Stephen Hawley Martin

Consciousness, The Hard Problem Solved Stephen Hawley Martin

What scientists today call the "Hard Problem" is coming up with a theory that explains how the brain creates consciousness. For the past hundred years or more, ever since Scientific Materialism came to dominate the field of science, scientists have been trying to figure out how matter is able to create consciousness. This is because the undeniable implication of Scientific Materialism from a philosophical standpoint is "physicalism," the metaphysical thesis that "everything is physical," that there is "nothing over and above" the physical, or that everything supervenes on the physical. Therefore, mind or consciousness, the sense each of us has of "I am," must be produced solely by the brain, which according to Materialism is comprised of unthinking matter. This book presents compelling evidence to the contrary, evidence shows "physicalism" to be a bankrupt philosophy and Scientific Materialism to be based on false assumptions. The reader is hereby forewarned that this book is not for everyone. Only those truly open-minded individuals committed to considering the findings of research that may conflict with their beliefs should read this book. If, for example, you are convinced to your core that any of the statements listed below is an irrefutable, established fact, if no amount of evidence to the contrary will convince you otherwise, do not purchase or read this book because evidence will be revealed indicates these statements are untrue:1) There is an anthropomorphic God that created the physical universe and exists outside of it. 2) Mainstream Christian doctrine and everything stated in the Bible is literally true. 3) Nothing in the universe exists except material substance. 3) Life came about by chance. 4) Evolution works solely through random, chance mutations and the mechanism of "survival of the fittest" or "natural selection." 5) Consciousness and intelligence did not exist until evolution produced a brain. 6) Mind cannot produce matter. According to the 19th century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer [1788-1860], "All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self-evident." Empirical evidence indicates that many Christian fundamentalists and Scientific Materialists, though at opposit ends of the belief spectrum, are stuck in the ridicule-violently-opposed stages when it comes to the research findings this book imparts. If you fall into one of those two categories, save yourself a case of indigestion and move on to something else. If, however, you are open-minded and willing to consider facts that may not fit your current worldview, this book is a must-read. It may take a generation or two, but it is only a matter of time before what it reveals about the reality we live in will be "accepted as self-evident."