You're Pretty Much Unconscious All the Time

[Nakosis]

​

The conscious you, in effect, is like a not terribly bright CEO, whose subordinates do all of the research, draft all of the documents, then lay them out and say, “Sign here, sir.” The CEO does—and takes the credit.
“The information we perceive in our consciousness is not created by conscious thought,” Morsella said in a statement accompanying the release of the paper. “Nor is it reacted to by conscious processes. Consciousness is the middle-man and it doesn’t do as much work as you think.”
Why You're Pretty Much Unconscious Most of the Time

This is pretty much my view. Humans could probably function at a fairly high level without the conscious self stepping in. In fact I suspect conscious self awareness rarely steps in. Just to make the occasional decision when the subconscious mind lack sufficient information to make the correct decision. We choose not based on what reality is but on what we imagine reality could be. This allows us to create, innovate, appreciate, glorify the self.

I suppose ego is a good word for it as it is all about the self and it's presumed mastery over the universe.

We the body dies, the self has such great importance to the universe that it has created a mythology about how the self is immortal. The God/The Creator of the Universe has a relationship with the self. That without the self, the universe has no meaning.

I think the reverse is true. Consciousness, besides some obvious survival benefits has no importance to the universe. We could function quite well without it.

 

[Rival]

You reminded me of this: Head smashed with an axe, but not dead yet: When a man did his daily chores until his last breath - FYI News (indiatoday.in)

WARNING VERY GRAPHIC.

 

[Alienistic]

​

The conscious you, in effect, is like a not terribly bright CEO, whose subordinates do all of the research, draft all of the documents, then lay them out and say, “Sign here, sir.” The CEO does—and takes the credit.
“The information we perceive in our consciousness is not created by conscious thought,” Morsella said in a statement accompanying the release of the paper. “Nor is it reacted to by conscious processes. Consciousness is the middle-man and it doesn’t do as much work as you think.”
Why You're Pretty Much Unconscious Most of the Time

This is pretty much my view. Humans could probably function at a fairly high level without the conscious self stepping in. In fact I suspect conscious self awareness rarely steps in. Just to make the occasional decision when the subconscious mind lack sufficient information to make the correct decision. We choose not based on what reality is but on what we imagine reality could be. This allows us to create, innovate, appreciate, glorify the self.

I suppose ego is a good word for it as it is all about the self and it's presumed mastery over the universe.

We the body dies, the self has such great importance to the universe that it has created a mythology about how the self is immortal. The God/The Creator of the Universe has a relationship with the self. That without the self, the universe has no meaning.

I think the reverse is true. Consciousness, besides some obvious survival benefits has no importance to the universe. We could function quite well without it.

Whatever this psychological hive programming is for most of humanity, it is more disturbing, controlled than anything special, good, useful, the opposite of “freedom.” Certainly not the CEO’s of “their” conscious, subconscious, or unconscious.

Walking dead of human zombies.

 

[Nakosis]

Whatever this psychological hive programming is for most of humanity, it is more disturbing, controlled than anything special, good, useful, the opposite of “freedom.” Certainly not the CEO’s of “their” conscious, subconscious, or unconscious.

Walking dead of human zombies.

Well, I do understand this view as disturbing.
But at the same time, if true, doesn't really change the fabric of our conscious experience.
I just see consciousness as a small part of the whole being. The brain, the body, with consciousness taking maybe 5% or less of the resources.

 

[Brickjectivity]

We the body dies, the self has such great importance to the universe that it has created a mythology about how the self is immortal. The God/The Creator of the Universe has a relationship with the self. That without the self, the universe has no meaning.

That could be I guess. It is similar to what I'm saying below, though I'm making the same case without reference to God.

I think the reverse is true. Consciousness, besides some obvious survival benefits has no importance to the universe. We could function quite well without it.

A conscious being can decide if there is meaning, but an unconscious one cannot. This is a self referential meaning, but its a meaning which cannot be gotten by unconscious minds.

I suppose ego is a good word for it as it is all about the self and it's presumed mastery over the universe.

When evaluating us wholesale take into account not only our current state. Maybe our consciousness isn't the best, but that may not represent the pinnacle of consciousness.

This relates also to the question @Windwalker was asking in their thread about awareness at death.

All of the unconscious creatures and objects in the universe live without desires, without awareness of struggle or pain. Our gift is to know and not simply to be which is something unconscious creatures lose in the bargain.

Maybe human consciousness is a delicate balance of just enough suffering and just enough anesthesia; something good which we must pay for by the work of balancing a swirling storm of desires. Our consciousness mostly exists in its eye, making the decisions. Outside that storm we only sleep and are not conscious -- just like rocks or insects; but in the eye of that storm is the gift of consciousness where we spend energy thinking about what to do next.

 

[George-ananda]

Consciousness, besides some obvious survival benefits has no importance to the universe. We could function quite well without it.

And as I see it, conscious experiencing is the ONLY thing in the universe that DOES matter. What is there to care about any functioning in the universe without a conscious experiencing of it?

 

[Hold]

Too much Groom+ Clean ? (actually a plus graphic)

​

The conscious you, in effect, is like a not terribly bright CEO, whose subordinates do all of the research, draft all of the documents, then lay them out and say, “Sign here, sir.” The CEO does—and takes the credit.
“The information we perceive in our consciousness is not created by conscious thought,” Morsella said in a statement accompanying the release of the paper. “Nor is it reacted to by conscious processes. Consciousness is the middle-man and it doesn’t do as much work as you think.”
Why You're Pretty Much Unconscious Most of the Time

This is pretty much my view. Humans could probably function at a fairly high level without the conscious self stepping in. In fact I suspect conscious self awareness rarely steps in. Just to make the occasional decision when the subconscious mind lack sufficient information to make the correct decision. We choose not based on what reality is but on what we imagine reality could be. This allows us to create, innovate, appreciate, glorify the self.

