Apr 23 2013: Yes, there are more than 4 channels of information sent to the brain. Information from the eyes travels through the optic nerve to the visual cortex in the back of the brain, and there are around a million nerve fibers in the optic nerve alone.
I encourage you to read up on it if you have the time, the brain is an interesting thing.
Here's a wikipedia article for some general info about the optic nerve:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optic_nerve
Feb 22 2013: I see themes of passion and connection in this thread. While connection and passion are amazing qualities of teachers, i believe the absolute pinnacle of teaching is the ability to spark a student's interest. Passion and connection are means to this end, but even the most passionate and connecting teacher can go wrong if they don't provide practical or real world problems.
As a logical extension of this idea, a great teacher is never afraid to admit they don't know something, or that they haven't fully explored a topic. The best teachers are those that give enough information to develop a knowledge base, and then ask hard, thought provoking questions.
And obviously, even the best teacher can't teach a student that just doesn't want to learn. But the most impacting teachers are those that foster curiosity.
Feb 22 2013: Where there is no choice, there is no moral right and wrong. Where there is no life, there is no choice, merely the laws of physics acting upon particles. In addition to life, i would say consciousness is required for choice, or perhaps more specifically the ability to think abstractly. My reasoning is this: An animal, bacteria, or plant's acts are governed by certain laws of self-preservation, which, without abstract thought, i would consider as unbreakable as the laws of physics. So, If you define objective as independent of observer, then no, there is no objective morality. Because morality only governs conscious actions, there can be no morality in the absence of that condition, subjective or not.
My point is this,
1. Morality does not exist outside the context of consciousness.
2. Objective morality exists.
3. Morality can be objective only if it applies to all conscious beings.
4. Any morality which is not absolute (does not apply to all conscious beings) is what we call ethics or virtue.
Feb 19 2013: Why does a parapalegic need an exoskeleton? If the nerves are intact everywhere but the spine, why not simply bypass the spine and deliver the brain's movement directly to the limbs?
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A reply on Talk: Sheila Nirenberg: A prosthetic eye to treat blindness
I encourage you to read up on it if you have the time, the brain is an interesting thing.
Here's a wikipedia article for some general info about the optic nerve:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optic_nerve
A comment on Conversation: What is great teaching to you?
As a logical extension of this idea, a great teacher is never afraid to admit they don't know something, or that they haven't fully explored a topic. The best teachers are those that give enough information to develop a knowledge base, and then ask hard, thought provoking questions.
And obviously, even the best teacher can't teach a student that just doesn't want to learn. But the most impacting teachers are those that foster curiosity.
A comment on Conversation: Do right and wrong exist?
My point is this,
1. Morality does not exist outside the context of consciousness.
2. Objective morality exists.
3. Morality can be objective only if it applies to all conscious beings.
4. Any morality which is not absolute (does not apply to all conscious beings) is what we call ethics or virtue.
A comment on Talk: Miguel Nicolelis: A monkey that controls a robot with its thoughts. No, really.