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The Soul; part of the brain, part of the body
Ah yes, the soul. One of the most difficult aspects of the human being to be defined, and thus confined, into wording understandable by even the most prodigious scientists and philosophers. And yet, millions of people firmly believe in its existence, though there has been little proof in recorded history of empirical evidence suggesting its presence within us.
But, if we are to assume that this is indeed fact, and that the soul does exist, there are pressing questions that arise almost immediately upon this declaration of belief; questions such as "what does the soul look like?" and "where does the soul rest in the body?" and a plethora of other inquiries that would be made by anyone new to the idea.
I do not claim a doctorate degree on the matters of such things; however, I do believe that I have an idea worth mentioning about the soul. I ask only for ears to listen, and mouths to discuss what I have to say. I implore for anyone's reaction, debate, criticism, etc. I do not want this to remain a monologue; doing so would not bring the world any closer to finding a universal truth for the subject. So please, speak up after you see what I have to say. I'm sure I can rightly assume that there are differences of opinion, and it is these differences that will help carve out a decent, if not extraordinary, view of something that has eluded us for millennium.
So. The soul. What is it? Upon quiet reflection, I have come to see it as nothing more than a bundle of electrical phenomena that resides inside the brain. If you think about it, the brain is the center of the nervous system, and is responsible for keeping the body alive and nourished. The brain does this in many ways, from determining your heartbeat to your blood flow to your digestion to your muscular movement, along with many other functions. The brain is an extraordinary organ. But, it is just that: an organ, no different (other than function) from your heart, your pancreas, or your liver. So what is it about the brain and the spectacular operations it executes? As you may know, the brain is comprised neurons and cells of the like, and communicates with the rest of your body via electrical signals sent through cells in the central nervous system. Everything from writing with your hand to chewing with your mouth to walking with your feet to urinating from your bladder is controlled by your brain. So where does the cognitive thought manifest yourself? My idea is that the soul is this manifestation, and travels throughout your body while basing itself in your cranium.
Indeed, this seems a little odd, but if you think about it, if your soul is the electrical spark that flies through your brain, igniting receptors to bring up memories, to enable speech, and to solve your calculus homework, then the idea becomes plausible. It is apparent that you cannot live without your brain; doing so would require numerous medical machines to ensure that your body continues to nourish itself (something it still couldn't do without said machinery providing it with sustenance), and even then, you cease to be alive. After all, being alive requires being conscious, and having the ability to think and act and react within your surrounding environment. Without your brain, you are indeed non-living.
So this is where the soul comes in. Your brain needs electricity to function. After all, Doctor Frankenstein needed that electrical storm to bring his monster to life. It seems he had the right idea. Scientists have found that, indeed, the brain is reliant on electrical currents to stimulate its neurons and pass information to and from the various parts of your body. This electrical current, feasibly, would be you soul, traveling throughout your body to provide those messages from the brain to move muscles and tendon.
Of course, this still seems to put the brain as the center of the cognitive thought. And, this also where things become confusing. If the soul is merely the electrical current passing information around the body, then where does that information come from? The simplest answer I can find would be that it is indeed the very message itself, manifesting within your cranium and then traveling to different parts of your body to convey messages and instructions for every function you need to have in order to live and be productive in this world. Thus, the brain becomes the storage space for the soul, where the soul stores its experience and memories for convenient access.
This is all still conjecture; I do not expect any of it to be accurate or feasible. Thus, if someone has something to add or detract or debate or reconsider, please, step up. I would love to hear another side, a different perspective, or even just a casual "wow, that actually makes sense". This last reaction I expect least; but, if there happens to be one out there, I'd love to meet its originator.
Other than that, keeping thinking and dreaming.
—WLM
But, if we are to assume that this is indeed fact, and that the soul does exist, there are pressing questions that arise almost immediately upon this declaration of belief; questions such as "what does the soul look like?" and "where does the soul rest in the body?" and a plethora of other inquiries that would be made by anyone new to the idea.
I do not claim a doctorate degree on the matters of such things; however, I do believe that I have an idea worth mentioning about the soul. I ask only for ears to listen, and mouths to discuss what I have to say. I implore for anyone's reaction, debate, criticism, etc. I do not want this to remain a monologue; doing so would not bring the world any closer to finding a universal truth for the subject. So please, speak up after you see what I have to say. I'm sure I can rightly assume that there are differences of opinion, and it is these differences that will help carve out a decent, if not extraordinary, view of something that has eluded us for millennium.
So. The soul. What is it? Upon quiet reflection, I have come to see it as nothing more than a bundle of electrical phenomena that resides inside the brain. If you think about it, the brain is the center of the nervous system, and is responsible for keeping the body alive and nourished. The brain does this in many ways, from determining your heartbeat to your blood flow to your digestion to your muscular movement, along with many other functions. The brain is an extraordinary organ. But, it is just that: an organ, no different (other than function) from your heart, your pancreas, or your liver. So what is it about the brain and the spectacular operations it executes? As you may know, the brain is comprised neurons and cells of the like, and communicates with the rest of your body via electrical signals sent through cells in the central nervous system. Everything from writing with your hand to chewing with your mouth to walking with your feet to urinating from your bladder is controlled by your brain. So where does the cognitive thought manifest yourself? My idea is that the soul is this manifestation, and travels throughout your body while basing itself in your cranium.
Indeed, this seems a little odd, but if you think about it, if your soul is the electrical spark that flies through your brain, igniting receptors to bring up memories, to enable speech, and to solve your calculus homework, then the idea becomes plausible. It is apparent that you cannot live without your brain; doing so would require numerous medical machines to ensure that your body continues to nourish itself (something it still couldn't do without said machinery providing it with sustenance), and even then, you cease to be alive. After all, being alive requires being conscious, and having the ability to think and act and react within your surrounding environment. Without your brain, you are indeed non-living.
So this is where the soul comes in. Your brain needs electricity to function. After all, Doctor Frankenstein needed that electrical storm to bring his monster to life. It seems he had the right idea. Scientists have found that, indeed, the brain is reliant on electrical currents to stimulate its neurons and pass information to and from the various parts of your body. This electrical current, feasibly, would be you soul, traveling throughout your body to provide those messages from the brain to move muscles and tendon.
Of course, this still seems to put the brain as the center of the cognitive thought. And, this also where things become confusing. If the soul is merely the electrical current passing information around the body, then where does that information come from? The simplest answer I can find would be that it is indeed the very message itself, manifesting within your cranium and then traveling to different parts of your body to convey messages and instructions for every function you need to have in order to live and be productive in this world. Thus, the brain becomes the storage space for the soul, where the soul stores its experience and memories for convenient access.
This is all still conjecture; I do not expect any of it to be accurate or feasible. Thus, if someone has something to add or detract or debate or reconsider, please, step up. I would love to hear another side, a different perspective, or even just a casual "wow, that actually makes sense". This last reaction I expect least; but, if there happens to be one out there, I'd love to meet its originator.
Other than that, keeping thinking and dreaming.
—WLM
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