I want to know what people think consciousness is?

Question

Modern science, which by its methods, does not accept metaphysical reality, has yet to define consciousness. Quantum Physics has learned things some of its own researchers admit were part of ancient philosophy. In short, they are confirming metaphysical realities the ancients based their cultures on. But they both get stuck when it comes to consciousness, which was actually admitted by a Quantum Physiscist in the documentary, :What the Bleep Do We Know? Going Down the Rabbit Hole". Their problem rests in the fact that they are trying to define the reality of consciousness within the parameters of physics. To me, its like scientists buzzing around during a live play, studying the physical nature of the stage props, to try to figure out what the play is about, and what all the movement is. In Ancient Kamitic (Egyptian) Philosophy, Reality, and every and anything in it, cxan be placed into two DUAL categories:
1. Material, which is MATTER (nothing more than dead lifeless building blocks that cant arrange themselves by their own accord), and ENERGY which is a material aspect of movement. Scientists seem to focus on the cMATTER, while quantum physicists focus a little more on the ENERGY aspects. To the ancients, energy moves matter, which dictates how it behaves.
2. NON-Material: Consciousness is NOT material. In fact, the ancients believe that matter and energy were initially FORMLESS realities, like a dead still body of water to put it symbolically. Consciousness initiated movement in the water, this movement being energy, which consequently orders matter to take its various forms. And what does Consciousness, the PASSIVE OBSERVER, move energy with? The second of the non-material realities: WILL.
The process of creation, literally, and in our practical life, is Consciousness orders matter to form or behave by willing energy to move it.
OK, what are your takes on this guys? Scientists? Philosophers? Laypersons (like myself!)?

Answer 1

My answer is in my paper :

NeuroQuantology | December 2009 | Vol 7 | Issue 4 | Page 657-664

Di Biase, Quantum-holographic informational consciousness

ISSN 1303 5150 www.neuroquantology.com

657



Quantum-Holographic Informational

Consciousness

Francisco Di Biase Corresponding author

Address: Albert Schweitzer University, Switzerland; World

Information Distributed, University, Belgium and Clínica Di Biase,

Barra do Piraí, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

e-mail: [e-mail]



Abstract

The author propose a quantum-informational holographic model of brainconsciousness-

universe interactions based in the holonomic neural networks of

Karl Pribram, in the holographic quantum theory developed by David Bohm, and

in the non-locality property of the quantum field described by Hiroomi Umezawa.

I consider this model an extension of the interactive dualism of Sir John Eccles, of

an interconnection between brain and spirit by means of quantum microsites

named dendrons and psychons. I propose a dynamic concept of consciousness

seen as a holoinformational flux interconnecting the holonomic informational

quantum brain dynamics, with the quantum informational holographic nature of

the universe. This self-organizing flux is generated by the holographic mode of

treatment of neuronal information and can be optimized through practices of

deep meditation, prayer, and others states of higher consciousness that underlie

the coherence of cerebral waves. In brain mapping studies performed during the

occurrence of these harmonic states we can see the spectral array of brain waves

highly synchronized and perfectly ordered like a unique harmonic wave, as if all

frequencies of all neurons from all cerebral centers played the same symphony.

This highly coherent brain state generates the non-local holographic

informational cortical field of consciousness that interconnect the human brain

and the holographic cosmos. The comprehension of this holonomic quantum

informational nature of brain-consciousness-universe interconnectedness allows

us to solve the old mind-matter cartesian hard problem, unifying science,

philosophy, and spiritual traditions in a more transdisciplinary, holistic, integrated

paradigm. In this new arrangement cosmovision, consciousness and

transpersonal phenomena becomes part of Science and of the very

holoinformational nature of the Holographic Conscious Muliverse.

Answer 2

I love your question. What is consciousness? Is it a word, a label or a reality?

Words can be given many many meanings, used like a signpost to point to different things. Where as the experience of the thing itself is what's real - not the word itself.

So in experience what defines consciousness?



