What Links the Physical and Metaphysical Realms?

[Loren Booda]

What phenomena bound both the physical and the metaphysical? That is, those which have physical effect that cannot be attributed to a physical cause, or those which have a purely mathematical basis for the most fundamental physics. Some examples might include the statistics of the Bell inequality and the commonality of certain equations in many areas of physics.

 

[verty]

I don't see that the subjective can cause the objective, so I don't see how one could judge that some physical effect cannot be attributed to a physical cause. I think the proper conclusion would be to say that we don't quite understand what causes it.

Similarly, if we lack evidence for abiogenesis, we shouldn't reason that a cause can't be attributed, but that we don't quite understand the cause yet.

In fact, no one has a light meter than can show the sun is shining; it tells us information about the light, but our theory says the sun is shining. Our theories provide causes, so this is a matter of how one chooses/creates theories.

 

[Royce]

Thought, emotion, dreams, for a few; any conscious event that cause the physical body to change state in any way is an example of the subjective or metaphysical interacting with and effecting the objective, the physical.

 

[verty]

any conscious event that cause the physical body to change state in any way is an example of the subjective or metaphysical interacting with and effecting the objective, the physical.

That begs the question because you start "any conscious event that CAUSES...".

 

[PIT2]

That begs the question because you start "any conscious event that CAUSES...".

Do u think its a coincidence that peoples bodies generally attempt do things that generate pleasant subjective experiences, and attempt to avoid behaviour that causes unpleasant subjective experiences?

 

[Royce]

That begs the question because you start "any conscious event that CAUSES...".

Perhaps I wasn't very clear. "any conscious event" is meant to mean any thought, dream, memory, emotion etc.
All of these are subjective phenomena. I don't think that there can be any question that these subjective things causes our physical bodies to change state even if it is the simple movement of a finger done intentionally to write my thoughts in this reply.

 

[baywax]

Thought, emotion, dreams, for a few; any conscious event that cause the physical body to change state in any way is an example of the subjective or metaphysical interacting with and effecting the objective, the physical.

In total disagreement I'll point out that thoughts, dreams and emotions are all physical events. What causes them is also physical. We are physical. We are unable to process metaphysical events due to the nature of our physicalness.

After all the research that has gone into exploring the machination of emotion, thought and dream processes I find it odd how they have retained the "metaphysical" label from the dark ages of "science".

The only thing that I see having a root in a metaphysical state is energy. There appears to be no understanding of where energy started, ends, comes from or goes to. And this confirms that, operating as physical beings, we are unable to describe or study anything metaphysical.

 

[verty]

All of these are subjective phenomena. I don't think that there can be any question that these subjective things causes our physical bodies to change state...

Don't you think it's more feasible for the objective to have caused the subjective, that the change in physical state causes the subjective phenomenon?

 

[Royce]

Don't you think it's more feasible for the objective to have caused the subjective, that the change in physical state causes the subjective phenomenon?

I think that they are both interactive. It has been shown and experienced that the state of our physical bodies effect our subjective moods, emotions, thoughts and yes, dreams. It has also been shown and experienced that pure thought can and does effect the condition or state of our bodies.

Having said that, I also believe that they can also be somewhat independent.
We can have thoughts without influencing our bodies and without the influence of our body. Pure subjective thought does exist and is a reality just as pure physical phenomena exist and is a reality.

The interaction of the seemingly separate events is the only time and place that I can think of that conclusively shows the interaction of both physical and metaphysical.

The claim that all thought is purely of physical origin just doesn't hold. Consciousness cannot be shown to be purely physical nor can thought, intention nor will. If it were all physical and thus determinate there would be no new thoughts, ideas, inventions, music, writings nor art. How could non random or even random electro-chemical processes compose Beethoven's
symphonies or paint De Vinci's Madonna. Mankind are creative and original and unique not physical response machines.

 

[Rade]

What phenomena bound both the physical and the metaphysical?...

I suggest the phenomenon called Homo sapiens via the process called scientific method. For, whereas metaphysics can establish that there are physical entities with attributes, only science can establish the statistical nature of the attributes. So, consider your example of "the statistics of the Bell inequality". It is via metaphysics that quantum entities (such as photons, electrons) exist that follow the Bell inequality (that is, they are the metaphysically given perceived by Homo sapiens, as well as many other animals), but it is science via actions of Homo sapiens alone that establish the statistics of the wave-particle duality attribute of the metaphysical entities that exist.

 

[baywax]

The claim that all thought is purely of physical origin just doesn't hold. Consciousness cannot be shown to be purely physical nor can thought, intention nor will. If it were all physical and thus determinate there would be no new thoughts, ideas, inventions, music, writings nor art. How could non random or even random electro-chemical processes compose Beethoven's
symphonies or paint De Vinci's Madonna. Mankind are creative and original and unique not physical response machines.

