Consciousness is a slippery concept to pin down, but a small group of neuroscientists just made a solid attempt at doing just that.
more…
Interesting article, starts of slow, gets better towards the end.
Does it matter whether consciousness exists?
dv said:
Does it matter whether consciousness exists?
Ask your anaesthetist before your next operation.
Bubblecar said:
dv said:
Does it matter whether consciousness exists?
Ask your anaesthetist before your next operation.
Most amusing but also a useful point at which to “talk about what we’re talking about”.
In medicine and veterinary science, consciousness is “The state of being aware of and responsive to one’s surroundings, regarded as the normal condition of waking life.”
But what Tau’s piece is talking about is a different meaning, used in psychology and philosophy: “The faculty or capacity from which awareness of thought, feeling, and volition and of the external world arises; the exercise of this.”
dv said:
Bubblecar said:
dv said:
Does it matter whether consciousness exists?
Ask your anaesthetist before your next operation.
Most amusing but also a useful point at which to “talk about what we’re talking about”.
In medicine and veterinary science, consciousness is “The state of being aware of and responsive to one’s surroundings, regarded as the normal condition of waking life.”
But what Tau’s piece is talking about is a different meaning, used in psychology and philosophy: “The faculty or capacity from which awareness of thought, feeling, and volition and of the external world arises; the exercise of this.”
Much the same thing. The second meaning is just more focused on how the first actually works.
Mind you, I haven’t read Tau’s link yet.
Bubblecar said:
dv said:
Bubblecar said:Ask your anaesthetist before your next operation.
Most amusing but also a useful point at which to “talk about what we’re talking about”.
In medicine and veterinary science, consciousness is “The state of being aware of and responsive to one’s surroundings, regarded as the normal condition of waking life.”
But what Tau’s piece is talking about is a different meaning, used in psychology and philosophy: “The faculty or capacity from which awareness of thought, feeling, and volition and of the external world arises; the exercise of this.”
Much the same thing. The second meaning is just more focused on how the first actually works.
Mind you, I haven’t read Tau’s link yet.
Okay but let’s put it this way: it would not be controversial to say that a lab mouse is (at various times) conscious or unconscious in the first sense. To say that a mouse is conscious in the second sense would be a controversial matter.
Tau.Neutrino said:
Consciousness is a slippery concept to pin down, but a small group of neuroscientists just made a solid attempt at doing just that.Consciousness is a slippery concept to pin down, but a small group of neuroscientists just made a solid attempt at doing just that.
more…
Interesting article, starts of slow, gets better towards the end.
Dare say you might be able to program a form of conscientiousness into a robot inasmuch that it would be aware of its surroundings and its capabilities within it, but would that make it more human? I would think not, as it would still lack emotion and empathy necessary for any meaningful relationship, although no doubt it could be programmed to react to certain situations. Whether such a condition would satisfy the emotional needs of a person is another thing.
dv said:
Bubblecar said:
dv said:Most amusing but also a useful point at which to “talk about what we’re talking about”.
In medicine and veterinary science, consciousness is “The state of being aware of and responsive to one’s surroundings, regarded as the normal condition of waking life.”
But what Tau’s piece is talking about is a different meaning, used in psychology and philosophy: “The faculty or capacity from which awareness of thought, feeling, and volition and of the external world arises; the exercise of this.”
Much the same thing. The second meaning is just more focused on how the first actually works.
Mind you, I haven’t read Tau’s link yet.
Okay but let’s put it this way: it would not be controversial to say that a lab mouse is (at various times) conscious or unconscious in the first sense. To say that a mouse is conscious in the second sense would be a controversial matter.
What would be controversial (to some) is the degree to which the mouse’s consciousness resembles that of humans. Although scientists would tend to see it more as a very complicated question, rather than a controversial one.
dv said:
Does it matter whether consciousness exists?
Yes I think so, I’d place it on the same level as does the brain exist.
It is a useful descriptor, to describe ones thoughts, self awareness that happen in the brain, and perceptions that happens in the body.
A low awareness state such as sleeping, various drugs, unconsciousness due to anaesthetics etc, one looses the ability of C0, C1 and C3
C1 Perceiving the world. ability to breathe, heart beating, walking, Performing tasks on automatic
C2 The ability to be aware of a concepts that can be, evaluated, prioritised, and solved.C3 self awareness of the body, self awareness of the mind, awareness of all the tasks at hand, the you in your brain.
In a high awareness state one is actively involved with C0, C1 and C2.
I wonder if the discussion has progressed since 1974:
Tau.Neutrino said:
dv said:
Does it matter whether consciousness exists?
Yes I think so, I’d place it on the same level as does the brain exist.
It is a useful descriptor, to describe ones thoughts, self awareness that happen in the brain, and perceptions that happens in the body.
A low awareness state such as sleeping, various drugs, unconsciousness due to anaesthetics etc, one looses the ability of C0, C1 and C3
C1 Perceiving the world. ability to breathe, heart beating, walking, Performing tasks on automatic
C2 The ability to be aware of a concepts that can be, evaluated, prioritised, and solved.C3 self awareness of the body, self awareness of the mind, awareness of all the tasks at hand, the you in your brain.
In a high awareness state one is actively involved with C0, C1 and C2.
Sorry about that, bad proof reading, I’ll try again
Yes I think so, I’d place it on the same level as does the brain exist.
It is a useful descriptor, to describe ones thoughts, self awareness that happen in the brain, and perceptions that happens in the body.
A low awareness state such as sleeping, various drugs, unconsciousness due to anaesthetics etc, one looses the ability of C0, C1 and C2
C0 Perceiving the world. ability to breathe, heart beating, walking, Performing tasks on automatic
C1 The ability to be aware of a concepts that can be, evaluated, prioritised, and solved.
C2 self awareness of the body, self awareness of the mind, awareness of all the tasks at hand, the you in your brain.
In a high awareness state one is actively involved with C0, C1 and C2.
Sean Young is very attractive.
don’t think it’s that hard to describe, building a non-organic machine to do it though would be quite a breakthrough
what it is, an example, is when you feel your way through your mind tools, you sense you’re doing it.
this thinking experience tickles a lot of things.
i’m not getting much tickle at the moment, more just a headache, because i’m tired.