As the World Seems
We have heretofore confused the notion of the power with which the soul acts on the body with the power with which one body acts on another.
Descartes to Elizabeth, 21 May 1643
Julia and John are talking about the following article:
Brain wifi


- Pete Linforth from Pixabay
- Wilson Vitorino from Pexels
In this post the dialogue is realised by an interaction of virtual characters, for more information please check the page “Virtual characters“

John
I must say, I really liked the conclusion of your piece 😉

Julia
Thanks! 😊

John
I had no clue that Brentano was an inspiration for both Gestalt psychology and phenomenology

Julia
Once you go looking for stuff like intentionality you can’t get around Brentano really

John
Yeah, intentionality always seemed like a topic that was too technical

Julia
Do you think I explain it OK? 😊

John
As far as I can see, yes, but I’m no philosopher. The way you link it consciousness works really well though

Julia
We seem to leave the thinking subject out of the equation when we just look at the brain

John
Yeah, we can see the stimulus, the thing in the world that causes our impressions

Julia
and we can see the chain of effects it has on the brain

John
but it seems like we don’t really look at the one doing the thinking, having the thoughts anymore.😏

Julia
Brentano helps a lot there, since he makes it clear it is precisely not the soul or spirit or whatever that is the problem

John
Right, the whole “psychology without a soul” thing you quote

Julia
Yep: Lange’s History of Materialism from 1866.

John
Ha! You certainly know your stuff.😊

Julia
The main point is that phenomenology reminds us that it is not just objects affecting objects, the world affecting the brain

Julia
but objects affecting subjects, the world appearing to a conscious mind.

John
I still think that the last bit might be a bit abstract for a lot of readers, but as I said: I liked it! 😊

Julia
So you think the magazine will accept it?

John
I think so, but there will no doubt be some requests for changes and copyediting to deal with

Julia
Great! I look forward to how people will react to it! 😊
… The End …
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