Consciousness (quote, memory)

Sneer · 01-14-2009, 01:31 PM

What is it?

mr dave · 01-14-2009, 04:16 PM

if you have to ask. you'll never know

Sneer · 01-14-2009, 04:18 PM

No need to be an arse, i recently had a lecture on it and was just interested in other peoples takes on it.

cardboard adolescent · 01-14-2009, 04:40 PM

l'innomable

swim · 01-14-2009, 04:42 PM

What exactly the argument of ambiguity of what is consciousness?

cardboard adolescent · 01-14-2009, 04:50 PM

Wikipedia gives this definition:

Consciousness is a type of mental state, a way of perceiving, particularly the perception of a relationship between self and other. It has been described as a point of view, an I, or what Thomas Nagel called the existence of "something that it is like" to be something.

I think every definition of consciousness inevitably becomes circular. Anything you can use to define consciousness must already exist within the consciousness you are defining, so essentially consciousness consumes everything. What is a "mental state"? What is a perception, or a way of perceiving? These things cannot be defined without some reference to consciousness. Therefore, consciousness cannot be defined, it defines. It cannot be reduced, it reduces. It is everything and nothing. Om.

anticipation · 01-14-2009, 04:51 PM

consciousness is everything.

TiffanyTuneUp · 01-14-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

if you have to ask. you'll never know

Actually... it is because you ask, that you then do know...

Also depends on how you categorize sensation (body vs. mind) and how that difference belongs to an individual pattern of experience.

mr dave · 01-14-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu

No need to be an arse, i recently had a lecture on it and was just interested in other peoples takes on it.

sorry i was having a RHCP / louis armstrong moment. i still stand by my original comment but i should have elaborated.

when i say 'if you have to ask, you'll never know' it's because all you'll really get is other people's beliefs and opinions which will never really be your own answer, right?

in my view if someone wants a 'real' answer to one of life's big questions they need to be able to provide it to themselves. that ability becomes a reflection of their consciousness in my eyes, otherwise they're just a pedantic memory trick.

i guess you could call it individual metaphysical potential.

01-14-2009, 01:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	Consciousness What is it? __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

01-14-2009, 04:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	No need to be an arse, i recently had a lecture on it and was just interested in other peoples takes on it. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

01-14-2009, 04:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
swim dontcareaboutyou Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 5,188	What exactly the argument of ambiguity of what is consciousness? __________________ http://nakednaps.bandcamp.com/

01-14-2009, 04:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	l'innomable

01-14-2009, 04:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	Wikipedia gives this definition: Consciousness is a type of mental state, a way of perceiving, particularly the perception of a relationship between self and other. It has been described as a point of view, an I, or what Thomas Nagel called the existence of "something that it is like" to be something. I think every definition of consciousness inevitably becomes circular. Anything you can use to define consciousness must already exist within the consciousness you are defining, so essentially consciousness consumes everything. What is a "mental state"? What is a perception, or a way of perceiving? These things cannot be defined without some reference to consciousness. Therefore, consciousness cannot be defined, it defines. It cannot be reduced, it reduces. It is everything and nothing. Om.

01-14-2009, 04:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
anticipation Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,565	consciousness is everything.