Wowbagger
The Infinitely Prolonged
Most explanations I have read regarding the feeling of the mind existing outside the body have not been completely satisfactory to me. I wanted to seek an explanation that is not only consistent with how we "feel" about our consciousness, but is still compatible with a scientific attitude. So, here I present my own crazy idea on the subject:
I call it The Brain Buffer Conjecture.
I do NOT have an empirical manner in which to discover this "Brain Buffer". That is why this idea is a conjecture, or (at worst) a philosophy, and NOT science. But, stick with me, here, if you wish to know the depths of my hideous imagination!
I speculate that there might exist a Buffer, of some sort, between the matter that makes up the mind, from the matter of the rest of the world around it. It is all technically made from the same kind of material (neurons, particles, etc.). But, there could be varying degrees of influence they have over each other. And, THAT could ultimately be where our sensation of self-presence might come from.
The nature of the Buffer, itself, could be thought of as a "space between" two completely material parts. It might not literally take that form. But, it is still useful to think of it in this way, at least for now.
When the Buffer is wider or stronger, there is less casual influence between the "inner-feeling" matter, i.e. "the mind", and "outer" matter in the rest of the world around it (including most of your own body). You will "feel more conscious" during these stronger times.
When the Buffer is thinner, there is more casual influence between the matter of both these things. You will then be less conscious. Such might be the hypnagogic sensation (right before one falls asleep) and hypnopompic sensation (right before one is fully awake from sleep).
When it is gone, at least for some time period, we have lost consciousness. But, the Buffer can re-emerge and reconstruct itself, when we regain it. Since our memories are largely "stored" (to use the term loosely) in the brain, it feels like nothing was lost along the way.
The Buffer might not exist in a single location in the brain. It could even do a sort-of Tarzan-like-thing: Swinging from neuron cluster to neuron cluster, or whatever. And, it might only be able to hold itself in fleeting moments along the way. If so, my conjecture would predict that the constant persistence of our consciousness is only an illusion - Like the illusion of fluid animation from individual frames of film.
Furthermore, this idea opens up the opportunity for consciousness to evolve through a process of natural selection! Once even a miniscule level of this Buffer is established, it can grow to larger sustainable strengths over subsequent generations.
One survival advantage of the Brain Buffer could be its use as a cheap shortcut to developing innovative solutions to novel problems:
The concept implies that a certain amount of "chaos" could come about from the less-casual association one part of the brain would momentarily have, from the rest of the brain. A lot of fresh ideas can stem from that: some good, some bad. Other processes can then sort them out, including more sessions in the "chaos". Think of it like a "brainstorming meeting" entirely inside your own brain. This could be faster and cheaper than thinking up new ideas through entirely conventional neural processing.
If one part of the brain can act some-what independently of the other parts, it might even explain the sensation of "Free Will". During moments of "Strong Buffer Building", perhaps we really can make "free choices", or at least something close to them, that cannot be entirely predicted through a purely deterministic take on the Universe. (Note that quantum uncertainty is NOT required for this, but the idea does not completely rule it out as a possible factor.)
Now, This idea might be completely wrong. It might even be completely silly. But, as a framework, I hope it grants us an opportunity to think more about how consciousness could emerge from the brain, in a matter that:
At the very least, I hope this demonstrates that it is possible for someone to imagine how such an emergence could be possible, even when most others would give up without even trying too hard. Though, the actual science will have to wait for another day.
Your thoughts?
I call it The Brain Buffer Conjecture.
I do NOT have an empirical manner in which to discover this "Brain Buffer". That is why this idea is a conjecture, or (at worst) a philosophy, and NOT science. But, stick with me, here, if you wish to know the depths of my hideous imagination!
I speculate that there might exist a Buffer, of some sort, between the matter that makes up the mind, from the matter of the rest of the world around it. It is all technically made from the same kind of material (neurons, particles, etc.). But, there could be varying degrees of influence they have over each other. And, THAT could ultimately be where our sensation of self-presence might come from.
The nature of the Buffer, itself, could be thought of as a "space between" two completely material parts. It might not literally take that form. But, it is still useful to think of it in this way, at least for now.
When the Buffer is wider or stronger, there is less casual influence between the "inner-feeling" matter, i.e. "the mind", and "outer" matter in the rest of the world around it (including most of your own body). You will "feel more conscious" during these stronger times.
When the Buffer is thinner, there is more casual influence between the matter of both these things. You will then be less conscious. Such might be the hypnagogic sensation (right before one falls asleep) and hypnopompic sensation (right before one is fully awake from sleep).
When it is gone, at least for some time period, we have lost consciousness. But, the Buffer can re-emerge and reconstruct itself, when we regain it. Since our memories are largely "stored" (to use the term loosely) in the brain, it feels like nothing was lost along the way.
The Buffer might not exist in a single location in the brain. It could even do a sort-of Tarzan-like-thing: Swinging from neuron cluster to neuron cluster, or whatever. And, it might only be able to hold itself in fleeting moments along the way. If so, my conjecture would predict that the constant persistence of our consciousness is only an illusion - Like the illusion of fluid animation from individual frames of film.
Furthermore, this idea opens up the opportunity for consciousness to evolve through a process of natural selection! Once even a miniscule level of this Buffer is established, it can grow to larger sustainable strengths over subsequent generations.
One survival advantage of the Brain Buffer could be its use as a cheap shortcut to developing innovative solutions to novel problems:
The concept implies that a certain amount of "chaos" could come about from the less-casual association one part of the brain would momentarily have, from the rest of the brain. A lot of fresh ideas can stem from that: some good, some bad. Other processes can then sort them out, including more sessions in the "chaos". Think of it like a "brainstorming meeting" entirely inside your own brain. This could be faster and cheaper than thinking up new ideas through entirely conventional neural processing.
If one part of the brain can act some-what independently of the other parts, it might even explain the sensation of "Free Will". During moments of "Strong Buffer Building", perhaps we really can make "free choices", or at least something close to them, that cannot be entirely predicted through a purely deterministic take on the Universe. (Note that quantum uncertainty is NOT required for this, but the idea does not completely rule it out as a possible factor.)
Now, This idea might be completely wrong. It might even be completely silly. But, as a framework, I hope it grants us an opportunity to think more about how consciousness could emerge from the brain, in a matter that:
- Is entirely consistent with materials known to science (no "spirit" or "vital force" required)
- Does not invoke the problematic Cartesian Theater concept
- Provides an evolutionary pathway for itself
- And, does not delve into the completely irreducible! It is, at least in principle, an empirically investigable notion.
- But, still presents ideas that are consistent with how we feel about our identities. (or at least how we think we feel about them)
At the very least, I hope this demonstrates that it is possible for someone to imagine how such an emergence could be possible, even when most others would give up without even trying too hard. Though, the actual science will have to wait for another day.
Your thoughts?
