time. As such, we will never properly understand whether consciousness does originate in the brain, or in fact from some other place. Whether there is an ontological gap, we do not know. But there most definitely is an explanatory gap, in that we will never be able, however hard we try, to understand and explain consciousness and the brain. The subject is too complicated, and humanity too unintelligent. Much better for us to occupy ourselves on simpler subjects that can be solved, such as the origin of the universe. So, there is a gap between the physical facts and the facts of consciousness. The disagreement is over the nature of the gap, and as such each different viewpoint has its own opinion on what could be done to bridge the gap, whether indeed it could be bridged at all. Materialists claim that the gap merely lies in the fact that the brain has not been fully understood yet. But, rest assured, the time is fast approaching when everything will be understood, and at that point the gap can be bridged. In fact, at that point, there will be no gap to bridge, as every step of research that furthers our understanding of the brain right now, is already contributing to bridge the gap. Dualists would claim that the gap is far less superficial than the materialists claim: there is a gap between the metaphysical object that is our consciousness, and the physical body and brain. Whether this gap can be bridged, many disagree. Some would claim no while others would say that the
correlation between brain and consciousness shows a direct link between the physical and the non-physical that could, possibly, be bridged. Finally believers of the mysterian viewpoint would strongly argue that you never try to bridge the gap, you would only fall into the raging torrent of this argument and be drowned under its depths. There is most definitely a gap, but whether only explanatory, or both explanatory and ontological, who knows? But there is no point trying to bridge the gap, because it is impossible. Let us just accept that both consciousness and the brain exist and admit defeat on this particular topic of research. To finish off, I will attempt to explain succinctly each viewpoint by way of their effects on the ÂSwampman analogyÊ. The analogy goes as such: If a man, walking in the swamp one day, is struck by lightning and completely vaporized, and, in a swamp nearby, another lightning bolt strikes, and causes the atoms to reorganize themselves in exactly the same structure as the previous man, is this person the same? Materialists would argue yes, as this man is merely the combination of a certain amount of different atoms in a very specific order. Dualists would argue no, as this second man does not possess the ÂsoulÊ of the first man. And finally, mysterians would argue that we will never know, and not to get so worked up by almost impossible hypothetical questions.
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