Ive always wondered-what exactly defines YOU as a living being, with memories, experiences, thoughts, etc. When something happens that becomes a memory, whether good or bad, where does it go after our body moves on?
My think that our memories can linger in a place that is significant to us, perhaps creating what we call "ghosts".
the configuration of particles that compose your body and brain,and the energies and chemicals therein. In a constant state of change,and composed of many smaller,and yet smaller,and smaller components interacting. and considering that the environment your in will greatly influence your current "train" of thought I suppose you could say that the environment itself is a "part" of you. light reflects off apple,hits eye,transmits to brain,causes complex sequence,triggering memory,behavioural patterns blah blah,brain sends signal to pick up apple,start juggling it,eating it,whatever,its interactive,it can be manipulated,therefore I think it should be considered part of you. and just like inside your brain there are things you cannot control,things that operate "behind the scenes",a configuration that existed beyond your creation or preference. Then again,dont get me started on free will,or maybe I should? Can I turn this into a free will thread?
I believe.. the soul. The soul is what makes you you. Its your 'being'. Come on.. if you make a clone with your mind, experiences, body, EXACTLY like you.. he still wouldn't be YOU. I believe that's what the soul is. Your being. Your soul is all you have.. Too bad I sold mine to Satan for a midget hooker and a footstool.
Even a physical and mental clone of you might grow up to be a completely different person. They would not have the same memories, know the same people, etc. I think there is something not only in each person, but in everything, living and nonliving that would be considered a "soul". This is what Taoists believe (Im a little bit of Taoist/Buddhist/pagan). It may be possible to mass produce an object such as a teddy bear, but if one of those teddy bears ends up with a little kid who treats it as his best friend for years and years, going through all kinds of experiences with it, those thoughts and memories are permanently attached to not only the little boy, but also the teddy bear.
memories are stored in electro magnetic, chemical and physical systems within your brain, they aren't stored within your dna, just as alterations to a garment are not stored on it's pattern, there is genetic memory, but no one knows how that works yet and there is argument whether humans have that or not (I think we do)
I'm hoping to get buried in a way when I die that my matter can decompose so that I can become a part of the trees,grass,ants,air,etc.
