COMMENSAL ISSUE 86

CONSISTENCY v DELUSIONS: I am claiming that our consciousness may be as 'mechanical' as, say, a stream of particles: streams of consciousness producing something similar to entrained waves. Our "I" interprets this effect, what we might call consequential matter, in the manner of 'a straightforward realist' but perhaps recognises its own real matter in concepts such as, say, love; both producing actual brain activity. I accepted our current scientific model but doubt that many, even realists, would dare to claim that it is complete, or the only one possible.

PROBLEM RESOLVED: In context, my claim related only to the problem of a whole greater than the sum of its parts but I believe my 'wheeze' can solve other problems. Feelings of, say, love are not always advantageous to: us; our kin; our race; our species; or our genes. However, if they were thus not selected for by the normal evolutionary process might they be evidence, however inadequate and arguable, for the material existence of consciousness? Could this be the 'dark matter’? After all, if there was a ground substance would it not be undetectable in principle and knowable only by its effects, our 'realist' world being just one set of such effects?

DISADVANTAGED BRAINS & SLAVE TERMINAL: These terms were born out of the basic idea that I am a real consciousness not a consequential brain: questions of 'instruction' or 'programs downloaded' simply do not apply. Evolved brain functions will no doubt one day be copied into an AI sufficiently enough for it to persuade us that it is our equal or, more likely, better; but we could never know, in principle, if it was conscious in the way we think ourselves to be.

ANCIENT PEOPLES: Forgive my original hyperbole. I merely wished to make the point that we cannot justly regard them as less thoughtful or intelligent. It was interesting to note how soon ‘the shoulders of giants' became 'a triviality for a dullard'. How have the mighty fallen!

Anthony Owens

Anthony - With respect to the evolutionary advantages of "love", I thought there had been some recent advances in coming up with an evolutionary advantage for altruism ? Something to do with shared genes within the gene pool ? I still don’t know what you mean by material consciousness, ie. as gravitating matter that might be the missing "dark matter". What sort of "stuff" is it supposed to be ? How is consciousness actually supposed to work in your theory ?

Theo