[PDerna]

I suppose that's fair enough. I was thinking more along the lines of abstract thought, so let me ask it this way, again for clarification. Take a word like "existence," as in consciousness being the ability to be aware of one's existence. "Existence" doesn't really exist, in the sense that it cannot be quantified. It has no measurable properties. It is not comprised of matter. "Existence" exists only in the sense that it is a concept, or a construct, that is grasped by a being with consciousness. Since we don't really know what is going on in the mind of a cat (leaving aside Balrog666's admission that he apparently is acquainted with the mind of a deer tick) let's stick to human consciousness. Is that fair to say?

[PatrickHenry]

"Existence" doesn't really exist, in the sense that it cannot be quantified. It has no measurable properties. It is not comprised of matter. "Existence" exists only in the sense that it is a concept, or a construct, that is grasped by a being with consciousness.

Existence most definitely exists, but I don't think you want to go there. In fact, I'm not sure where you're trying to go with any of this. We began with your request for a definition of consciousness. Then you changed the situation by adding free will. Now you're tossing in the ability to deal with abstractions. These are all separate things (related, of course, but separate). Humans have all three: (1) consciousness, (2) free will, and (3) the ability to abstract.

[balrog666]

It's amazing how well you have supported your previous assertions! /sarcasm

Here's something for you to consider:

When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.

[VadeRetro]

Since we don't really know what is going on in the mind of a cat (leaving aside Balrog666's admission that he apparently is acquainted with the mind of a deer tick) let's stick to human consciousness. Is that fair to say?

Recall that my point is that nothing at all about being human seems to have shazzammed into existence suddenly on any one day. I'm tired of your question-begging tap-dances. That's all you have. Take some logic courses or something.