Roger wrote:Let me ask you, Dr W.... are you a free moral agent? Do your thoughts come from an independent thinker? Are you free to make moral choices? Free to love who you choose? Free to sacrifice for those you love? Or is all that merely an illusion brought about by the simple cause and effect of the functioning of trillions of selfish-genes?
I was with you until you got to the "trillions of selfish genes" part. On the face of it, this sounds like "woo woo" to me, so I will not bother to comment on the "trillions of genes" question. Instead of providing a discussion of basic biology, perhaps I can re-phrase the question so that it can be answered.
From the point of view of a neuroendocrinologist, your question (I think) would go more towards asking what I believe about how consciousness arises. More specifically, you might ask whether I believe that human consciousness arises as a result of complex electrical and chemical signals in the neural networks of the brain as it responds to external and internal stimuli. My answer is that, in fact, the data suggest that it is all chemistry (including electrochemistry) - nothing more and nothing less.
I believe (based on the evidence), that brain function and its associated consciousness arises completely and totally as a consequence of the brain's processing and interaction with the stimuli it receives. And I do not believe that humans are unique as self-conscious, thinking and reasoning organisms. In fact, evidence shows that several mammalian species are self aware, and can reason in that they can plan and execute complex, goal oriented activities much as as humans do. Do these animals have souls? Is there a celestial kingdom for bottle-nose dolphins?
Furthermore I would say that there is no credible evidence whatsoever for the existence of a spirit or soul as separate from the brain.
Specifically to your false choice question, I do believe that I am an independent thinker and that I have moral agency. This belief is not incompatible with a mechanistic view of brain function and consciousness.
When one thinks about how behavior (and even personality) can be altered by administration of drugs, brain injury, aging, psychological manipulations such as operant conditioning and the like, and when one realizes how closely these effects can be mapped on to changes in chemistry and electrical function in various regions of the brain, it is hard to imagine otherwise.
Some folks believe that there could be unrecognized quantum effects that are contributing to brain function. And some of the more imaginative see this a a way in which the "supernatural" could interact with humans by affecting brain function. Given recent demonstrations of (relatively) long range quantum entanglement effects in large ensembles of molecules in crystals, I would not rule out quantum effects over relatively short distances. The temperature at which the brain functions presents some problems here, but hey, I am willing to consider possible quantum effects until they are shown to not be possible. I know of no data that would absolutely rule this out.
Is such a thing as Joseph Smith's "refined spirit matter" found in the brain, or indeed in the body as a whole? No. Based on very careful and even pro-effect biased measurements and observations, there is no evidence for spirit matter or a "soul" whatsoever.
As a religionist, you are welcome to believe in all of the woo woo you wish. As a scientist, I will stick with the evidence. And the evidence does not support your idea of a supernatural component to consciousness, or to self-awareness, or to moral agency.
If this is not a satisfactory response, then you will need to re-phrase your question as other than a false choice, and I will try again.