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katherine's picture

Why not a brain AND a soul?

I agree with the conversation above.  It seems illogical to me to classify behavior as being caused either by the mind or soul.  Rather, I believe that it is a combination and interaction of the two that cause behavior.  As an ex-biology major and current lover of science, I have been conditioned to find the “right” or “logical” answer.  I’ve always been drawn to the explanation that has the most hard data and information to back it up.

However, when it comes to the brain and behavior there remain a lot of gray areas.  Although limited, our knowledge of the brain— for example that there are neurons, that different areas of the brain impact speech, movement, etc.-- leads me to believe that the brain must play a part in behavior.  But what about the myriad of unexplained events and actions that occur over the course of a lifetime?  There is no hard science to back these up.  Cases abound that defy scientific precedence and explanation; with our limited technology it seems silly to attribute all behavior to the brain. 

On the other hand, it could be that we have yet to develop the technology necessary to answer the questions we’re asking.  Perhaps someday we will have the means to completely explain why people behave the way they do.  However, if another entity or soul is partially responsible for our behavior then perhaps it will be impossible to ever nail down that explanation.  Until we develop the technology to explain away all behavior, I’ll have to abandon my quest for a traditionally “scientific” explanation and believe that there is something else besides the mind that influences behavior. 

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