People
can survive, even if one brain hemisphere is destroyed. True, they will usually be paralysed down one
side – and if the left hemisphere is destroyed they typically lack speech – but
so long as one hemisphere is undamaged, they continue as themselves, albeit
with extreme paralysis and related losses.
Assuming that is indeed true, let us deploy a further thought
experiment. You are placed under
anaesthetic and your brain is divided, the left hemisphere being popped inside
and appropriately connected to a new previously brainless body, Lefty, and the
right hemisphere similarly into a different new body, Righty. Lefty and Righty awake, with partial but
different paralyses. Where are you?
(from Philosophy:
A Beginner’s Guide by Peter Cave)
7*/10. The complete review is here.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment