Page 106 - Darwin's Dilemma: The Soul
P. 106

Darwin’s Dilemma: The Soul





              The sensation that arises when we
                                                        Skin
              touch something reaches us only as
              an electrical signal. Any sensation of
              matter we perceive comes into being
              solely by way of electrical signals.
              Therefore, we can never touch the
              original of any object that exists out-
              side. It is impossible, based on the
              perception forming inside us, to
              know what a physical object is really
              like or to know the nature of the ex-
              ternal world.



              The illustration shows the processes
              taking place from the fingers to the
              brain after touching a single button.

                                                                  Meissner’s
                                                                  corpuscle

                                                   Node of
                                                   Ranvier

                                                                         Direction
                                                                         of nerve
                                         Schwann cell
                                                                         impulses


                                        Myelin sheath








                                                     Axon





                                                             Direction of nerve
                                                                 impulses



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