I don't believe consciousness is even a thing

[Deleted member 3323]

What is consciousness first of all? Is it the thoughts we have in our heads? Well if that's the case every single organism on this planet has a conscious at some level because thoughts are simply responses to environmental stimuli; we humans are just able to do it at a more complex level. Is consciousness simply being aware that we are alive? Almost all organisms are aware they are alive because if they weren't they wouldn't be defending their lives to survive, even something as minute as bacteria has an inbuilt system of the sort to defend itself against predators, that's some indication it's aware of its own life, doesn't it? Some might say "no" because bacteria have a pre-programmed response and don't understand anything about their life, but I don't see how that's any different from us humans, we too are pre-programmed in the same way.


People like to describe consciousness as this thing that's tangible, that exists inside our brain but scientists can't detect it, what does that even mean? You constantly hear this all the time, "Scientists find no part of the brain responsible for consciousness." Perhaps simply because it's a made-up fantasy akin to the idea of a "Soul," like it's something magical that only advanced creatures like us humans possess. I don't believe in this fantasy, I believe we are like every other organism on this planet, simply more complex when it comes to our brains.

 

[Deleted member 6403]

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[RedLight]

 

[Deleted member 9003]

 

[Deleted member 3323]

View attachment 922710

 

[Deleted member 3323]

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Who is that girl

 

[Deleted member 6403]

Who is that girl

young adriana lima

 

[Zyros]

I think it may refer to the ability of abstract and introspective thinking (which isnt exclusive to humans tho)

 

[Deleted member 3323]

I think it may refer to the ability of abstract and introspective thinking (which isnt exclusive to humans tho)

Introspective thinking? Define that. I think we humans just take what we see hear touch or feel and use that as a catalyst for our thoughts, our thoughts are reflective of our environment and every single organism is capable of that in some form. We humans just do it in an advanced way. The post I made above is a response to environmental stimuli that I received.

People like to describe consciousness though as if it's something in by itself, something tangible, something solely unique to humans. It's such an abstract concept, it's so silly when people put a special or mystical connotation to it when it's so simple to describe. Consciousness is simply being aware of your surroundings in some form. That's why when I say "Conciousness isn't a thing" I meant the 'mystical' and popular way of thinking about it is.

 

[Zyros]

Introspective thinking? Define that. I think we humans just take what we see hear touch or feel and use that as a catalyst for our thoughts, our thoughts are reflective of our environment and every single organism is capable of that in some form. We humans just do it in an advanced way. The post I made above is a response to environmental stimuli that I received.

People like to describe consciousness though as if it's something in by itself, something tangible, something solely unique to humans. It's such an abstract concept, it's so silly when people put a special or mystical connotation to it when it's so simple to describe. Consciousness is simply being aware of your surroundings in some form. That's why when I say "Conciousness isn't a thing" I meant the 'mystical' and popular way of thinking about it is.

I mean the ability to stop and think about ourselves, precisely without outward stimuli as the catalyst (at least directly). Its a very basic way to explain it, but yes, its about "being able to think about yourself" and not "think for yourself" (which is the practical/survival thinking).
And no, its not anything unique to humans I think even the ones that define it as consciousness don't believe only humans have it. Its not something "physical" or tangible, nor black or white but more about levels of self awareness. Even if we are more complex than chimpanzees, they still have a high level consciousness. I read somewhere that a good way to predict if an animal reaches it is to test if the animal can tell its themselves when shown a mirror, but then again the test gave positive in animals supposed to be incredibly basic like some fish species, so the mirror test is to be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[Growth Plate]

based high iq post that you made in response to environmental stimuli that you received

I think about this a lot as well. Being nihilistic doesn't make me suicidal though. I'm still going to be here on Earth enjoying the experience and I'll see if there's anything after this experience once I die (hopefully) naturally.

 

[Deleted member 8576]

not everything that’s living needs to know it’s alive. i doubt ants KNOW they are ‘alive’, but their. genetic programming causes them to perform the actions that result in the propagation of their genes, be that breeding or finding food or whatever it is they need to do. i doubt an ant is ‘conscious‘ of anything, really. the genes that they possess that dictate their actions resulted in them passing their genes on to the future generations and so they don’t necessarily need to know they’re alive to be able to do that.

 

[fukmylyf]

my drug dealer is so nice. Sometimes i feel like buying just to help him out

 

[Shaman]

It's a feedback loop of different processes in the brain reacting to each other

 

[Deleted member 1751]

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