MyKell

Hi everyone,
I would like to gain insight into different opinions about the various theories on consciousness out there. Just post the theory with some explanation so that we can all discuss.

Marlowe

A theory of consciousness tends to depend on how one defines consciousness. Does it have to mean thought, such as human thought? Generally this is what people mean but I find that definition far too self-referential and limiting. The problem is if you reject human consciousness as the basis for definition you get into trouble since we only know something about human consciousness - and even that we don't understand terribly well.

I think human consciousness appears to be an emergent property of the complexity of the neural construction of our brains. As with all emergent properties (defined by Complexity Theory as a structure and/ or set of behaviors that was not in the system's specifications to start with and that exhibits a new constellation of action than the underlying system), consciousness is a new order of magnitude up on the complexity scale and is a complex adaptive system itself. Essentially, you cannot talk about consciousness through pure reductive language as fundamental properties are lost when you break consciousness down to neural descriptions.

If human consciousness is an emergent property, then any sufficiently complex system can be said to have consciousness - from the complex systems made up of humans like societies and civilization at large (how can a complex system of minds with consciousness not also have consciousness?) to the process of evolution to the universe at large. For those who will get upset at my suggestion that evolution is a conscious process, please do not confuse consciousness with intention. I am conscious and I have very small intentions - like to go get a coke in a few minutes- but I have no end in mind for the greater process of my life, no goal of perfection of particular form I am trying to achieve, and neither does evolution.

Jinto

Consciousness: that annoying state between periods of sleep.

Answerer

I don't think a person's consciousness will stop when he sleeps.

Jinto

Tell me, do they have humor where you come from?