How Did Consciousness Originate? (evolution)

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by Flappycat

No. It is the description that one assigns to a particular sort of logical statement that doesn't render anything particularly useful, specifically one that is naturally self-defeating. Paradoxical statements can be highly interesting in themselves, but, still, it remains that statements like "This sentence is false" do not render anything particularly useful in themselves. They are instrumentally useful in that understanding why they are absurd can assist one's understanding of logic, and they can serve the purpose of entertaining young children. It remains, though, that they are absurd.

Calling a paradox "absurd" is actually a slight error in definition.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/paradox

The problem with a paradox is that we can't get around the idea of something being both true and untrue at the same time, and it makes it seem aburd. Can something be both?

Well, that's another thread, and a bit off topic.

[autonomous1one1]

Greetings Flappycat. I am very interested in your thoughts on science and consciousness. May I ask some questions? Please be patient with any you deem to come from ignorance. I think understanding consciousness is pertinent to this thread althought it doesn't directly address the origen of consciousness.

Originally Posted by Flappycat

..The reason that they cannot come to a clear agreement on the matter is that the workings of the brain are not yet fully understood, and there is also the problem that there is a great deal of philosophical confusion on what constitutes consciousness.

Are these statements about the lack of understanding of consciousness on the part of science true? If so, do they put a caveat of uncertainty about our views on consciousness at this stage of knowledge?

Originally Posted by Flappycat

......And consciousness is a product of brain activity. Brain activity is required for the assimilation of external and internal data into meaningful (or meaningless) information. Said assimilation is consciousness.
Consciousness is something that the brain does.

Ok. Let's say we agree with you about 'assimilation' but, at best, it would be a function of consciousness and not what 'consciousness-itself' is - right? Or should we understand that you are saying that such 'assimilation' is a function of the brain and that function is consciousness? And about 'a product of brain activity' are you saying the brain activity produces consciousness but consciousness does not produce any brain activity? Or are the two intertwined?

Originally Posted by Flappycat

......Perhaps so, but all that is really acting is matter. It is matter that makes the spirit go, not the reverse. The world makes much more sense if one understands this or, at the very least, does not exclude it from contemplation.

If it is a matter of matter only, where does consciousness fit in? Is it matter in motion? Is it interaction between matter? What is matter as you understand it? How does the electrical activity of the brain and voltage patterns fit in? Would you say that our activity decided and carried out within our consciousness influences the voltage patterns of the brain?

Anyway, those are a few questions that come to mind that may help clarify your meanings for some of us. As with you my intention is not to be burdensome, particularly for a student involved with the acquisition of advanced degrees, so feel free to ignore any or all of my questions.

Regards,
a1

[Flappycat]

Originally Posted by Willamena

How is being a subject absurd? How is looking out at the world around you in any way absurd?

Don't be absurd. I said no such thing.

Well, no, that's an actual physical change of location of the data, i.e. from one place on the disk to another, or from disk to RAM.

I wasn't referring to these transpositions, which obviously require the relocation of data. I made it clear that I was referring to the virtual movement of a file from directory to directory within the file system, which does not require the transposition of the file's actual data.

You're dodging the point, Williamena. This is shameful.

[love]

I don't know if you would call this was the begining of consciousness or not but Adam and Eve had a sudden awareness when they they ate of the forbidden fruit. "The fruit of the knowledge of good and evil"

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Flappycat

Don't be absurd. I said no such thing.

That is what we were talking about... Unless you thought we were talking about something else?

Originally Posted by Flappycat

I wasn't referring to these transpositions, which obviously require the relocation of data. I made it clear that I was referring to the virtual movement of a file from directory to directory within the file system, which does not require the transposition of the file's actual data.

I don't understand this "virtual movement of a file" then. Sorry.

Are you talking about renaming the path?