Consciousness

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Is consciousness physical?

It consists of physical processes in a physical substrate (the brain) that process information (physically represented as patterns of neural biochemical activity) to produce various physical results.

It's as physical as the 'pouring' that happens when you pour a cup of tea or coffee.

 

[lesliedellow]

Consciousness is the energy of the mind that produces awareness.

Energy cannot be created nor destroyed; it can only change form.

Nobody has a clue what consciousness is. Like time and space, it seems to be a fundamental datum of experience which evades further definition. One thing it certainly isn’t however, is energy in any sense that could make the First Law of Thermodynamics in any way relevant.

 

[quatona]

That depends on your definition of "consciousness".

Consciousness is the property of being conscious. Non-consciousness isn´t a form of consciousness, just like being dead isn´t a form of being alive.

 

[DogmaHunter]

Consciousness may be produced in the brain, but not necessarily by the brain.

All the evidence suggests that consciousness is a product of the material brain.
If you are going to claim that the brain and consciousness are 2 different things in the sense that one can exist without the other, then you're going to have to support that.

The brain may simply be a physical transmitter through which consciousness transmits itself in the form of awareness.

There is no evidence to suggest this.

Consciousness --> Brain --> Awareness

There is no evidence to support this.

In that order.

And in your imagination.

 

[Tanj]

Consciousness is the energy that produces awareness, just as electricity is the energy that produces light.

I entirely agree. Consciousness is indeed the energy that produces awareness in exactly the same way that electricity is the energy that produces light. Just ask any campfire.

 

[SpiritualBeing]

All the evidence suggests that consciousness is a product of the material brain.
If you are going to claim that the brain and consciousness are 2 different things in the sense that one can exist without the other, then you're going to have to support that.



There is no evidence to suggest this.



There is no evidence to support this.



And in your imagination.

The evidence is in the experience.

 

[DogmaHunter]

The evidence is in the experience.

That isn't evidence.

 

[SpiritualBeing]

That isn't evidence.

Maybe not scientifically but definintely anecdotally.

 

[DogmaHunter]

Maybe not scientifically but definintely anecdotally.

Anecdotes = claims.

Anecdotes require evidence. They aren't evidence.

 

[durangodawood]

The evidence is in the experience.

How does experience show you that your brain and consciousness are 2 different things?

I have these experiences too, and I cannot get any indication either way from them.

 

[SpiritualBeing]

Anecdotes = claims.

Anecdotes require evidence. They aren't evidence.

Anecdotal evidence can be based on individual experiences. May want to look that up. You must be thinking of scientific evidence.

 

[SpiritualBeing]

How does experience show you that your brain and consciousness are 2 different things?

I have these experiences too, and I cannot get any indication either way from them.

How do you get these experiences? Have you ever experienced ego death?

 

[durangodawood]

How do you get these experiences? Have you ever experienced ego death?

You said the evidence is the experience.

Since you say it like you know it, I assumed you were speaking of normal human experience. Is there some else you have experienced?

 

[Kylie]

Consciousness is the energy of the mind that produces awareness.

Energy cannot be created nor destroyed; it can only change form.

The energy of consciousness was not created, nor can it be destroyed; it simply changes form (kinetic consciousness or potential consciousness).

In life, consciousness is in its kinetic form.

In death, consciousness is in its potential form.

In the resurrection, consciousness is restored to its kinetic form.

Consciousness has always existed and has taken on a kinetic form in the human mind to produce human awareness.

Is it the energy, or is it what the energy does?

 

[jayem]

The evidence is in the experience.

I don't mean to get too technical here. I've had some consciousness related experiences. I have a history of colon polyps (fortunately all benign) and every 3 years I get a colonoscopy to check for new ones. Just before the procedure, I get an injection of propoful into my IV line. Within seconds, I'm out like a light. No conscious awareness at all. Total oblivion. There are certain neurons in my brain that release gamma-aminobutyric acid as transmitter. GABA has an inhibitory effect on other parts of brain. There are also clusters of neurons called the ventolateral pre-optic nucleus (VLPO) and the ascending reticular activating system (RAS.) These brain regions are known to be involved in sleep and wakefulness. Activity in the VLPO causes sleep, and the RAS is active when awake. The neurons in the VLPO release GABA. Which as I stated, is inhibitory. It counteracts activity in parts of the brain like the RAS. Propoful augments GABA. The RAS is inhibited. And the end result is unconsciousness. But my brain is still alive. The neurons are still metabolizing glucose and producing ATP. So you could say my brain still has "energy." Just my consciousness is selectively turned off. Which indicates to me that consciousness is just another electrochemical process in the brain.

 

[DogmaHunter]

Anecdotal evidence can be based on individual experiences. May want to look that up. You must be thinking of scientific evidence.

Dude.... Anecdotes ARE just bare claims.
No matter how the anecdote was obtained. Whether it is something you heared from someone else, read somewhere or you yourself have experienced. It doesn't matter. It's just your word.
Anecdotes / claims are in need of evidence. Evidence is something that you can share with other people.
Evidence, are those things that make sure that people don't simply have to take your word for it. Evidence is what people can use to independently verify your words - without having to resort to "just believe you".
Anecdotes / claims therefor aren't evidence.
"i saw such and such". That's a claim. It's not evidence that what you think you saw was really there.
It's not evidence of anything. It's just an anecdote / claim.

 

[SpiritualBeing]

You said the evidence is the experience.

Since you say it like you know it, I assumed you were speaking of normal human experience. Is there some else you have experienced?

What do you define as normal human experience? You said you had "experiences" What are they?

 

[SpiritualBeing]

Dude.... Anecdotes ARE just bare claims.
No matter how the anecdote was obtained. Whether it is something you heared from someone else, read somewhere or you yourself have experienced. It doesn't matter. It's just your word.
Anecdotes / claims are in need of evidence. Evidence is something that you can share with other people.
Evidence, are those things that make sure that people don't simply have to take your word for it. Evidence is what people can use to independently verify your words - without having to resort to "just believe you".
Anecdotes / claims therefor aren't evidence.
"i saw such and such". That's a claim. It's not evidence that what you think you saw was really there.
It's not evidence of anything. It's just an anecdote / claim.

Anecdotal evidence is just a FORM of evidence. Just because it's Anecdotal doesn't mean it's meaningless.

 

[DogmaHunter]

Anecdotal evidence is just a FORM of evidence.

It's not. It's just not.
Anecdotes are claims.
Claims require evidence.
Claims aren't evidence.

Just because it's Anecdotal doesn't mean it's meaningless.

Except that it does, unless there is evidence in support of the anecdote.

 

[SpiritualBeing]

It's not. It's just not.
Anecdotes are claims.
Claims require evidence.
Claims aren't evidence.



Except that it does, unless there is evidence in support of the anecdote.

You are wrong. Anecdotes are not claims. If Anecdotes were claims then all stories/experiences would be completely meaningless. If I told you that I experienced severe weather on the way to work then according to your definition my experience would have been meaniningless and just a claim.