[MD] Mystics and Brains

[ARLO J BENSINGER JR]

[Platt]
How do you distinguish between a metaphorical word and literal word?

[Arlo]
All words are metaphor. It is a shared understanding in a given pragmatic
context that makes a word "literal". When I say "voice" (or "mind", or
"spirit"), and say that as a pointer I find that particular metaphor valuable,
I do this from an intuitive point, but I don't delude myself into thinking that
MY valuable metaphor is RIGHT for all people and all times. Indeed, it changes
for me as well. 

[Platt]
In my view consciousness or mind occurs within entities all the way down to
particles below the social level who have no "voice" per se.

[Arlo]
I never thought I'd hear you argue that atoms have "mind". But now I think we
are treading into an area where we use these words differently. When I use
"mind", or "voice", I typically understand this to be intellectual patterns of
value. An "atom" does not have mind or voice because it is an inorganic pattern
of value.

[Platt]
As for soul or spirit, I see that as an additional part of being human, as in
body-mind-spirit, or the "I" in answer to the question, "Who is the I that
knows me?"

[Arlo]
I guess I usually think of "voice", "mind" or "consciousness" as parallel to
"spirit". What extends down to particles is "value". Although now that I am
thinking about it, maybe I'd liken "spirit" to "social patterns of value", and
"mind" to intellectual patterns of value. Hm.

Body, spirit, mind.
Biological, social, intellectual.