I will not be shoe-horned. All of the above is fine so long as we are talking about various medical models. When talking about sensation itself, the what it is like to be something, it misses the boat. You do what you can though.
The above takes something that is subjective and puts a framework around how to describe objectively various processes that we think lead to subjective experiences. If the above is the only thing you think about when considering sensation then your conceptual landscape has some missing pieces.
Again, models (that I even agree with, surprised?). The sensation of red is the undeniable self-evident fact that we are trying to figure out how works using science. The model is not the same as the sensation though (one category error of monists). If you want to talk models, I would be more than happy to (actually interested even because I think you have looked into the biology topics enough to have more expertise than I do about that subject).
Yes, interesting points.
Not sure what you mean. That sensation is anything other than ...? In terms of models, yep, that is what it most likely is (or something similar). As you noted though, we do not have an appropriate model as yet to explain the colors we perceive and so on. I hope that day comes before I die.
In terms of what?
The last sentence is a cop out. When you can tell me how we should put neurons together in certain patterns (or something objectively similar) so that the color green is perceived by some entity (the subjective sense of perceive, which is part of the problem with talking to monists, EVERYTHING is objective because the idea of subjective does not even exist to them), then everything is kosher.
Neurons are not consciousness. Neurons are neurons. Neurons might give rise to consciousness, but they are most certainly not consciousness. There is a difference.
I do not ever mean to ignore a question. Well, I am partial to CEMI, but other than that, when I said, when we do figure out consciousness it will not be what anyone expects, I meant it. I am someone and therefore I can not know what to expect. It is a guess though, but looking over the historical patterns in science, it seems like that is the most probable outcome.
A problem this momentous when finally solved usually takes a form no one expected. That has happened quite a bit in fact.
Really though, I have optimism for the scientific method so I say carry on the good fight. My guess that consciousness will turn out to be something no one expects is irrelevant to the current functioning of science.
