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From: jqb@netcom.com (Jim Balter)
Subject: Re: Consciousness and the Senses/Brain development
Message-ID: <jqbD0ouwn.F67@netcom.com>
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References: <3c2j1e$cg7@decaxp.harvard.edu> <kak112-1012940953570001@ppp19.cac.psu.edu> <3ccicu$6fb@zen.ludd.luth.se> <787137578snz@central.co.uk>
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Date: Mon, 12 Dec 1994 08:14:46 GMT
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Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu sci.skeptic:97795 sci.psychology:31451 sci.physics:103157 sci.philosophy.meta:15508 sci.bio:23891 comp.ai.philosophy:23562

In article <787137578snz@central.co.uk>,
Raymond J A K Warren <raymond@central.co.uk> wrote:
>In article <3ccicu$6fb@zen.ludd.luth.se>
>           watchman@zen.ludd.luth.se "Joachim Str|mbergson" writes:
>Snip>
>
>> The problem is then, how do you get a brain that doesent have any stimuli when
>> it's beeing built (probably not the apropriate choice of words here) ?
>> When the brain is formed, so is the sensory system, so I'll guess that the
>> brain is fed more and more complex input as it grows itself, remember that
>> a newborn child doesen't have a 'clean' brain. It would also be interesting
>> to know if there is some 'predefined' network structure in the DNA, so that
>> some connections are constructed without sensory input.
>> 
>> Cheers!
>> Joachim
>
>You might find the story of Helen Keller interesting. She was a girl born in 
>Victorian Britain unable to speak, hear or see. There are a number of books 
>about her and the story of how a dedicated governess 'tamed' her and 
>established communication. Trundle along to a library & have a browse. It might 
>give you another angle.

Actually, she didn't lose her sight and hearing until the age of 19 months.
She never lost her power of speech, although she did stop speaking until
being re-educated by (partially blind and formerly totally blind, and
recommended to Keller's parents by Alexander Graham Bell) Anne Sullivan
(although her speech remained generally unintelligible).  So, "unfortunately",
the real Helen Keller is less relevant to this discussion than some mythical
one.

Also, Keller was born in Alabama in 1880 and died in Connecticut in 1968;
not exactly "Victorian Britain".  But what are a few facts between friends?
Next thing you know, someone will be claiming that Keller was a Socialist.
(Oh.  She was.  Well, you learn something every day.)
-- 
<J Q B>
