Notes for Oct 28 Theories of Reality. 1 P.M.


Handout: A Dialog on personal Identity and Immorality

For next class read Death as a final event

For next exam and analytical paper It will be due on due date. Won’t be as generous with times to complete it. Did not give dates of when they will be due.

Thursday 2:30 you can review exams in the computer lab.
Test grades: you can assume the following:
A= 90%+
B= 80-89%
C=70-79%
D=60-69%
F=59% <
If you did the best you could and bombed the test, you need to do something different next time. Talk to Prof. Borrowdale. The curve will not be changed to cause test scores to be lower then above breakdown.
Prof. Borrowdale will bring test distribution to next class (Thursday 10-31-02) and will give some sort of extra credit at the end of the term, and might have an extra credit assignment now.

No sign-up for note taking. Volunteers will be asked for at the beginning of class.

Continued discussion; from last Thursday on, ‘life after death’.
Left of with experiment to prove life after death.
1.Stop heart
2.Cover eyes and plug ears
3.introduce some stimuli – un-guess-able
4.Query resuscitated person

Life after death notes 10-28-02:

Can test prove that you can only see through your eyes, or is there something in death that can observe the area one recently departed?
1.Go to a place where people die a lot (hospital, old age home)
a. Place something where a person on the ground wouldn’t see it but where someone looking down might.
b. Monitor for truth. (Observer)
2.Put a symbol or simple but unusual word/s on top of high cabinet.
a. Peace sign.
b. Picture of a target.
3. If many of the ‘back from the dead’ are able to identify the object in question, there is a good chance that N.E.D’s are true. N.E.D’ are Near Death Experiences.

There are 2 camps. Skeptics and true believers.
Books you can read on related subjects.
“Life After Death” by Raymond Moody Md. PhD.
He is a cardiologist. He surveyed patients when they were revived after their hearts had stopped. He noticed common responses to general questions. 15-20%
Have similar experiences. Religion not a factor. How to know if real?
Common remembrances.
1.Floating over their body.
2.Long dark tunnel with bright light at the end.
3.Buzzing or humming sound or rushing wind sound.
Benevolent being greets person.
1.Being is very bright light but not blinding.
4.Relative greets them who recently died.
5.A religious figure greets them.
6.intense feelings of peace.
7.They are told work on earth not done or given a chance to return.
8.Felling of being sucked into their body.
9. Mad at being sent back. They were at peace.
N.E.D’s don’t have all these experiences but can have a combination of these. The longer they are dead the more combinations they can have.

Resuscitation has become more common. There are more of these experiences happening.

Similarities:
1. Common culture (similar experiences)
2. Anecdotal accounts of objective events perceived by dead people. (People believe in extraordinary things)
3. Changed lives. (Weak doesn’t show any experiences)
a. Dramatically changes the way they behave (usually positive.)
4.explained by similar biology (endorphins produced)
5.Religious experience.(conditioned)


Arguments against:
1.Relies on self reporting (should be avoided)
“Prof. Opinion”
2.The veil of ignorance is necessary for faith, spiritual growth.
3. Needs more data to be proved.




Does life after death experiences have to be the same for all? No but if contradictory than at least one isn’t true.
Talked about shows like John Edwards and Kenny Kinston.
It is probably a trick. If its not detailed like your aunt buried her jewels five feet from the tree next to the rose bushes on the north side.
Communicating with the dead is probably a ‘cold reading’ ferret out information from physical cues. If its not detailed its false. When these people try to perform with adequate controls they usually don’t perform well, and give some kind of excuse.


There are contrary ways to live life.

Terms:
N.E.D’; are Near Death Experiences.
Vericality; Really the way it is.

For examples of Rube Goldberg machines got to http://www.rube-goldberg.com/
Or http://www.y3k.com/rube.html or http://www.rgmc.com/ .