Definition of Consciousness

[Dancing David]

The map is not the territory. The definition of consciousness is an object, yet consciousness remains a subject.

Consciousness is aware of dreams. Consciousness is aware of thoughts. A dream is not aware of itself. A thought is not aware of itself.

What wakes me up is my subconscious mind. Subconscious means below consciousness.

Bye Anders there is no subconsciousness, anymore that the Illuminati are controlling the world.

You can't define it, you can't explain it, bye now.

 

[Anders Lindman]

Maybe I should elaborate on the idea of consciousness and the physical system being two sides of the same coin.

Consciousness itself is a state that is a result of a physical system, such as the human brain. Consciousness has no substance of its own. Consciousness is not an object.

The conscious mind is the parts of the physical system - for example the human brain - that consciousness is aware of.

So mind and consciousness are two different aspects in my definition. The conscious mind is the physical activities consciousness is aware of. They go together though. Without the mind activities, no consciousness.

 

[Anders Lindman]

... there is no subconsciousness, ...

Exactly my point. Subconscious activities have too little information integration to be able to make consciousness emerge.

 

[dlorde]

What does any of that have to do with "static and infinite information may cause consciousness to emerge"?

My idea is that time itself is a resolution of Hilbert's paradox of the Grand Hotel for a set of infinite static information. Julian Barbour has described something similar with a timeless configuration space he calls Platonia.
...

Never mind.

 

[dlorde]

Looks like our souls exist out beyond the event horizon of the formless.

Yes, of course!

 

[dlorde]

... Stop making up strawman and arguments from incredulity.

But what else has he got?

 

[Iamme]

We are all born with a brain.
Are we also born with a consciousness?

 

[dlorde]

We are all born with a brain.
Are we also born with a consciousness?

Neonates are not self-aware, but are thought to have a simple in-the-moment conscious awareness. See When Does Consciousness Arise?.

 

[Iamme]

In light of wiggle room responses? ....changing mind a little as you go responses? ^^
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This will cut to the chase. >Yes or no answers only, to begin with please. So everyone is clear on everyone`s stance. A foundation to your future posts. A benchmark. A reference point we can come back to if you wiggle/change your tune a little.
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Yes or no, ONLY:
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1. Was the entire universe conscious, prior to man or creature?
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2. Is a subset of the universe conscious?(ie, some part or entity within the universe...NOT counting humans or creature)
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3. Are we born with consciousness?
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4. If so, is it not fully developed?
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5. Do people that drool in nursing homes, who just stare and not know their relatives, nor their own name have consciousness?
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6. Is there such a thing as a subconscious?
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7. Is a subconsciousness, a lower awareness level of consciousness...yet it still is consciousness?
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8. When your brain dies, does consciousness also die?
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9. Are people who say consciousness dies when your brain dies, just guessing?
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10. Is it only because the universe has consciousness, that humans and or creatures have a consciousness?
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11. Do you believe certain creatures other than humans have some form of consciousness?(self-awareness)
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12. Do you think the reason there is such a thing as consciousness, is the fact we inherited this trait from a god?
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13. Do you think consciousness has nothing to do with the existance of a god?
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14. Do you think humans and or creatures would still be able to have consciousness, if the universe(besides humans and creatures) had no consciousness?
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15. Do you think it`s possible a machine will be able to have consciousness(self awareness) one day?

............................................
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Just yes or no. No drawn out, convaluted, confusing explanations at this time. No reason to pad your beliefs at this time. Just yes or no. No need to break down my post by question to be able to say yes or no. You can simply say, for example...Per Iamme`s post number(list post #), 1. No 2. Yes 3. Yes. Etc etc. Then jot down on A piece of paper your archrival`s (lol) responses...then attack that person`s viewpoint(s).
If you want to expound, do it in a follow-up post.

 

[Anders Lindman]

6. Is there such a thing as a subconscious?

Yes. A clear example is our breathing which can be both conscious and subconscious. Usually, in ordinary life, we are consciously unaware of our breathing which is then a subconscious activity. And we can also take conscious control of our breathing or simply pay attention to our breathing.

 

[Belz...]

Yes. A clear example is our breathing which can be both conscious and subconscious.

Unconscious. The term "subconscious" carries a lot of woo with it.

