Critique of the Brain=Mind Equation

Are thoughts produced by the brain? A popular scientific description of intelligence says that it "depends on the interaction between our biological inheritance and our environmental opportunities to use that inheritance," that is, that "intelligence... results from the interaction between inherited and acquired characteristics."

This way of thinking reflects the materialistic, mechanistic, pseudo-scientific thought so in vogue at this point in history. It is not so much the positive affirmation that I would criticize here, but rather the subtle or not-so-subtle denial of the possibility of the influence of the human soul in determining the degree of potential that is innate in every child.

It is true that the human organism, in order to attain its highest degree of development, requires the full interaction between its inherited and acquired characteristics. but to assume that these are sufficient to ensure high levels of affective, cognitive and creative or intuitive development is paramount to stating that the quality of the television is sufficient to ensure the quality of the programs that will appear when it is turned on.

We consider a person who believes that the sights and sounds that emanate from the television are originated from within the mechanism itself to be either primitive, uneducated, or both. And yet we pride ourselves on affirming that such mental powers as volition, intuition and creativity are nothing more than products of that organ we call the human brain.

This misconception is in part the result of a popular pseudo-scientific notion that if a thing cannot be touched, seen, heard, smelled, or tasted, it simply does not exist. It would follow that, since the human soul is not directly measurable and quantifiable by direct or mechanical means, its nonexistence should be a proven fact.

But any true scientist knows that it is impossible to know a phenomenon in its essence. The only knowledge we have of that essence comes to us through observation of its outward attributes or manifestations. For example, we know that gravity exists because we can observe its results over matter. But the essence of gravity in itself remains a mystery. Any affirmation beyond this as to its nature and origin is pure speculation. The same holds true for such essentials as light, life and spirit.

It is also true that through purely scientific methods it is impossible to prove the non-existence of any phenomenon. the most we can do is affirm its probable existence based on the observation of its outward manifestations, and form theories as to the nature and origin of that which is observed.

What, then, are the outward manifestations that have caused thinkers to suggest the existence of a human soul? They are to be found in human attributes that cannot be directly and empirically linked to the cause–effect relationship between the organism and its environment. Among these are the mystical experience, be it religious, philosophical or aesthetic; the experience of perceptive, creative and prophetic intuition or inspiration, and the power of volition, which enables us to choose between alternative courses of action, form beliefs, establish value systems, overcome the limitations imposed upon us by the natural law of minimum effort or resistance, and perform deeds or sacrifice - of goods or of self - as an act of love, which in its most elevated forms is in itself a spiritual attribute.

These arguments are by no means comprehensive, much less conclusive. They should, however, serve to raise a serious question in the mind of the reader as to the philosophical integrity and scientific validity of any such narrow perspective as drawing a closed equation between brain and mind.

(May 15, 1984)