I often don't mind being a p-zombie

[rocketdodger]

I was thinking about this the other day when I drove almost all the way to work without having any "I" pop into my head. And I realized that I often spend lengthy amounts of time without an "I." When I am speaking with someone, for example, and actually listening to what they are saying, there is seldom an "I." When I am playing a video game, there is seldom an "I." In fact, there is no "I" more often than not.

And it isn't so bad.

Anyone else?

When you think about it, that "I" is only there when you think about it. Try to grok that.

 

[Lamuella]

what's a p-zombie?

 

[yy2bggggs]

When you think about it, that "I" is only there when you think about it. Try to grok that.

Or, tautologically, you're only aware of this "I" when you are aware of it.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Jerri Blank: "I may not be much, but I'm all I think about."

 

[Rasmus]

what's a p-zombie?

Everybody but myself.

 

[Beerina]

what's a p-zombie?

It's when, on those long trips, such as when he's going to work, you have to p real bad and can't think of anything else.

 

[arthwollipot]

what's a p-zombie?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=p-zombie

 

[yy2bggggs]

P-zombie is short for philosophical zombie^WP.

 

[AvalonXQ]

A p-zombie is a person who, having been destroyed and reassemblied in a swamp, sits in a room with only black and white television sets and responds to Chinese characters slid under the door.

 

[rocketdodger]

A p-zombie is a person who, having been destroyed and reassemblied in a swamp, sits in a room with only black and white television sets and responds to Chinese characters slid under the door.

Amazingly, an accurate description of much of my life.

 

[Lamuella]

P-zombie is short for philosophical zombie^WP.

many thanks for the non passive aggressive answer.

 

[Darat]

I was thinking about this the other day when I drove almost all the way to work without having any "I" pop into my head. And I realized that I often spend lengthy amounts of time without an "I." When I am speaking with someone, for example, and actually listening to what they are saying, there is seldom an "I." When I am playing a video game, there is seldom an "I." In fact, there is no "I" more often than not.

And it isn't so bad.

Anyone else?

When you think about it, that "I" is only there when you think about it. Try to grok that.

I've long maintained that given the definition I am a p-zombie, from 2005:

No I am the p-zombie!


I'm assuming you were being serious? By many of the definition of p-zombie I am a p-zombie - I have no continuous consciousness, there are long periods every day when there is no "I" associated with the bag of chemicals typing this post.

 

[Chucky]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=p-zombie

Oh, that is great. Love that link!

 

[rocketdodger]

Or, tautologically, you're only aware of this "I" when you are aware of it.

Err, not really my point. Your statement includes no mention of the cause of that awareness, although I agree it is correct.

A better formulation would be "you're only aware of this "I" after you become aware of it by thinking about being aware of it."

There is no "implicit" or "intrinsic" self awareness.

 

[Robin]

A p-zombie is a person who, having been destroyed and reassemblied in a swamp, sits in a room with only black and white television sets and responds to Chinese characters slid under the door.

 

[westprog]

There is unfortunately no way to distinguish between times when we aren't conscious of our own existence, and times when we can't remember being conscious of our existence.

 

[yy2bggggs]

Err, not really my point. Your statement includes no mention of the cause of that awareness, although I agree it is correct.

That's correct. It includes no mention of that.

A better formulation would be "you're only aware of this "I" after you become aware of it by thinking about being aware of it."

I find this statement a bit confusing. In this context, is there a difference between thinking about being aware of yourself and being aware of yourself?

There is no "implicit" or "intrinsic" self awareness.

I find this statement confusing as well. What is meant by implicit or intrinsic?

 

[Darat]

There is unfortunately no way to distinguish between times when we aren't conscious of our own existence, and times when we can't remember being conscious of our existence.

Yes there is, - just video yourself talking whilst taking one of those drugs that screws with your memory so you won't remember the talking. Then play back the video.

 

[westprog]

Yes there is, - just video yourself talking whilst taking one of those drugs that screws with your memory so you won't remember the talking. Then play back the video.

If the video is one of the special HD types that can record consciousness, then that would do it. Otherwise, the only way we know we've been conscious is that we remember being conscious. And even our memories of being conscious could be erroneous.

 

[rocketdodger]

There is unfortunately no way to distinguish between times when we aren't conscious of our own existence, and times when we can't remember being conscious of our existence.

Thats like saying you can't remember if you were thinking of drinking a milkshake a few minutes ago. If you are not thinking about existence, you are not conscious of existence. Just because you feel cold, or you see your hands typing in front of you, or you enjoy the taste of a candy bar, doesn't mean you are conscious of existence. That just means you are conscious of those things.

I can tell you for certain that while I was programming a few minutes ago I was not conscious of my own existence. In fact I don't really think I was conscious of anything in the sense we are talking about, I was only thinking about the problems and implications of what was appearing on the screen.