Thought is a medium. Its an electromagnetic medium that reacts to stimulus. Like a pencil, its only as creative and exact as its owner.

There is practically an infinite number of combinations and variations of stimuli in our physical environment (including as many physcial thoughts). Don't you think Beethoven's work, DaVinci's work and everyone else's inventions, compositions and writings could have been produced out of the (practically) infinite number of combinations of these stimuli? The works are produced by the billions of neuronal impulses that physically react to the stimulus.

I beg that you re-consider your metaphysical position on the origin of thought because it is physical and that is exactly how geniuses arrive at their works of genius. They have very active neuronal bundles (brains) and the bundles interpret the surrounding, stimulating environment in ways that only a genius with that rare and very active electromagnetic organ can do.

I do not dispute the likelyhood of a metaphysical or "beyond" physical origin of energy (since I cannot prove it either way). However, thought has empirically been shown to be a purely physical interaction of chemicals and resultant EM impulses in an organic, living cellular structure.

Its actually funny how this fact validates "metaphysical" claims like "telepathy" and "psychic awareness" because with neurons pulsing EM waves it is obvious that these specifically configured EM waves will (physically) influence the physiology (neurons) of other subjects.

 

[Loren Booda]

Can a material being ever realize the metaphysical?

 

[Royce]

Thought is a medium. Its an electromagnetic medium that reacts to stimulus. Like a pencil, its only as creative and exact as its owner.

I think that is the brain that reacts to thought. It is this reaction that is seen and detected as electromagnetic waves or actions.

There is practically an infinite number of combinations and variations of stimuli in our physical environment (including as many physical thoughts). Don't you think Beethoven's work, DaVinci's work and everyone else's inventions, compositions and writings could have been produced out of the (practically) infinite number of combinations of these stimuli? The works are produced by the billions of neuronal impulses that physically react to the stimulus.

Yes, I agree that there are virtually infinite stimuli and billions of interconnections; however, there is not an infinite amount of time. Creativity involves planning, logic, reasoning, intent and purpose. It is far more ordered than merely selecting from a nearly infinite set of stimuli and connections.

I beg that you re-consider your metaphysical position on the origin of thought because it is physical and that is exactly how geniuses arrive at their works of genius. They have very active neuronal bundles (brains) and the bundles interpret the surrounding, stimulating environment in ways that only a genius with that rare and very active electromagnetic organ can do.

It is only an assumption that thought is physical in origin; and, so far as I know, there is not a shred of empirical evidence that this is or is not true.

I do not dispute the likelihood of a metaphysical or "beyond" physical origin of energy (since I cannot prove it either way). However, thought has empirically been shown to be a purely physical interaction of chemicals and resultant EM impulses in an organic, living cellular structure.

The question is, is it thought that causes the electrochemical reactions or is it the electrochemical reaction that causes what we experience as thought?

Is it metaphysical or physical?

Its actually funny how this fact validates "metaphysical" claims like "telepathy" and "psychic awareness" because with neurons pulsing EM waves it is obvious that these specifically configured EM waves will (physically) influence the physiology (neurons) of other subjects.

That is one possible but unproven explanation. There is also the also unproven explanation that we are all part or one consciousness and thus linked through this one consciousness. Again is it metaphysical or physical.

 

[baywax]

I think that is the brain that reacts to thought. It is this reaction that is seen and detected as electromagnetic waves or actions.

The brain (which is a concentration of neurons) reacts to stimulus. This is a proven fact. Proven for over 30 years by neuroscience. The brain is our evolutionary survival trait. It developed in humans the same way a tiger's stripes developed as camoflage for it. The results were survival. The result of the survival is what we know today as the endangered tiger.

Yes, I agree that there are virtually infinite stimuli and billions of interconnections; however, there is not an infinite amount of time.

You may have to prove your stance on this! Time is a concept. Are concepts limited by a finite or infinite state?

Creativity involves planning, logic, reasoning, intent and purpose. It is far more ordered than merely selecting from a nearly infinite set of stimuli and connections.

I beg to differ here. Creativity can be as spontaneous as a flame in a fire. Planning, logic and reasoning are the stuff of planning, logic and reason. Creativity has no such defined boundaries. Of course you can use planning, logic and reasoning to be creative but you can also use purely sporatic and unrelated events and phenomena.

It is only an assumption that thought is physical in origin; and, so far as I know, there is not a shred of empirical evidence that this is or is not true.

