The Future of Philosophy: Neuroscience

Many new discoveries have occured due to advances in neuroscince.  Many items we have connected to a "soul" or a "mind" we have found places for in the ever-expanding brain. We found that the brain is much more complicated than we ever imagined, and our interpretations determine the reality around us.  There is no color, except in our brain, no sound except in our brain.  What does this mean for who we are and what is the place of interpretation in connection to reality? 

What is the center of self? Is the self completely embodied? If the self is completely embodied, then is the mind dependent on the well-being of the body?  Are all decisions embodied decisions?  Can decisions not be trusted if the body cannot be trusted? 

If the self is embodied, does it mean that the soul does not exist?  Can there be a soul without a body, a self without a body? 

Can a self be transfered to a different kind of body, such as digital, and it still be the same self? If changes are made in the body-- such as brain surgery-- does the same self exist, or is that self destroyed? If so, is that tantamount to murder? As a body grows and goes through major changes (for example, hormone shifts) does that self still exist?  Is our current self responsible for what a past self does, if that self changes?

Is the self only a similar set of memories?  But memories have been shown to be re-created by the brain... can memories be depended upon at all?  Is our self only reacting to a contextual fiction that we have created with others?  Does it matter what fiction we choose to live in? What is the best fictional narrative to exist in?  Is our contextual narrative dependent on our embodiment?

Who Am I?

I am not the same person I was when I was a teenager.  I am not the same person I was fifteen years ago.  So is there a core to my being, an essence of my character, my self?  Am I continuous chameleon or is there something I can call "me" that never changes?  

If there is something in me that is continuous, is that my "soul"?  Can I rely on that, in that I am able to say, "This is what I am like"?

But if there is nothing at my core, if all is potentially variable, then how can the present "I" be held blameworthy or praiseworthy for anything "I" have done in the past?  If I am not that person, I should not accept the guilt of that or the honor, should I?