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Letter: Not nothing

Published 11 January 2012

From John Davies

Dave Howells in his letter defines “nothing” as unconsciousness, a bit like a virtual container that is empty (10 December 2011, p 33). But his container, his mind, contains the anatomy, the memories, the skills and experience that make up him.

If he is anaesthetised, or falls asleep, these become parts of a switched-off machine that can be turned on again. If that were not so, and his unconscious mind was empty and contained nothing, how could he wake up again?

Lancaster, UK

Issue no. 2847 published 14 January 2012

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