• TiredThinker
    831
    Consciousness to my knowledge is awareness and understanding of our environment, and even of ourselves to some degree. But does it really exist? A friend asked me this question on proving its existence even though it seems obvious that it must exist. What angles are there to this concept?
  • TheMadFool
    13.8k
    Two ways one can come to the conclusion that an x exists:

    1. x is real [oasis]

    2. x is an illusion [mirage]

    So is

    3. Consciousness real

    OR

    is

    4. Consciousness an illusion

    ?

    This is an interesting state of affairs because if 4 is true, an illusion would have to recognize itself as an illusion? Can something not real become aware that it is not real? A nonexistent thing comes to know of its own nonexistence? How can that be done?

    P.S. The Buddha did it. See :point: Anattā. It must be mentioned though that what the Buddha was referring to was a self and is consciousness that, the self?
  • Manuel
    4.1k
    it seems obvious that it must existTiredThinker

    Because it is.

    Just one note, there are no final proofs in nature. We can't prove almost anything. We constantly revise what we know and we can't do much more than this.
  • TiredThinker
    831
    What various definitions of consciousness are there? Are all animals conscious? Trees? Cities? The moon?
  • Down The Rabbit Hole
    530


    What various definitions of consciousness are there? Are all animals conscious? Trees? Cities? The moon?TiredThinker

    There is only evidence that brains experience reality.
  • Varde
    326
    Consciousness is not understanding, it's alertness of simulation.

    It's not the part that you/most think it is. It is not the pineal gland - the spirit.

    Think of 'alertness of simulation' as, metaphorically, a resounding yes in response to a encircling no; or an answer, in response to a query from an external mind.

    Consciousness isn't awareness because we must put in effort to become aware. We must open our eyes, per se.

    Yes consciousness exists.

    If you are hit with enough pressure you become unconscious, the simulation cannot alert you in this state. People have claimed to hear ringing sounds when regaining consciousness(parses with 'resounding yes to a encircling no').
  • theRiddler
    260
    Consciousness is just primeval language, accidental communication. Matter becomes aware of "self" via influence of an "other," identity forming in this way. All things are identified by that which they are not.
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