to vacillate between his version of shadow matter and the more orthodox version in which shadow matter is assumed to interact only gravitationally, thus indicating that he has not thought the properties of shadow matter in his theory through in a consistent manner.