Edward and all- This problem with defining consciousness is particularly interesting to me as a professor (and, btw, I think your comments were spot on). I teach in a boundary area (neuropsychology, neuropsych assessment, psychopharmacology, etc). This is one of those problems labled "consistent" by one far wiser than I! But in terms of teaching it, I find that presenting some of the solutions you have brought out, the historical context, etc. serves to show the students the difficulties of definition and that the concept is both useful and hazardous (witness all the public furior over recent PVS cases). In neuropsychology classes I'm amused when the students who start out the term as the "great defenders" of consciousness seem so relieved and happy to let it go when we present the coma scales and switch to the concept of arousal levels (which, one must admit, are as doubly subjective but new to them and thus without so much of a history of sloppy useage for them). Your comments re: arousal vs consciousness were ideal as teaching tools for some, especially those beginning to teach, and those who don't deal with these issues as regularly. Tim
_______________________________ Timothy O. Shearon, PhD Professor and Chair Department of Psychology Albertson College of Idaho Caldwell, ID 83605 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] teaching: intro to neuropsychology; psychopharmacology; general; history and systems -----Original Message----- From: Pollak, Edward [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thu 2/22/2007 6:20 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Re: states of consciousness [EMAIL PROTECTED] asked I think your problem is that you're not defining consciousness very well. How can you tell what's an altered state until you've defined the regular state? Personally, I don't like any "state" definition of consciousness. If you look at the standard definitions (e.g., attending to one's thoughts, perceptions, memories, emotions, etc.) you see that it's not a "state" at all. It's a process or function. To clarify: when you add a bunch of numbers in your head, are "in a state of addition" or are you "doing addition?" As far as I'm concerned, consciousness isn't a state you enter & leave, it's a process that you do. Benadryl, etc., may affect your level of arousal and/or ability to react to stimuli but arousal (or reactivity) isn't the same thing as consciousness. A fish, snake, or even an earthworm can be aroused but I hesitate to say it has consciousness. They don't have the brains for it. Heck, an earthworm doesn't even have a brain so much as a ganglion with delusions of grandeur. <g> If you've never read Julian Jaynes' discussion on "what consciousness is not" (In The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind), it's really worth your time. Whether you agree with him or not, it's well thought out & exceedingly useful. Ed Edward I. Pollak, Ph.D. Department of Psychology West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA 19383 Office hours: Mon. 12-2 p.m. & 3-4 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs. 8- 9:15 a.m. & 11a.m. - 2 p.m. & by appt. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/epollak/home.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Husband, father, grandfather, biopsychologist, bluegrass fiddler and herpetoculturist...... in approximate order of importance.
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