In experience, when you have no consciousness of a thing (say a chair, a thought, or a feeling) as far as you're concerned that thing does not exist.

Yet when consciousness arises.. wow it really comes to life.. it exists just as it is.. It's not as though anything moved or changed.. it's just a wakefulness, an awareness, simple consciousness.



Question: Was the consciousness there before or not? Was the 'thing' there before or not?



In the example we can we suggest the consciousness simply connected you and the thing observed, and the only movement being an allowance to be connected.



And is it this same consciousness that connects us to forgiveness, to anger, happiness and even sadness. Does this consciousness choose sides? Does it choose right or wrong?



Or is it simply all embracing, allowing what is to be what is. Is it the same consciousness that connects astronomers to the extents of the stars, the wise men to wise words and wise deeds, and even the villain to villainy.



No thing can exist without consciousness, it seems to support all and everything free of judgment and label.



So is it a bit rash or quite safe to suggest (from experience) that everything arises from consciousness, everything is supported by consciousness and everything returns back to consciousness.



In fact is it a wild & rash thing to ask: is there anything other than consciousness as it seems to connect everything? And if it connects everything, does it connect things haphazardly or are all things connected at all times.



And if all things are connected at all times, does that mean everything is one consciousness and nothing other than one consciousness?



I don't know the answers, experience shows that answers seem to be insufficient and they close doors.. where as staying with the question opens up a conscious world of wakeful adventure each & every second.

Answer 3

consciousness must be just what it is. define it but accept it as it is. learn about its nature to define its nature. yes, obverse its property just passively.



without understanding consciousness, we cannot define anything about life and humanity. that's how physics cannot explain what human is about.



energy is physical thing - it's fine and fit in physics - only to learn the basic blocks of the matters and physics is quite not there yet but developed some speculation such as string theory.



basically there are liquid form, gas form, solid form, energy form - as physical forms we know. upon that there are natural laws of mutual existence that govern everything. there consciousness we have to know scientifically.



Consciousness is not energy. In dead body, energy exists. consciousness is to detect - from that to know, to perceive, to define, and other mental activities.



In Buddhism, it's just to detect and comes other mental activities. Meditation of Buddhism is to observe both the body and the mind. To know each of them separately. That is ultimate level of understanding to be achieved. So lay people don't know - no wonder.



edit:

consciousness and physical body are interdependent - in order to perceive or sense.

read here: http://www.experiencefestival.com/consciousness_in_buddhism



Buddhist meditation teachers suggest that through careful observation of the mind, it is possible to see consciousness as being a sequence of conscious moments rather a continuum of awareness. Each moment is an experience of an individual mind-state: a thought, a memory, a feeling, a perception. A mind-state arises, exists and, being impermanent, ceases following which the next mind-state arises. Thus the consciousness of a sentient being can be seen as a continuous series of birth and death of these mind-states. In this context rebirth is simply the persistence of this process. Clearly this explanation of rebirth is wholly divorced from rebirth which may follow bodily death and it is possible for a Buddhist to believe in either, both or neither definition.

http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Rebirth_Buddhism_-_Rebirth_as_Cycle_of_Consciousness/id/4703138

Answer 4

consciousness is not something that can be defined by physics or physicists. It is a psychological state. Ask a psychologist.



A physicist has a better chance of writing poetry than he does of defining consciousness. its too absurd to consider.

Answer 5

Consciousness is awareness. There are different kinds of awareness.



(As Abigail said,) Consciousness is a chemical reaction in the brain.



Consciousness is the attraction of one massive body to another (i.e. gravity).

Consciousness is photosynthesis: the plant is aware of the sunlight, and reacts to it.

Consciousness is molecular bonds: one atom joins another it has become aware of.



Etc.

Answer 6

Stimuli + sense + familiarity + organization of concept = consciousness.

Answer 7

to me consciousness is an awareness of stimuli.... have you ever heard of the Glasgow coma scale? there are different levels of consciousness depending on your body's ability to react to stimuli

Answer 8

Consciousness is a chemical reaction in the brain.

Answer 9

I think therefore I am