Consciousness?

Question

To me, consciousness is the single-most mysterious/bizarre concept in the entire universe. I'll try to word my question as precisely as possible, as this is a very abstract topic.
I'm curious what you guys think about how consciousness is allocated. What determined that I have been given this/my subjective experience rather than anyone else's? Why am I seeing the world through my shoes and not yours?

Answer 1

I've had these thoughts too. I can't comprehend the idea of multiple minds that are separate, but not separated by anything. I can't comprehend the idea of subjectivity. I imagine an ultimate description of reality being able to account for all consciousnesses, but this seems impossible as consciousness cannot be described objectively. It exists only as direct experience. It cannot be observed because it *is* observation. It cannot be described because it *is* description.



Why am I me? I don't think there even is an "I". I don't think there is something that exists outside of consciousness that does the thinking, perceiving, experiencing. I think there is only consciousness itself, and that the idea of an "I" that the consciousness belongs to, is only a concept within consciousness. So when we say "I" we mean "this consciousness".



And when you say "What determined that I have been given this/my subjective experience rather than anyone else's?"



To me, it translates as "what determined that this consciousness is this consciousness?" which is a logical tautology.



Perhaps it might make more sense to ask why the perceptions of this consciousness are from the perspective of this brain and body, rather than a different brain and body.



I am not sure it even makes sense to speak of consciousness, as if it exists independently of its contents. Perhaps there is no consciousness, only a set of qualia: colours sounds, emotions, etc. that is its own entity.

Answer 2

There are various theories regarding consciousness. Here in Bhagavad-gita the example of the sun and the sunshine is given. As the sun is situated in one place but is illuminating the whole universe, so a small particle of spirit soul, although situated in the heart of this body, is illuminating the whole body by consciousness. Thus consciousness is the proof of the presence of the soul, as sunshine or light is the proof of the presence of the sun. When the soul is present in the body, there is consciousness all over the body, and as soon as the soul has passed from the body there is no more consciousness. This can be easily understood by any intelligent man. Therefore consciousness is not a product of the combinations of matter. It is the symptom of the living entity. The consciousness of the living entity, although qualitatively one with the supreme consciousness, is not supreme, because the consciousness of one particular body does not share that of another body. But the Supersoul, which is situated in all bodies as the friend of the individual soul, is conscious of all bodies. That is the difference between supreme consciousness and individual consciousness. http://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/13/34

Answer 3

You can only experience reality one experiencer at a time.



All things come from The One. The One is pure spirit. From the One proceeds the Universal Consciousness. From the Universal Consciousness proceeds the Soul.



Human beings and all organisms including animals and all matter "flow" from a pure spiritual formation in the Absolute to a material one over time. Spirit gradually unfolds itself in matter, attains consciousness, and returns to spirit in a higher and more realized form.



You and I, while appearing to be two conscious beings are actually one consciousness experiencing itself from two different points of view. We ultimately unite in the universal consciousness. There is only unity. Separation is an illusion.

Answer 4

Well, consciousness is the capacity to be able to observe your own thoughts as they occur. The ability to talk about talking, think about thinking, and feel something about how you are feeling. So everyone has that to a certain degree, although some people are better at using it that others. As far as why everyone's experiences are unique, that's just psychology. Individual experiences shape individual perspectives, plus some genetics and neuroscience thrown in to cover the actual wiring of the brain and any psycological predispositions you might have vs. other people.

Answer 5

Let us philosophically consider this issue and speak.



You should have some positive attitude with a noble vision. It may demand the necessity of a divine eye for you. In any case you can see anything either through your shoes or my shoes. At the most for a proper diagnosis, you may like to consult one ophthalmologist.



Consciousness. Its definition is. The mind or the mental faculties as characterized by thought, feelings, and volition.

Idioms

8.

raise one's consciousness, to increase one's awareness and understanding of one's own needs, behavior, attitudes, etc., especially as a member of a particular social or political group.

Answer 6

the big question is Consciousness

1. the same as the biochemical reactions in the brain

2. dependent on the biochemical reactions in the brain

3. different than the biochemical reactions in the brain



2 to me sounds like a sugar coated way of saying the same thing as 1



so 1 or 3 are really the choices and I vote for 3

Answer 7

How does one calculate awareness? Is that not consciousness? Being aware not only of self but of others who all share the same space is logical because we reach an understanding of.when we empathize and view their existence from our perception. Consciously aware of what they are feeling.being compassionate.

