Oddbean new post about login | logout If you are a chemical accident you can't create an immaterial soul. You can think that you can, but you can't actually do it. You also can't think those deep logical thoughts by random chemical reactions. If you are chemical accident, how can you trust your senses or logic?
I only know I am a thinking thing. My senses can be deceived, I could be a brain in a vat being fed chemical stimulation. I consider myself to be made of the same stuff you might be made of, I perceive you acting autonomously. So I will respect it and aim for the best moral utility of each of my actions. I can't prove you wrong any more than you can prove me right. I consider us individuals tring to act as morally as we can in every situation (call us souls or whatever lexicon you wish)