I wonder where consciousness goes when we are unconscious? Is there a conservation law?
On 5 Sep, 04:27, ornamentalmind <[email protected]> wrote: > “The product of the bio- electric, electro-chemical energy in the > brain. Like a burning candle produces heat, the brain produces > consciousness.” - Simon > > “Well, it is by those methods that the brain functions. How else could > consciousness arise if not from the functioning of the brain in the > way that it functions?” – SE > > For the anti-metaphysics crowd that mostly eats and regurgitates > current theories and notions about consciousness, even of what the > very nature of consciousness is, it can arise in no other way. At > least, no other way that they can either apprehend nor accept while in > their state of mechanistic belief. And, yes, the brain does involve > what we call bio-electric and electro-chemical energy. Of course, very > few claim to fully understand even what these two mechanisms are. And, > there are many interpretations/beliefs/dogmas of how and/or even IF > they are directly associated with consciousness. > From a philosophical stance as well as an observational stance, it is > clear to me that consciousness is no more what humans measure in bio- > electric and electro-chemical activity than a television program is > the waves the flyback transformer can produce on an oscilloscope. A > simple example: Decades ago, when the very first chips hit the market, > I was with a group of friends in an electronics store venture. We made > alpha wave ‘machines’ along with sales and repairs. And, it was > obvious that given this sort of external feedback, one could learn to > turn on specific brain ‘waves’, and their attenuation into ear pieces > led to almost immediate results. I stopped using the machine. And, > with further observation and experimentation began to come to the > conclusion that while the ‘waves’ could be transferred to a sound, > neither were consciousness itself. And, I know that many here do not > hold this view. > > More to your specific question, how consciousness arises, I still am > not positive, at least not in any mechanical way as you appear to > present and, I assume, are asking for a response within similar > parameters. I continue to experiment. > > “Do you think that consciousness arises from something disconnected > from the brain? How would that work? ” – SE > > No, nor do I think that it arises as a direct result of only chemicals > and ‘energy’ in the sense most think about these things today. Without > getting into a semantical argument, consciousness as I experience it, > is far more than anything that can be pointed to in the material world > alone. (book peddlers aside) I have nothing against those who explore > the mind. In fact, during my lifetime, western thinking has begun to > mature a little about the topic and more experimentation most likely > will do no harm and may even help some. In fact, what little I can, I > check out what current science is finding. One example follows: > > "Mind-Reading Not as Simple > as Previously Thought > > "A group of scientists at Rutgers University and UCLA, in a report > published in the October 2009 issue of Psychological Science that > suggests possible methods for predicting brain activity (and hence > “reading” minds) — are finding the current brain model is much more > complex than previously thought. > > Participants were given a functional MRI (fMRI) while performing > reading, memorization, and risk-assessment tasks, and it turns out > that while the same area is not consistently used (according to > prevailing theory), a predictable pattern of activity occurs in the > brain..." > > for the rest of the story, go > to:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158760.php > > On Sep 4, 2:02 pm, sjewins <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > Also, as current as views like Simon’s are, “The product of the bio- > > > electric, electro-chemical energy in the brain. Like a burning candle > > > produces heat, the brain produces consciousness.” - Simon > > > > …saying that consciousness is bio-electrical and electro-chemical > > > energy, using an analogy as he did about a candle, is like saying that > > > consciousness is the product of those trillions of cells that Dennett > > > suggests is a ‘bag of tricks’! > > > Well, it is by those methods that the brain functions. How else could > > consciousness arise if not from the functioning of the brain in the > > way that it functions? > > > Do you think that consciousness arises from something disconnected > > from the brain? How would that work? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/minds-eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
