An Interview with Douglas R. Hofstadter, following ''I am a Strange Loop''

		dr knowitall writes: conversation ender Once the topic of the ''soul'' enters the discussion, no matter how much one says it isn't religious, it becomes another rant with one foot in religion and the other on a banana peel. Religion can take many forms, but it cannot take rational form and be open to real argument. If it could, it would no longer be religion and no longer concerning the ''soul.'' As soon as one feels legitimately qualified to discuss the ''soul'' they are in the realm of religion, spirituality, or, at its LCD, faith. Scientific inquiry would do well to avoid that pitfall.
		[336] Posted on Wednesday, 18 June 2008 at 2:51 GMT [Reply to this] [Permalink]

		Tracy writes in reply to dr knowitall: conversation ender If this were the case then Science could never be allowed to venture closer to discovering the unexplained mystical aspects of ourselves or the universe. The huge field of Psychology has sprung out of looking at mystical-like aspects of the human being from the 'soul' to the unconscious. The 'soul', in whatever format, is an unexplained entity by science and a large chunk of who we are. If one were to define one's terms clearly I think one could venture towards empirically addressing this entity. I personally see religion as an entirely man-made concept that serves to interpret the metaphysical universe that we are aware of. Religion need not enter the equation, since in this case we are not interested in the man-made concept but rather the unexplained metaphysical part of ourselves. The concept of 'soul' is available outside of the context of religion and I believe it is the best possible word for the context that Prof. Hofstadder could have used.
		[338] Posted on Thursday, 19 June 2008 at 14:15 GMT [Reply to this] [Permalink]

		(anonymous) writes in reply to dr knowitall: conversation ender C.J. Ducasse was an atheistic philosopher who thought there was an afterlife. Peter van Inwagen is a professor of philosophy, a physicalist about the mind, and a practicing Anglican who wrote a book called ''God Knowledge, and Mystery,'' where he defends the dogma about the Trinity. For van our afterlives begin after Jesus resurrects our bodies. Van Inwagen doubts that anyone has an immortal soul, but he does believe that someday, human people will be immortal.
		[345] Posted on Thursday, 23 October 2008 at 6:44 GMT [Reply to this] [Permalink]

		ireadthebook writes in reply to dr knowitall: conversation ender NOT dr knowitall in the book he defines what he means by 'soul' very much apart from religion, there's no banana peel, he doesn't slip, it's all well out of the realm of religion and faith.
		[352] Posted on Saturday, 15 November 2008 at 8:20 GMT [Reply to this] [Permalink]