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Insects can help unravel the origins of consciousness and help resolve the mystery of what it is.

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Consciousness is obviously not a soul or any kind of traveling entity that goes from body to body as touted by a number of those in the religious community.

From the rudimentary to the complex, I think we're getting closer and closer to solving the dilemma of what consciousness is and how it functions.

The abstract is a fascinating read ...


What insects can tell us about the origins of consciousness
 

Bob the Unbeliever

Well-Known Member
Consciousness is obviously not a soul or any kind of traveling entity that goes from body to body as touted by a number of those in the religious community.

From the rudimentary to the complex, I think we're getting closer and closer to solving the dilemma of what consciousness is and how it functions.

The abstract is a fascinating read ...


What insects can tell us about the origins of consciousness

A very interesting read.

I wonder, though-- about collective consciousness, especially in insects.

Ants or bees appear to have a kind of "hive mind", and I'd love to see some serious study on that subject.

Both species have very complex inter-individual communication systems. One wonders at what level of complexity, would a "hive consciousness" emerge?
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Consciousness is obviously not a soul or any kind of traveling entity that goes from body to body as touted by a number of those in the religious community.

From the rudimentary to the complex, I think we're getting closer and closer to solving the dilemma of what consciousness is and how it functions.

The abstract is a fascinating read ...


What insects can tell us about the origins of consciousness
You're awfully sciencie today.
 

rocala

Well-Known Member
I plan to spend some time on this so I cannot respond now.
Thank you for an extremely interesting post.
 

David T

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Consciousness is obviously not a soul or any kind of traveling entity that goes from body to body as touted by a number of those in the religious community.

From the rudimentary to the complex, I think we're getting closer and closer to solving the dilemma of what consciousness is and how it functions.

The abstract is a fascinating read ...


What insects can tell us about the origins of consciousness
So its been narrowed down to a brain one must have a brain. Hmmmm.... Its all about me.


I think there is a bit of a flaw in That. Starfish and sea anenomes come to my brain pretty quickly. They have no brains. Since they have no brains and if i accept the bias that a brain is required to be in the discussion i instantly am not doing science but i am projecting make believe and calling it science.....is projecting make believe actual science or is it just me affirming my bias? I supoose if we define the topic based on what we can test, a brain, and the brain is not present then we can create a fantasy theory of therefore consciousness does not exist without a brain. Brilliant projection.
 
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sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Who could not easily read that article which is written in such simple and clear English like this example: Neuroethological approaches have made great advances in determining how neurobiological mechanisms within the insect brain generate adaptive behavior.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
A very interesting read.

I wonder, though-- about collective consciousness, especially in insects.

Ants or bees appear to have a kind of "hive mind", and I'd love to see some serious study on that subject.

Both species have very complex inter-individual communication systems. One wonders at what level of complexity, would a "hive consciousness" emerge?
I've always wondered about our own Collective Consciousness as well as one organism comprised of many individual organisms.

It would seem that would have to do with how so many organisms can communicate as one biological system. Hence the need for our nervous system and/or brain that takes many individual conscious organisms and create one single organism with a collective consciousness. Given we can deaden aspects of consciousness such as when the dentist numbs your mouth for dental surgery or when you're put completely under for surgery. We can cause black outs of communication between different parts of our body.

The interesting thing is also that phenomena of 'ghost limb' such as an amputation where signals have been severed. The brain hasn't received communication and it takes awhile for it to realize the lines of communication have been severed and then eventually adjust.

Aside from insects, sea cucumbers are an amazing study as well or even jellyfish as the latter was mentioned in the article.
 

Etritonakin

Well-Known Member
Consciousness is obviously not a soul or any kind of traveling entity that goes from body to body as touted by a number of those in the religious community.

From the rudimentary to the complex, I think we're getting closer and closer to solving the dilemma of what consciousness is and how it functions.

The abstract is a fascinating read ...


What insects can tell us about the origins of consciousness
(Will read the link -I am actually extrememly interested in the individual steps toward consciousness -but...)

That depends what one believes a consciousness to be.

Biblically, the body returns to dust and the "spirit" to God who gave it.
Later, the spirit is to be put within a "glorious body" similar to that -"according to the working thereof" -which allowed the Word who became Christ to create all things and "subdue all things unto himself".
It is not some ethereal nothing, but that which makes one an individual personality which is described as being stored and later transferred. It just happens to be called a "spirit" in the bible (the word translated "soul" actually refers to both animal and human bodily forms in the bible) rather than some scientific name. That which is recorded is also that which has changed over time -as it is not only that which has developed independently of our own will, but something we are to strive to change for the better ourselves -and as it exists when one dies (or perhaps at its optimal state -as a person may lose that which was gained by circumstance before they die).

If something exists, there also exists a pattern which may be recorded -such as that which allows for your present state of mind rather than that which existed previously. It is that "you" -however it may exist, be stored and transferred -which will be transferred.

It is stored and active now -so why not stored inactive and transferred later?
It is not an impossibility at all -but we presently do not have the capability ourselves.

That of which we are composed is never destroyed -only a particular state or pattern may be destroyed. However, if recorded, any state or pattern may be recreated from the material which was not destroyed.

(Again, I intend to read the link later, as I believe God -though the sum of all that has "always" existed -also necessarily developed by every individual step toward consciousness, self-awareness, creativity, etc. -whereas those steps happened here and there to individual life forms on Earth.
God "evolving" -in the broadest sense of the word -is actually indirectly supported and indicated by scripture [that which was, is, and will be, etc., etc.] -though not actually described in detail. It is also written that the things of God are apparent in what was made...)
 
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