"As far as we know" proves nothing. I don't think that you invoking the "scientific community" is a correct statement. There is increasing evidence that other animal species like dolphins and chimps have a great deal of intelligence and could very well be self-aware. African elephants use unique names for each other. We just happened got there first, that is, technology.Well, I do assume that human consciousness is discreet from other varieties. As far as we know, humans are the only species that is not only conscious, but self-conscious (Meaning that we are aware of the fact we are conscious). To my knowledge, and I belief that of the scientific community, no other species possesses that.
People most likely gave him treats.I agree Spg- I am always deeply moved by elephant 'cemetery' scenes - as one example - I am sure one could write a book on such animal events - remember the true story of the japanese dog who waited for his master for years at the railway station?
Excellent !Although I do believe we die in the sense we’ve always understood that word, I also believe there is more to us than that which dies. I wouldn’t call it an afterlife and I don’t know that calling what doesn’t die “me” makes much sense.
Many people hold a bias that consciousness is something the brain churns out but there is no evidence that is true. Of course without our brain we could not maintain consciousness as we know it but that is a far cry from showing consciousness is a product of brains. The hard problem of consciousness can not be bullied into silence.
From: Where Does Consciousness Come From?.
“Despite advances in our understanding of the brain, explaining how consciousness is derived remains an open question in science and philosophy. It is even referred to as the "hard problem" of consciousness, a term coined by philosopher David Chalmers.
"Why should there be a certain way to experience being a human when we are conscious that vanishes in a coma or dreamless sleep and is entirely absent in inanimate objects like chairs or jackets?" says Ralph Adolphs, Bren Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Biology. "This contrast underscores a deep mystery."
Chalmers also identified the "easy problem" of consciousness: understanding brain functions like perception, attention, and memory. Neuroscientists and psychologists have made significant progress in these areas, revealing much about how neural circuits and information processing work. However, these explanations do not address what it is like to be that brain, leaving the hard problem unresolved.
The Mind–Body Problem
This question ties into a long-standing philosophical debate known as the mind–body problem, which considers the relationship between the mental and the physical. Dualism, one view within this debate, suggests that consciousness arises from nonphysical substances or properties, such as the soul or the mind, rather than solely from brain activity. In contrast, materialist or physicalist views argue that consciousness is a product of the brain and can be fully explained by physical processes.
"Consider this example: Philosopher Gottfried Leibniz asked us to imagine miniaturizing ourselves and walking into someone's brain. Despite seeing all the molecules, neurons, and electrical potentials, we would not have any clue that there is conscious experience in that brain," Adolphs says. "Similarly, if intelligent aliens were to visit Earth and observe humans and animals from a distance, would they ever stumble upon the idea that any of these are conscious? No, how could they?"
Neuroscientists and philosophers alike continue to work toward a more comprehensive understanding of how the brain gives rise to our subjective experiences. This work calls for an interdisciplinary approach spanning the fields of neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, and computer science, with each contributing unique observations and perspectives to this complex question.”
Animals pamper them selves all the time. Many stop and think for some minutes before they will do what you want them to do or not.Well, I do assume that human consciousness is discreet from other varieties. As far as we know, humans are the only species that is not only conscious, but self-conscious (Meaning that we are aware of the fact we are conscious). To my knowledge, and I belief that of the scientific community, no other species possesses that.
I don't believe that humans evolved along with every other creature since time began. The fossil record indicates that homo-erectus is a late development in the evolutionary chain. If they were around 3.5 billion years ago, someone in archeology surely would have found some record of that.
As for consciousness being solely a product of the brain, I made no such claim. My belief is that consciousness isn't just present or not present, but is in degrees. The more connectivity, the more consciousness. However, whether neuronal cells, or neurochemicals have some minute elements of consciousness built into them is anyone's guess, and it may even be possible that other parts of our body have those minute elements of consciousness. I'm not saying they do, but until consciousness if fully explained, I am certainly open to modifying my understanding.
So that's your opinion. My opinion is that there is either something or nothing. And since there is something (our universe), there is no logical reason that a finite universe would somehow come into existence all by itself. To my way of thinking, that means "something"/existence/reality is eternal and infinite (or MWI). I choose to believe that somehow/somewhere I will once again interact with my beloved wife, almost 11 years gone.Quantum Immorality is just another sub-version of the many-worlds interpretation, aka MWI, originally was just a quantum mechanics hypothesis only for the micro world, that was hijacked by science ignorant philosophers into macro world nonsense. The many-worlds interpretation implies that there are many parallel, non-interacting worlds. It is one of a number of multiverse hypotheses in physics and philosophy. MWI views time as a many-branched tree, wherein every possible quantum outcome is realized.
