... I suppose that depends a bit on what you mean by consciousness. Consciousness as understood by neuroscientists, whatever is happening in the brain that...
... How exactly would you know that there is nothing extra-physical in consciousness? Certainly you can reasonably give an opinion to that effect and a number...
On Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 6:00 PM, timothyekennelly ... For the same reason, I do not expect extra-physical stuff to exist anywhere. Why should some meat brains...
... An expectation of an outcome is not the same thing as knowledge of an outcome. I will not argue with the expressed opinion that consciousness is not...
Hmm, I do not really express certainty but more like a very high likelihood. Philosohers gave up on certainty a long time ago. The argument I presented runs...
"Consciousness as understood by religious/superstitious people, as some magical, extra-physical something, surely does not exist" sounded pretty certain, but...
On Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 7:09 PM, timothyekennelly ... Well I suppose we are fine and dandy biological products of evolution but I don't think to the point of...
... An earthworm is a "fine and dandy biological products of evolution," humans are worthy of a more generous description, although your description is true...
... In the collection of Evolution's Greatest Hits it's bacteria that have done all the heavy lifting. The rest is just minor variations on a narrow theme....
On Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 8:59 PM, timothyekennelly ... From an alien perspective both would be amazing products. Both are extremely evolved and well adapted life...
On Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 9:37 PM, timothyekennelly ... Probably no, but I think they will still find them fascinating. Unless of course worms are very common...
... I did see it. It reminded me of the paleontology class I took from Anna K: http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/behrensmeyer.html When she taught...
... Place your bets where you will, but do realize that no source of information is without error. You might disregard the opinion of a given thinker or group...
... Some of our distant bacterial cousins thrive on radioactive heavy metals. Even "process" those metals I've heard. That's something, and very heavy metal as...
... Purple phage all in my brain Lately things just don't seem the same ... I read recently that of the kajillion cells of a human body only about one in ten...
It might be helpful to distinguish two separate realities 1. The virtual reality supported by your personal brain that you experience as 'reality' by...
Two nuclei are referred to by acronym: TRN – Thalamic Reticular Nucleus. A nucleus that surrounds the thalamus. It takes input (en passant) from all...
... The brain supports a virtual reality : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality which through evolved inherited insanity is considered as reality. The...
Mr. Martin, If human consciousness creates a virtual reality which is "a form of the 'deceit'" how does one ever move from it to the supposed "mysterious...
... Deceit works, even self deceit. In computer science it may be called 'indirection' or 'pointers'. Lower level, (subconscious)neural structures, 'point', as...
... Mr. Martin, Your claim seems to be that the conscious mind (or brain) constructs a reality which is false. If this is true, on what ground would we know it...
I think what the Knowledge Argument really tells us is that phenomenal representations have to exist, and subjective experience cannot be epiphenomenal. To...
I was reading an article criticizing Star Trek for its weak link to technology: http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2009/10/why_i_hate_star_trek.html ...
The brain, and especially the human brain, is the only thinking machine that we know of that works. Some say that Artificial Intelligence should base its...
Timothy E. Kennelly ... You just realize that you are conscious after a volitional process, after something that, out of necessity, may triggered the need to ...
The thalamic reticular nucleus is a thin nucleus that is wrapped about the thalamus like a blanket. All the axons that pass from the thalamus to the cortex,...
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