 

[Anders Lindman]

Unconscious. The term "subconscious" carries a lot of woo with it.

Ok, that's a valid point I guess. What is the difference between subconscious and unconscious supposed to be?

I found for subconscious:

"adj. Not wholly conscious; partially or imperfectly conscious: subconscious perceptions.

n. The part of the mind below the level of conscious perception. Often used with the." -- http://www.answers.com/topic/subconscious

And for unconscious:

1. Lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception; not conscious.
2. Temporarily lacking consciousness.
3. Occurring in the absence of conscious awareness or thought: unconscious resentment; unconscious fears.
4. Without conscious control; involuntary or unintended: an unconscious mannerism.

" -- http://www.answers.com/topic/unconscious

The only clear difference is that subconscious can mean not wholly conscious. That makes the definition a bit messy though I think. How to make a clear distinction between which parts of the mind activities are conscious vs subconscious?

 

[dlorde]

Just yes or no. No drawn out, convaluted, confusing explanations at this time. No reason to pad your beliefs at this time. Just yes or no. No need to break down my post by question to be able to say yes or no. You can simply say, for example...Per Iamme`s post number(list post #), 1. No 2. Yes 3. Yes. Etc etc. Then jot down on A piece of paper your archrival`s (lol) responses...then attack that person`s viewpoint(s).
If you want to expound, do it in a follow-up post.

Very droll...

Do you realise the naivety of many of those questions - Yes or No?

 

[Navigator]

There is no subconsciousness,

There is certainly something which is beyond the normal senses of conscious awareness (that sense of 'self') which most definitely intimately connected with the 'self' and can be interacted with.

I don't know that it can't be called 'subconscious' but from my own experience it is an aspect of 'self' which is rather well hidden. Able to be discovered, certainly. Equally able to remain unnoticed throughout a persons entire life.

 

[Belz...]

There is certainly something which is beyond the normal senses of conscious awareness (that sense of 'self') which most definitely intimately connected with the 'self' and can be interacted with.

Not sure what you mean.

 

[Navigator]

Not sure what you mean.

I mean exactly what I say.

There is certainly something which is beyond the normal senses of conscious awareness (that sense of 'self') which most definitely intimately connected with the 'self' and can be interacted with.

 

[dlorde]

There is certainly something which is beyond the normal senses of conscious awareness (that sense of 'self') which most definitely intimately connected with the 'self' and can be interacted with.

'Something' is a tad vague - that could describe the autonomic nervous system... can you be more specific?

 

[Belz...]

I mean exactly what I say.

There is certainly something which is beyond the normal senses of conscious awareness (that sense of 'self') which most definitely intimately connected with the 'self' and can be interacted with.

I still have no clue what you're talking about.

 

[Navigator]

I still have no clue what you're talking about.

'Something' is a tad vague - that could describe the autonomic nervous system... can you be more specific?

Oh I see. I suppose one can interact with their central nervous system?

However, I was speaking more about the 'subconscious' as an aspect of consciousness in relation to comments made to the effect that all "things subconscious are 'woo'."

If you are suggesting subconsciousness is an aspect of, in this case, the central nervous system, then I gather you would not consider such to be 'woo'?

The confusing thing for me (as I have mentioned) is that not all 'critical thinking skeptical non theists' personalities actually agree on any of the particular details of what it signifies to being 'critical thinking skeptical non theists'.

To answer then...I am using the expression:


There is certainly something which is beyond the normal senses of conscious awareness (that sense of 'self') which most definitely [is] intimately connected with the 'self' and can be interacted with.

In the same way as you and I could interact. Intelligently, purposefully, provocatively, in the attitude of mutual respect with the intention of wanting to get to know one another more intimately.

I see that I left the word [is] out of the original statement, which might have contributed to any confusion.

 

[Belz...]

However, I was speaking more about the 'subconscious' as an aspect of consciousness

How can the UNconscious be part of consciousness ?

in relation to comments made to the effect that all "things subconscious are 'woo'."

Not by me. I said that the term carried with it a baggage of woo. I prefer the term "unconscious", which is more neutral.

There is certainly something which is beyond the normal senses of conscious awareness (that sense of 'self') which most definitely [is] intimately connected with the 'self' and can be interacted with.

Not any clearer.