Carlos

Materialist have an explanation for the origins of the mind. It is simply a product of the brain. And this explanation does work for most mental phenomena. However the difficulty with this model is that it does NOT work for all mental phenomena. Here is an example from physics. Newtons physics could explain over 99% of observations. However, the remaining 1% that it could not explain that invalidated it. That is why we now use Quantum Physics. The same thing is happening with studies of consciousness. Certain phenomena discussed in this book, and in others can only be correctly explained by the mind being separate from the brain.

The view of consciousness used by Pinker would predict that the mind cannot exist without a brain. However normal minds have been found to exist without brains.

The Pinker model would predict that NDEs are impossible. The brain is completely shut down, so it should not be able to have any activity, much less the super activity of NDEs

The Pinker model would predict that diseases such as Alzheimer's would destroy the mind, but evidence again shows that it doesn't. Read the link below.

The materialist model is convincing for the same reason Newtonian Physics is convincing. It does explain a lot. But it does not explain all, unlike models that postulate the mind being separate from the brain.

Last thing to consider. Materialist claims that the brain and mind are the same thing is a statement more of belief then anything else. No one knows the following

a.) how did consciousness come from none consciousness?

b.) what exactly is consciousness?

c.) how does something immaterial operate on something material?

d.) How did something to the order of human consciousness arise?

e.) how did all of the above happen without intelligence. ( this is very tricky for materialist)

Until we can know the above saying the brain and mind are the same thing is dogmatism without evidence and in spite of the evidence. Even if consciousness did arise completely naturally their is nothing that precludes it from being dualist and eternal.