Even today, cognitive scientists struggle to understand how consciousness arises from matter, though few doubt that it does.
I would say that quite a few scientists, both inside and outside the neurosciences, do doubt that consciousness arises from matter.
Jason Bregman Delray Beach, Fla. Adam Kirsch, in his review of Anthony Gottlieb's book "The Dream of Reason," writes, "Even today, cognitive scientists struggle to understand how consciousness arises from matter, though few doubt that it does" ("What Makes You So Sure?," September 5th).
The same issue arises with particulate matter (PM): It is not likely that mass itself is the causal agent; rather, the shape, number, or chemistry of particles may be causing the observed statistical associations between PM and mortality.
In order to model phenomena arising in matter flows in electromagnetic fields, engineers join systems of conservation laws with discontinuous coefficients.
That is reinforced in the next sentence when it is spelt out clearly that should any fresh evidence arise "the matter may have to be reconsidered".
Clearly, then, in so far as we have any idea of causation as it exists in the world, we must conclude that thought and consciousness can indeed arise from matter and motion (as the materialists maintain).
In brief, the materialistic position becomes "We have found all the data that can be found, and from our findings the conjecture that mind arose from matter is as reliable as it can be.
MoMA, I would suggest, has been more motivated by concerns of contemporary culture than art per se – a possibility that seems to be ignored whenever this matter arises.
Yet when time off is granted for something so specific, there arises the delicate matter of those who marry more than once.