I suppose ego is a good word for it as it is all about the self and it's presumed mastery over the universe.

We the body dies, the self has such great importance to the universe that it has created a mythology about how the self is immortal. The God/The Creator of the Universe has a relationship with the self. That without the self, the universe has no meaning.

I think the reverse is true. Consciousness, besides some obvious survival benefits has no importance to the universe. We could function quite well without it.

 

[Nakosis]

And as I see it, conscious experiencing is the ONLY thing in the universe that DOES matter. What is there to care about any functioning in the universe without a conscious experiencing of it?

It is obviously important to you. The magic of consciousness.
The rest of the universe, I suspect doesn't care so much.

 

[George-ananda]

It is obviously important to you. The magic of consciousness.
The rest of the universe, I suspect doesn't care so much.

Without consciousness I am saying it is incapable of either 'caring' or 'not caring'!

 

[Nakosis]

Without consciousness I am saying it is incapable of either 'caring' or 'not caring'!

Then you wouldn't care and it wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Alienistic]

But at the same time, if true, doesn't really change the fabric of our conscious experience.
I just see consciousness as a small part of the whole being. The brain, the body, with consciousness taking maybe 5% or less of the resources.

Everything could potentially change if more than 5% could be “tapped into/unlocked” and has latent potential to be changed, re-written from the unconscious.

Couldn’t agree more though that a base or standard, common “consciousness” of 5% is not very special or a thing of glory. Especially when it becomes more and more known and is highly predictive programming and of parrotism. Essentially mechanical and robotic.

 

[George-ananda]

Then you wouldn't care and it wouldn't be a problem.

That answer doesn't really make sense because I am conscious and care.

 

[The Hammer]

Spend your time seeing yourself in others, both good and bad, and do what you can to help make them whole; conscious or unconscious does not matter.

 

[Kooky]

[...]
I think the reverse is true. Consciousness, besides some obvious survival benefits has no importance to the universe. We could function quite well without it.

That looks like the old "free will is a (useless) epiphenomenon on a deterministic machine-body" model, only with "consciousness" taking the place of free will. I am neither convinced that it is accurate, nor that it is a particularly productive avenue to go down.

Why do you believe that we would "function" better if we obliberated our sense of self, sense of bodily unity, and our capacity to think, talk, and reflect on ourselves? What would it be that would actually "function" here, and by what criteria?

Where lies the value in destroying ourselves?

 

[Heyo]

​

The conscious you, in effect, is like a not terribly bright CEO, whose subordinates do all of the research, draft all of the documents, then lay them out and say, “Sign here, sir.” The CEO does—and takes the credit.
“The information we perceive in our consciousness is not created by conscious thought,” Morsella said in a statement accompanying the release of the paper. “Nor is it reacted to by conscious processes. Consciousness is the middle-man and it doesn’t do as much work as you think.”
Why You're Pretty Much Unconscious Most of the Time

This is pretty much my view. Humans could probably function at a fairly high level without the conscious self stepping in. In fact I suspect conscious self awareness rarely steps in. Just to make the occasional decision when the subconscious mind lack sufficient information to make the correct decision. We choose not based on what reality is but on what we imagine reality could be. This allows us to create, innovate, appreciate, glorify the self.

I suppose ego is a good word for it as it is all about the self and it's presumed mastery over the universe.

We the body dies, the self has such great importance to the universe that it has created a mythology about how the self is immortal. The God/The Creator of the Universe has a relationship with the self. That without the self, the universe has no meaning.

I think the reverse is true. Consciousness, besides some obvious survival benefits has no importance to the universe. We could function quite well without it.

Humans are not known for their frequent use of their brains - just for the ability to do so on occasion.

 

[Nakosis]

That looks like the old "free will is a (useless) epiphenomenon on a deterministic machine-body" model, only with "consciousness" taking the place of free will. I am neither convinced that it is accurate, nor that it is a particularly productive avenue to go down.

Why do you believe that we would "function" better if we obliberated our sense of self, sense of bodily unity, and our capacity to think, talk, and reflect on ourselves? What would it be that would actually "function" here, and by what criteria?

Where lies the value in destroying ourselves?

I haven't said there is a need to obliterate anything. I'm just trying to get a more accurate understanding of consciousness. I believe the more we understand about ourselves the better choices we can make.

In the past, I felt the subconscious mind was an enemy. Always tempting "me" with desires. Now I feel there is a more holistic approach. Understand the conscious and subconscious and get them/me, the whole operating better.

 

[Nakosis]

That answer doesn't really make sense because I am conscious and care.

You said without consciousness you wouldn't care. I'm just agreeing with what you said.

 

[Kooky]

I haven't said there is a need to obliterate anything. I'm just trying to get a more accurate understanding of consciousness. I believe the more we understand about ourselves the better choices we can make.

In the past, I felt the subconscious mind was an enemy. Always tempting "me" with desires. Now I feel there is a more holistic approach. Understand the conscious and subconscious and get them/me, the whole operating better.

I myself come from a past of self-loathing and internal division, and I agree that a holistic understanding of ourselves is probably a better approach. We are made up of a multitude, and every single element of it is a part of us.