Essay on Structure of Consciousness
4 comments
Sounds like a form of panpsychism[1]. You might also find some interesting stuff in Monism[2] and/or IIT[3].
If you're not already familiar with Douglas Hofstadter's works, you might also find GEB[4] and/or I Am A Strange Loop[5] to be of interest.
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panpsychism
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monism
[3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_information_theory
[4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6del,_Escher,_Bach
[5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_a_Strange_Loop
If you're not already familiar with Douglas Hofstadter's works, you might also find GEB[4] and/or I Am A Strange Loop[5] to be of interest.
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panpsychism
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monism
[3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_information_theory
[4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6del,_Escher,_Bach
[5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_a_Strange_Loop
hm? the series of reasoning in your post is loosely connected at each step. And the very first statement is also a claim without any support.
This works more as a poem than as an essay.
This works more as a poem than as an essay.
Or a way of looking at things.
Probably you're right:) I'd really like to follow the ideas up, is much of my motivation. Thank you
Probably you're right:) I'd really like to follow the ideas up, is much of my motivation. Thank you
Also starting with atoms makes no sense as they are aggregates. So what, are ions conscious? are electrons?
its just abuse of the word
its just abuse of the word
Atoms are conscious of their neighbours - especially the ones they are bonded with.
A pair of bonded atoms - a compound - is conscious in itself, so the simplest compound has 3 consciousnesses associated with it. The 2 atoms and the compound are separate, harmoniously functioning, and separately self-aware.
Consciousnesses, in communication with one another, can sometimes aggregate into larger structures, such that the whole is separate from the contributing parts.
(We all know that some things are fun and enjoyable, but the fundamental joy of life is knowing that we're alive and able to love one another. How would it feel to be an atom? Do atoms know themselves to exist - do atoms love?)
Is each atom connected to every other atom in the cosmos?
Consider the matter from the other end. The conscious Cosmos knows itself to have arisen as the emergent consequence of the interaction between many smaller parts - say, galactic clusters. A few et ceteras follow, and we once again consider atoms.
At every level, and according to its capacity, that-which-is knows itself to be.
Admittedly wheelbarrows might not be conscious :) Just because you can think of a thing, doesn't force that thing to have real meaning.
Then everything meaningful is conscious, for the entire universe is made of conscious atoms.