How is consciousness created?

[BeBMan]

Oh, and how do they know something without a brain?

[DAVOUT]

How would you program a computer so that it behaves as if it was conscious ?

[Solly]

Originally posted by DAVOUT
How would you program a computer so that it behaves as if it was conscious ?

Good point. Do you create a few copies of neurons? I don't think so - it seems from reading a few sources that consciousness may be an inherent property of our universe.

[The Andy-Man]

Originally posted by BeBro
What indicators do you have that they "know" this?

how do you 'know' that they don't?

How do you 'know' you need a brain to 'know' things? Are you sure your brain isn't just an instrument, but your awareness something seperate?

[DAVOUT]

Originally posted by Park Avenue


it seems from reading a few sources that consciousness may be an inherent property of our universe.

Do you mean that consciousness has no physical support ?

[Solly]

No material/physical support, no - but something else.

[DAVOUT]

Ah, that could explain the so unequal sharing of consciousness among the mankind ! :

But I dont think so.

[Solly]

Something I just been reading

http://twm.co.nz/goswam1.htm

[Soul Survivor]

....now that's the 10 million dollar question

Clearly consciousness has to be something of higher order than simply storing memory and doing computations - or else computers would have killed us all by now. (maybe they're just waiting )

But if the brain is just a complex set of neurons, it is really nothing more than a bunch of curcuits? Essentially a computer, no matter how complex. But nonetheless there is very much we have yet to learn about the brain.

There's also the question of when consciousness begins, 1 month after fertilization, 2 months?, 9 months? Are infants even conscious? Are animals conscious? What does it even mean to be conscious? Is it enough to collect data and make conclusions about it? Is it being aware of one's own existence? Or is it something more than that?

Memories alone do not prove consciousness. As I see it, consciousness is a phenomena of the present, talking about it in the past has no meaning. There was never any moment in which it was created, consciousness has to be an inherent property of the universe, which recognizes me as "I" become selfaware - simply because I am conscious right now and there is no way to prove anyone or anything else is conscious. Nor is there any way of proving I was once consious, only that right now at this moment I am conscious. By that same logic consciousness can never be destroyed, only return to the universe as I lose my self-awareness. (kinda like that whole buddhist idea)

Or consciousness simply begins and ends with me, and repeats in an infinite cycle through my existence. No beginning of the universe, no end of the universe, only me.

Or maybe consciousness doesn't exist at all, and all my brain is really doing is carrying out computations over which "I" (which really becomes a meaningless term) am unable to control.

Ah the wondrous realm of metaphysics.

[Solly]

I think I might do and drink myself unconscious as an experiment.

[Elok]

Originally posted by Park Avenue
How is consciousness created?

Well, see, there's this sperm, and this egg, and they get together, and...it's a long story.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by CerberusIV
1 Define consciousness.

That is the first task.

[Gatekeeper]

Well, heck, now I'm scared to kick that rock.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Osweld
Only humans are conscious, everything else is here for our amusement.

Only I am consciousness, all of you are here for my amusement

[Solly]

Why does consciousness need to be defined, please?