An Apple

[_Yoda]

I thought this was going to be a thread about my favorite brand of computers. *sigh* Oh, well....continue! LOL

[_sock puppet]

That is a learned response to a specific set of stimuli that each of us has previously experienced. Our society has taught us that this set of stimuli is that we are 'holding an apple in our hand'. So, if I want to determine if I am holding an apple in my hand, I compare the set of stimuli under consideration against the set of stimuli I encountered previously when such was described as my 'holding an apple in my hand'. If the set of stimuli under consideration bears, through that comparison, all the sine qua non earmarks of being my 'holding an apple in my hand', then I am going to conclude that I am holding an apple in my hand, whatever that might mean.

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

Like just me, are you therefore saying that your brain interprets the stimuli and then determines whether it is an apple or not?

The more interesting questions are how this experience came to be known by me by the verbiage "holding an apple in my hand"? and what significance, if any, the accuracy of that description holds for me, i.e., its reliability for what purpose?

How momentous for me is the accuracy of the information conveyed by my "holding an apple in my hand"? How many times in my many years of life has the same set of stimuli resulted in the correct response from me?

[_EAllusion]

Simon is probably going to try out a crude form of Plantinga's proper basicality argument either with God or the whole Mormon chalupa.

[_Yong Xi]

Whenever I hold an apple, the first thought that comes to mind is, "The Church is True".

[_sock puppet]

Whenever I hold an apple, the first thought that comes to mind is, "The Church is True".

Yong Xi, it just comes to your mind or is it suggestively planted there another man or woman telling you that is what holding an apple means?

[_just me]

Whenever I hold an apple, the first thought that comes to mind is, "The Church is True".

That's awesome. I pretend I'm Eve.

[_sock puppet]

Whenever I hold an apple, the first thought that comes to mind is, "The Church is True".

That's awesome. I pretend I'm Eve.

I'll be you do.

[_Simon Belmont]

The more interesting questions are how this experience came to be known by me by the verbiage "holding an apple in my hand"? and what significance, if any, the accuracy of that description holds for me, i.e., its reliability for what purpose?

How momentous for me is the accuracy of the information conveyed by my "holding an apple in my hand"? How many times in my many years of life has the same set of stimuli resulted in the correct response from me?

Well first, what makes you think it's the correct response?

And now let me get further into the point I am making:

Most have said (and I would have answered this way, too) that we receive messages from our five senses which are then interpreted by our brain, which then tells us "that's an apple."

What are the limitations of our five senses? Are there more "senses" out there that we are incapable of knowing about or understanding?

[_sock puppet]

The more interesting questions are how this experience came to be known by me by the verbiage "holding an apple in my hand"? and what significance, if any, the accuracy of that description holds for me, i.e., its reliability for what purpose?

How momentous for me is the accuracy of the information conveyed by my "holding an apple in my hand"? How many times in my many years of life has the same set of stimuli resulted in the correct response from me?

Well first, what makes you think it's the correct response?

If it's a response that I find rewarding or pleasant (hedonism), then it is a correct response. If I determine it is an apple that I am holding in my hand, I might choose to raise the apple to my mouth, bite and have sugar flavor explode into my mouth. If instead I incorrectly conclude that what is in my hand is a smooth, river bottom rock (not a magic one, mind you) so I throw what is in my hand into a nearby pond hoping to skip it across the top of the water, I've wasted an apple that could have given my mouth a sugary experience. If what is in fact in my hand is a rock but I misperceive it to be an apple and take a bite, I will likely break some of my teeth.

And now let me get further into the point I am making:

Most have said (and I would have answered this way, too) that we receive messages from our five senses which are then interpreted by our brain, which then tells us "that's an apple."

What are the limitations of our five senses?

You have a point? You don't say? I thought we were just talking about holding apples in our hands.

Limitations on our five senses? Well, without a microscope, I cannot see the microscopic. Without a telescope I can only see so much of the astronomical sights in the sky that I can see with a telescope. We keep building more powerful microscopes and telescopes.

Are there more "senses" out there that we are incapable of knowing about or understanding?

To sense what? My nose senses smells that physically exist. What proof do you have that there exists anything 'spiritual' that we need a sense to detect it?

Simon, do you attribute all of your feelings/emotions to the Holy Ghost? Why do you so attribute some, but not others?

[_EAllusion]

What are the limitations of our five senses? Are there more "senses" out there that we are incapable of knowing about or understanding?

If you want to make a sensus divinitatis argument Simon, just make it. You're not Plato.