Answer 8

To me, consciousness is the single-most mysterious/bizarre concept in the entire universe. I'll try to word my question as precisely as possible, as this is a very abstract topic. I'm curious what you guys think about how consciousness is allocated. What determined that I have been given this/my subjective experience rather than anyone else's? Why am I seeing the world through my shoes and not yours?



~~~ To answer all your questions, here is the basic Reality, listen carefully, with no preconceptions;



We are ALL unique Conscious Perspectives, Souls, that perceive the One (unchanging, ALL inclusive) Reality, every unique moment of Universal existence!



There exists One Universal Consciousness!



"Consciousness is the ground of all being!" - Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics

One absolutely transcendental, ineffable, Universal Consciousness!



Thus, every point in the entire Universe, ever, is Consciousness, and that One Consciousness peeks from every unique Perspective at every point in the Universe!

The same Consciousness peeks from all 'eyes'!



"The eye by which I see God is the same as the eye by which God sees me. My eye and God's eye are one and the same." - Meister Eckhart



Within this post, are all the answers that you seek, if you can 'do the math'!



You're welcome! *__-

Answer 9

I believe it is like computer power. It needs enough iterative function to exist, like having enough read/write memory in a computer. A mosquito has the potential to be Shakespeare but not the capacity.



Newborns are not conscious strictly speaking because they have not iterated an idea enough times to remember and identify it. Lots of stuff occurs to us without our noticing, such as cell formation and death. For a baby crying wetting itself and feeling comfortable are not yet things because they have basically never happened to them before. Consciousness is just a huge amount of iteration. Repeating something enough until it becomes "yours" and creates a "you".

Answer 10

Coincidently, I am reading "The Quotable Jung" by Judith Harris. Carl Jung was a true pioneer on this subject, in our time. Consciousness is the psyche within each and every one of us, that works with the unconscious Mind in life.

The book is deeply fascinating. :D

Answer 11

It's an intreguing and complicated aspect of our human experience. It operates on many different levels and different focuses. Not all conciousness is self aware, and it isn't just humans who are concious.



You are in your shoes because of your parents, that is where your conciousness originates and is initially anchored. Your senses are the imperfect link between your conciousness and objective reality. It's what allows you to build your own internal reality where "you" reside. It's a valuable asset to be grown, polished, and refined.

Answer 12

Consciousness is the collapse of the whole universe, the Big Bang and ALL into a single point (singularity) which resides in you. Of course you cannot see this point, that would be like saying you are trying to see your own eyes, or smell your own nose ... it cannot be done. (As describe in Hinduism as the Brahma)



If you notice, you are in the center of your universe, and I am in mine. All living beings are in the center of their perceive universe. An ant is in the center of the ant universe, and a Bee is the center of its universe. Any given point in the universe is the center, and once that point becomes aware .. it becomes conscious of its inherit universe of which it perceives itself as the CENTER. So your consciousness is the whole universe center on your being, and my consciousness is the whole darn universal centered on my being ... and yes, if we take that notion to the extreme, we are the whole darn universe!!!



As described by Lao Tzu (Tao te Ching) as the "Void"



In a metaphysical sense, God is the consciousness of the universe, that is , God (as being everywhere at once) is the singularity that resides in all beings. So if we take that notion to the extreme, yes we are all God, or a better way to put it, God is all of us, all at the same time!!!

Answer 13

Consciousness is not allocated. It arises out of the degree and type of complexity that constitutes whatever is being regarded.

Answer 14

I think we all share consciousness .. sort of like the Borg in Star Trek. But we don't interconnect [communicate] ... yet. Not only that I think God is a part of it. He is in all of us sharing our thoughts.

Answer 15

consciousness is a passing glimpse, lost in time and before time

Answer 16

Yes...Consciousness is what no 1 could make...what we call soul..we can't make it!:)

Answer 17

If you are seeking a new and different explanation of the truth that makes sense, search for TRUTH CONTEST in Google and click the 1st result, then click on THE PRESENT and read what it says. This is truth you can check.

Answer 18

Because our senses, while identical in the abstract from one person to the next, can only function through the filter of our life experience,.

Answer 19

Everything that can be said about conciousness is already said because its beyond your mind and so beyond your language and dictionary

Answer 20

Because you are you and I'm me. And that's the way it's sposed to be.

Answer 21

My shoes don't have any holes in them.

Answer 22

complicated