I think it is a mistake to cream off the top layer of consciousness, and claim that the rest doesn't matter for the purposes of discussion. I am sure there are processes of edge detection in the visual system that are utterly below conscious introspection. However, when people talk about "the unconscious" they seem to be talking about something barely beneath the level of full consciousness. For this reason, I would certainly support Open Mind's view on SB's work.
Regarding Open Mind's theory of the brain as filtering Ψ, I would say that it is at least a viable theory of what is going on. However, as I am sure OM would agree, it is only a theory. Paul, you always say you would like a theory of Ψ in order to take it more seriously - well his is one such theory.
Just to flesh out what he means by this theory (obviously as I see it), imagine that our true nature is as mental creatures that interact directly. For whatever reason, we limit ourselves by running flesh machinery, and we do our best to suppress the raw communication links that we really possess......
Paul, I have no doubt you will claim that the above is unsubstantiated twaddle - but that is in the nature of a theory. You can't ask for a theory of some phenomenon, and then dismiss it immediately because it is not well supported!
David  |