The Problem of Existence and Consciousness

[Bear Wild]

Another relevant ( imo ) bit is that we are comparing a " centralized " brain ( humans ) to a " distributed " nervous system that functions like a brain ( jellies, octopi )

The human enteric system is a good example of a distributed nervous system, and it's actually able to function autonomously without the centralized brain

We consider an octopus to be able to " think ", yet it has no centralized brain, so we could attempt to say it's not " conscious " because it lacks a brain, yet somehow we say it " thinks "

This makes me question how we define things, because now we are saying that " thinking " is an emergent property in something that evolved to have no centralized brain

The problem is we are only just learning how to understand how vastly different nervous system patterns can create similar behavioral responses. There is no absolute reason to state that a decentralized nervous system could not become complex enough with sufficient neural plasticity to allow that creature to recognize itself as separate from its environment in both space and in time and draw from sufficient working memory to be conscious. The centralized brain has the advantage of close approximation of the structures that can take sensory information, filter what is needed, couple with memory and integrate all of the sensory information and match to schema that has been developed to make intentional decisions. We are only starting to understand this concept.

 

[YoursTrue]

We only know of living things on Earth. It seems that to be conscious requires life.

Electricity is commonplace in the universe.

I have no idea what you mean by 'Earthly form'.

So gravity is not alive. Or conscious. I guess some people think trees are conscious. I'm pretty sure they're alive. unless they're dead. I guess there are dead trees still in the ground. Maybe don't grow or have leaves, I'm not sure. I'll try to check it out.
Maybe some people think gravity is conscious, though. (Oh, never mind...)

 

[YoursTrue]

Op's first question:
I think when asking this first question, we have to address that " living " and " conscious " are not the same thing ( At least according to how we define them currently )
...

I don't know. Some I've spoken to think that trees are conscious. Oh well...I say this with a little smile, one side turned up, I guess it could be called a wry smile. and oh, well. have a nice night.

 

[Audie]

I don't know. Some I've spoken to think that trees are conscious. Oh well...I say this with a little smile, one side turned up, I guess it could be called a wry smile. and oh, well. have a nice night.

Thanks for the closing remarks on this sorry tooic.