consciousness

[ksp]

consciousness - logical reasons that consciousness doesn't exist after death (monism vs dualism)

how to distinguish between consciousness and death
consciousness is to be the result of metacognition (metacognition = thinking about thinking, self-awareness)
'i think, therefore i am' (descartes)

what is essential to consciousness experience (awareness of oneself in the world)
consciousness needs input sensors, input sensors death = death of consciousness (unable to be aware of life)

consciousness location in the brain (University Of Tokyo, Sep 2022)

sensory input -> brain activity (information processing)-> subjective experience

other notes:
memory input and output (without memory we are 'living in the now')
Alzheimer's disease (dementia) - neuronal connections, malfunctions
severe mental illness has only one cure (100% success): anesthesia

neurons in one brain: 100 billion (same as number of stars in our galaxy)
each neuron - average synaptic connections to other neurons: 7,000
consciousness after death: 0 brain activity

any thoughts?

ps. best documentary ever: 'Through the Wormhole' hosted by Morgan Freeman

 

[niiina]

Yep, no consciousness seems right. And awesome.
Hope there's nothing magical like a soul tho cause damn I'd be fucked

 

[jodes2]

I've seen through the wormhole, it was good!

This discussion is a bit over my head but I'm convinced that there's no consciousness after death. I don't see why there would be, the brain generates thought, and it does. We return to non-existence, just like before birth. The brain is an incredible machine, but just a machine.

 

[ksp]

@niiina - lol
@jodes2 - 'a bit over my head' - ?!? (you're smart!); convince dualists and creationist about your views

 

[FuneralCry]

Thank you for sharing the information. I take comfort from the fact that all life ends after death. Once we die, there will be nothing left of us and we won't even be aware that we are gone. Consciousness is a prison in which I look forward to be free from. After all, life only exists as a consequence of evolution, the existence of life is simply an unnecessary mistake.

 

[Forever Sleep]

Yes, I'm inclined to agree that consciousness needs a brain in order to be experienced. Just because we can't explain what it is or what causes it at the moment- doesn't mean it is therefore magical or divine.

Still- I am curious as to what exactly it is linked to- as in- it seems as if it mostly works when we are awake. I don't believe it goes anywhere while we are asleep but why is it dormant at times? Why does putting us under anaesthesia make it dormant? Why is it dormant when we are in a coma and how does it return? What happens in lucid dreaming- presumambly it is something we can switch on and off at will- with practice. Perhaps it is to do with certain brainwaves or hormones. Are we fully conscious from birth? Apparantley, babies become self aware between 15-18 months- but why? It is obviously something that needs to develop- so- is it learned in a way?

It truly intrigues me but at the same time, I wonder if our lives would be more peaceful/ bearable if we weren't constantly analysing ourselves.

 

[👁️👃👁️]

We know nothing.

 

[ksp]

@FuneralCry - 'Consciousness is a prison' - exactly

@Forever Sleep - 'it seems as if it mostly works when we are awake. I don't believe it goes anywhere while we are asleep but why is it dormant at times?'
excellent, excellent point!! this goes well with this point i just maid in this thread - 'how do you deal with the fact that theres nothingness?'

@👁️👃👁️ - 'We know nothing.' - we do have undeniable logic and knowledge (we also have unknowns, but we do have facts)