From: Dennis Roberts (droberts@netvectors.com)
Date: Thu Aug 05 1999 - 19:20:57 MDT
"J. R. Molloy" wrote:No, I = consciousness. (Consciousness means the
epiphenomenon of
> self-awareness which occurs in the CNS.)
> requires that consciousness experience itself directly.
> I think that one can directly experience pure conciousness, but by discarding
> metaphor one is left with only perception.
> Without knowing the details of the phenomenon (or epiphenomenon, in the case
> of consciousness) itself, the consequences of action upon consciousness
> remain unknown.
The consequences of many actions can be predicted without knowing the details of
their mechanisms. Aspirin has been giving predictable benefits to many patients
for decades without the details of its functioning being known.
> More directly related to consciousness, one might ask, Of what consequence
> is the loss of one neuron, synapse, lobe, etc.
The consequence of the loss of many neurons is very apparent to you, since
you've probably lost several during the reading of this sentence.
> Ruthlessly
> discarding everything from your attention which does not comply with the
> rigor of empirical knowledge, first-hand, direct experience, leaves you with
> pure consciousness. An enlightening experience, indeed.
A "fair witness" to use an old Heinleinism- "Stranger in a Strange Land"
Dennis Roberts
droberts@a-o.com
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