Not a shred of evidence except that only physical, living organisms have thoughts. And, it is only when there is the physiology of neurological networks present that thoughts take place. The other evidence overwhelmingly points to thoughts being created by chemical impulses that are stimulated by stimuli in the environment. The "environment" can be the environment outside the brain and it can also be inside the brain. Both environments act to produce stimulated neurons which produce thoughts. Some thoughts are destructive and some are happy ones. Some thoughts are initiated by stimulus from other thoughts in the brain and some are initiated by thoughts in other's brains or by non-biological units in the environment.

The question is, is it thought that causes the electrochemical reactions or is it the electrochemical reaction that causes what we experience as thought?

It is the chemoelectromagnetic reaction that causes a thought. Its rooted in ancient evolutionary sequences and today it has become rather complicated. But, basically, where there's stimulation and an organism with "ganglia" or "cerebralganglia" there is a chemical reaction. Today we call that reaction a "thought".

Is it metaphysical or physical?

That's like me asking "what caused energy to take place?". But, for the purpose of this thread, I'd define the physiological response of thinking or "thought" as the product of the "stimulus + response" equation.

 

[sneez]

There may not be such dichtomy as physical and metaphysical. It is our way of seeing and assumptions that lead to this.

So far the physics camp concentrates on matter, that is what you mean physical. The metaphysical dichtomy is only an assumption and many phonomena which are called that are in reality physical.

Subjectivity vs objectivity is also result of current philosophy of science. Some of what today's science calls objective is indeed subjective. There is another way of looking at things that overcomes this dichtomy.

 

[baywax]

There may not be such dichtomy as physical and metaphysical. It is our way of seeing and assumptions that lead to this.

So far the physics camp concentrates on matter, that is what you mean physical. The metaphysical dichtomy is only an assumption and many phonomena which are called that are in reality physical.

Subjectivity vs objectivity is also result of current philosophy of science. Some of what today's science calls objective is indeed subjective. There is another way of looking at things that overcomes this dichtomy.

I'd have to agree that there is probably an overlap and a synthesis of all things physical and metaphysical. But, metaphorically speaking, we are fish in water, not on land.

As fish we have no way of knowing anything other than swimming and being fish. Until we evolve some lungs and walk around on the surface, we are fish and only fish. We can't know or understand land and air. We only know fish, water and more water.

 

[Rade]

Can a material being ever realize the metaphysical?

Let us define "realize" as an operation [O] by a material being of bringing a metaphysical given [M] into being (eg, to make it real to ). Thus to realize [M] results in a transformation of both and [M] such that a new being is formed {[M]+}. I take {[M]+} superposed to be [M] "operationally realized". Thus I conclude that the metaphysical can only be realized by a material being as a veiled reality (never directly).

 

[baywax]

Let us define "realize" as an operation [O] by a material being of bringing a metaphysical given [M] into being (eg, to make it real to ). Thus to realize [M] results in a transformation of both and [M] such that a new being is formed {[M]+}. I take {[M]+} superposed to be [M] "operationally realized". Thus I conclude that the metaphysical can only be realized by a material being as a veiled reality (never directly).

When we believe we've have had an "encounter" with a "metaphysical" occurrence what is it that we believe:(?)

Do we believe our physical reaction to a stimulus or do we believe the stimiulus itself?

 

[Rade]

When we believe we've have had an "encounter" with a "metaphysical" occurrence what is it that we believe:(?)

Why do you use the word believe?, do you see it anywhere in my post ? There is a reason not, it is because the operation [O] in my example, or "encounter" as you say, is an operation that results in "knowledge", that is, 0.0 % belief is involved when we say that "a material being realizes a metaphysical entity". Belief would occur only in those material objects that do not realize a metaphysical object but instead realize an object outside the metaphysical (an object incorporeal, supernatural, transcendental).

Suppose the material being a red blood cell, and next to it a metaphysical entity called a O2 molecule. When the blood cell performs an operation on the molecule and via diffusion it moves across the cell membrane, after the encounter the blood cell does not believe it now forms a union with the molecule, it knows it. Such is my theory of knowledge as relates to material beings and their interaction with the metaphysically given. Here I suggest that knowledge as a concept is a characteristic of all material beings, not just neurons in living entities, whereas belief is so constrained. That is, while knowledge may be (or not) within neurons, belief must be.

 

[baywax]

Why do you use the word believe?, do you see it anywhere in my post ? There is a reason not, it is because the operation [O] in my example, or "encounter" as you say, is an operation that results in "knowledge", that is, 0.0 % belief is involved when we say that "a material being realizes a metaphysical entity". Belief would occur only in those material objects that do not realize a metaphysical object but instead realize an object outside the metaphysical (an object incorporeal, supernatural, transcendental).

