[r9etb]

I incline to the view that consciousness 'emerges' as cellular assemblages reach a certain (as yet not easily specifiable) level of complexity (although I wouldn't be prepared to claim that that view has been shown to be true). Rather than a 'mere epiphenomenon', consciousness appears to be a rather interesting mode of operation of highly complex cellular assemblages

If we employ a crude analogy, though.... isn't this like saying there can't be radio waves until you build a radio? If I'm reading it properly, the alternate view (all that E7 whatsis) would posit that the brain is something like a radio receiver -- receiving and operating on consciousness in the form of a physical "field" of some sort.

I'm not taking any stand on the matter -- but wouldn't it have an interesting effect on a lot of aspects of science if the fella was correct?

[snarks_when_bored]

I incline to the view that consciousness 'emerges' as cellular assemblages reach a certain (as yet not easily specifiable) level of complexity (although I wouldn't be prepared to claim that that view has been shown to be true). Rather than a 'mere epiphenomenon', consciousness appears to be a rather interesting mode of operation of highly complex cellular assemblages

If we employ a crude analogy, though.... isn't this like saying there can't be radio waves until you build a radio? If I'm reading it properly, the alternate view (all that E7 whatsis) would posit that the brain is something like a radio receiver -- receiving and operating on consciousness in the form of a physical "field" of some sort.

I'm not taking any stand on the matter -- but wouldn't it have an interesting effect on a lot of aspects of science if the fella was correct?

The analogy has been suggested before (as you probably know)...the brain as a 'receiver' and (perhaps) a 'transmitter' of consciousness. But, so far, to my knowledge, not a single piece of evidence for this analogy has been adduced, whereas radio waves are quite easily received and produced. I was careful to say in my post that I thought it likely (but not proven) that consciousness is an emergent operational property of complex cellular assemblages, but I also pointed out that those who would claim the existence of much more remarkable properties of consciousness carry a heavy burden of proof.

I'm not denying outright that there's a 'field of consciousness', but I am denying that such a view has any evidentiary support.