So NO. When an organic body dies whether a human, an ant, or tree, it is dead and gone, ended for eternity. The only physical part of life that might possibly be saved with animal life, is our electromagnetic brain energies, and only if provided with a proper impedance container to exist within.
Well, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love animals and am amazed by nature, but from what I read, there is a difference in conceptual thought, reasoning, and creativity, and sense of self that is unique to humans. If you believe the consciousness in animals is the same as humans, that's fine, but that's not what I read and experience."As far as we know" proves nothing. I don't think that you invoking the "scientific community" is a correct statement. There is increasing evidence that other animal species like dolphins and chimps have a great deal of intelligence and could very well be self-aware. African elephants use unique names for each other. We just happened got there first, that is, technology.
is:So that's your opinion. My opinion is that there is either something or nothing. And since there is something (our universe), there is no logical reason that a finite universe would somehow come into existence all by itself. To my way of thinking, that means "something"/existence/reality is eternal and infinite (or MWI). I choose to believe that somehow/somewhere I will once again interact with my beloved wife, almost 11 years gone.
So that's your opinion.
So that's is just the opinion of the vast majority of scientists.
Fuzzy and others here want science to prove or disprove the theory that our brains are capable of consciousness beyond our control. Well the split-brain experiment proves our brains can behave in two ways at the same time ... just as quantum physics proved atoms can simultaneously be waves and particles ...
Split Brain Experiments: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Divided Mind
Neurology is causing science to seriously consider the Buddhism concept of conscious duality,
I respectfully disagree with your statement. We are incrementally different than other animals, not an order of magnitude different. We are also an arrogant and aggressive animal, the apex predator on the planet, and the most invasive species on Earth. Our supposed superiority is aided and abetted by religion.Well, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love animals and am amazed by nature, but from what I read, there is a difference in conceptual thought, reasoning, and creativity, and sense of self that is unique to humans. If you believe the consciousness in animals is the same as humans, that's fine, but that's not what I read and experience.
Do Animals Have Ego? Exploring Animal Behavior and Human Uniqueness - Animals Eggo
This is an example of love between two animals, neither of which happens to be human:Do animals have consciousness? Can animals love?
There seems to be general consensus they have consciousness,
Animal consciousness - Wikipedia
This article says its not known whether they can love:
can animals love - Bing
But this article says they can IF “love” is defined as a bond or attachment”.
can animals love humans - Search
You said I was assuming human consciousness was discreet from that of other animals. I replied yes I was. I didn't bring anything up regarding orders of magnitude. My reason for saying what I did is this:I respectfully disagree with your statement. We are incrementally different than other animals, not an order of magnitude different. We are also an arrogant and aggressive animal, the apex predator on the planet, and the most invasive species on Earth. Our supposed superiority is aided and abetted by religion.
I would concur with your position, but only to the extent that human self-awareness is far stronger than that of other animal species. However, when elephants mourn the loss of one of their own, I would argue that it is a personal loss for each of them in addition to the group loss. So I believe that particular elephant understands that the loss is to them as an individual, thus demonstrating some level of self-awareness. Of course, neither of us can read the mind of other animals.You said I was assuming human consciousness was discreet from that of other animals. I replied yes I was. I didn't bring anything up regarding orders of magnitude. My reason for saying what I did is this:
There is a distinction in the characteristics of consciousness.
Basic consciousness is where the organism or animal is aware of external and internal stimuli and can respond to it.
There is also self-recognition where an animal may see their reflection and even respond to it.
Then there is self-consciousness where you not only become aware of yourself, but you also realize that you possess certain qualities such as your own thoughts, actions, and identity (That's where the self comes in). It involves being conscious of oneself as a distinct and separate entity with unique characteristics, emotions, and experiences. Self-consciousness is more like a self-evaluation or assessment. It is recognizing and acknowledging one’s own mental and physical states, emotions, and behaviors. It involves self-identity as an individual with a distinct personality, values, beliefs, and social roles. Essentially it is being conscious that you have a self.
If you believe other animals possess that quality of mind, that's your prerogative, but I don't see it. As for the qualities and behaviors of humans, good or bad, I made no assertions, so I'm not sure why you responded with that.
Ever hear of the genre Science-Fantasy?People on TikTok are freaking out after one woman suggested that we might not ever truly pass on - and that the world could have ended many times before without our knowledge. The theory is that our consciousness goes into an alternate reality, where we exist without the memories of the world we lived in prior, except for some details that don’t seem right.
If the theory of quantum immortality - which suggests that people never really die - is accurate, then humanity might have been ended many times by apocalyptic events similar to the asteroids “taking out the dinosaurs” 65 million years ago. We would essentially have no recollection because our consciousness would endure it, and we’d awake in a parallel world where that hasn’t occurred