Suppose the material being a red blood cell, and next to it a metaphysical entity called a O2 molecule. When the blood cell performs an operation on the molecule and via diffusion it moves across the cell membrane, after the encounter the blood cell does not believe it now forms a union with the molecule, it knows it. Such is my theory of knowledge as relates to material beings and their interaction with the metaphysically given. Here I suggest that knowledge as a concept is a characteristic of all material beings, not just neurons in living entities, whereas belief is so constrained. That is, while knowledge may be (or not) within neurons, belief must be.

OK Rade, let me try to assimilate what you've come up with about knowledge. first let me use a definition of knowledge to help myself.

cognition: the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Knowledge is the awareness and understanding of facts, truths or information gained in the form of experience or learning (a posteriori), or through introspection (a priori). Knowledge is an appreciation of the possession of interconnected details which, in isolation, are of lesser value.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge
Epistemology, from the Greek words episteme (knowledge) and logos (word/speech) is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature, origin and scope of knowledge.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_(philosophy)

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:knowledge&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

So far these definitions of knowledge show a requirement of cognition. The cognition may entail reasoning, understanding facts, appreciation of interconnected detail etc.

I don't see an eurythrocyte picking up an oxygen molecule "knowing" or gaining "knowledge" from this act. Its only for the consciously aware and cognitively active organism to derive "knowledge" from this act.

Now i may be over representing your analogy. please let me know if I am.

Here is a definition of belief. I believe it may be similar to the definition of knowing or knowledge, but let's find out!

any cognitive content held as true

impression: a vague idea in which some confidence is placed; "his impression of her was favorable"; "what are your feelings about the crisis?"; "it strengthened my belief in his sincerity"; "I had a feeling that she was lying"

wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Belief is assent to a proposition.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belief

Agreement with a given world view. Eg Belief in the existence of God. (JA)

www.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/~macer/biodict.htm[/URL]

Often we can't say where we got a certain belief from. Much of what we believe isn'ta result of scientific reasoning or experience but rather from some idea lying about in our minds.

Even this doesn't account for some notions of the world which most people seem to hold. So well-off people believe that the Poor are so because they are also of low Intelligence - the Working Class Biography doesn't bear this out (see also Working-Class Contributions to modern civilisation). ...

[url]www.embassy.org.nz/encycl/b1aencyc.htm[/url][/quote]

Close resemblance to "knowing". Belief requires cognition as well.

What is basic to knowledge is that you must believe the surrounding facts and the "information gained" before you accept it as knowledge.

Quite often its the other way around. You gain knowledge only to find out later that the knowledge you gained is completely wrong.

Denial is a form of belief in that even when faced with overwhelming evidence and knowledge (eg. a broken leg) your belief system may not allow you to accept that knowledge.

So, facts are not knowledge. It is the acceptance and redundantly the belief of facts that make them knowledge.

But, how about information. What makes a fact "information"?

 

[Rade]

It comes to definitions:

To "know" ...to be cognizant of ...
To be "cognizant" ...to realize via flow of information

Our question of interest is how:
"a material being realizes a metaphysical entity"

Note, the question is to a very specific situation--to realize a metaphysical entity.

My claim is that only via "knowledge" can one realize a "metaphysical entity", and only via "belief" can one realize a "non metaphysical entity".

As you say, both knowledge and belief allow for a state of being "cognizant" (to realize via flow of information), but the difference is on what factual basis is the source of the information--if metaphysical then knowledge results, if non-metaphysical (eg. transcendent) then belief results.

So, using above example, red blood cell can come to "know" flow of information of O2 molecules from outside to inside cell, the reason being that (1) red blood cell is a material being, and (2) O2 molecule is a metaphysical entity.

Of course, my understand of this may not be yours if we define terms differently. But I think it very important that we associate "knowledge" with the metaphysical, and "belief" with the non-metaphysical, because "science" is for me defined as "uncertain knowledge"--science by definition deals only with observation of the metaphysical via process of knowledge, with 0.0 % belief (again, because in my philosophy, belief deals 100% with the non-metaphysical).

Taken to its extreme, my position requires that if you wish to study the incorporeal, supernatural, transcendental it is not science you will use, but religion and/or philosophy, for by definition the "supernatural" (the non metaphysical) is outside the laws of nature, thus outside science.

 

[heusdens]

Thought, emotion, dreams, for a few; any conscious event that cause the physical body to change state in any way is an example of the subjective or metaphysical interacting with and effecting the objective, the physical.

But are you aware that anything that happens in your brain is physical? Including your dreams, emotions, thoughts, etc.?

Consciousness can not be unphysical, because you can interact with the world.